1. Encountering a New Culture – shock, stress and success
Orientation Programme for International Students
University of Jyväskylä
September 02, 2015
Cheng Zeng

2. Why this lecture?
You left your familiar environment behind and came to experience something new
You are excited and full of expectations
Some of you are skeptical about the importance of culture shock

3. The aims of the lecture
To be aware of and open-minded to cultural differences
To reflect back on your own behaviors
To learn about culture shock
To learn to manage stress and make the most of your stay in Jyväskylä
Ultimately, to increase your intercultural competence.

4. What do you expect from your stay in Jyväskylä?
Expectation from yourself
Expectation from Finland
Expectation from the University

6. What is Culture? A vague term that has countless definitions
A way of life adopted among a community or a society
It is shared behavior, which is important because it systematizes the way people do things, thus avoiding confusion and allowing co-operation
It is our ”natural way of being” => unawareness of own culture

7. What is not Culture??? Just think about:
Own culture as the center of the world

8. Culture= Nation????
Hofstede’s –National cultural dimensions –
Gender, class, age, ethnic, regional, religious…
Nations are not homogenous: Do pay attention to distinct cultures and subcultures within.

10. Cultural perception& Ethnocentricism
What is perceived and how that is interpreted, are culturally learned
Different cultures  different perceptions / interpretations of other’s behaviours
Often partial and inaccurate
Stereotypes, prejudices, discrimination, etc.
Ethnocentricism: a tendency to view other groups or cultures from the perspective of one's own.
Own culture as the center of the world

11. Culture as an iceberg explicit tacit customs, traditions, food,
language, history
 way of doing things
values, beliefs, attitudes, vision of the world, presumptions
 way of thinking
explicit
tacit
Maria El Said 2008

12. What happens when we go abroad?
Like the fish, we’ve been swimming in our own culture our whole lives. When we suddenly leave the water, we are like fish out of water.
Own culture as the center of the world
Ethnocentrism: a tendency to view other groups or cultures from the perspective of one's own.
what is perceived and how that is interpreted, are culturally learned

14. What is culture shock?
Culture shock is the mental, physical and emotional adjustment to living in a new environment
Natural reaction
Develops gradually (shock?)
Indicators:
differ from person to person
feelings of psychological stress, confusion, anxiety, depression, helplessness, homesickness, intolerance of ambiguity, tiredness, etc.

15. Why do we have culture shock?
Because of:
The absence of familiar or comforting characteristics of one's own culture
The presence of seemingly irrational, offensive, or even hostile aspects of the target culture.
Lack of ability, linguistic or otherwise, to gain cultural understanding rapidly enough to adapt to these changes.

16. Intercultural adaptation U-curve model (Chen & Starosta, 2005)
Adaptation to a new culture
Intercultural adaptation U-curve model (Chen & Starosta, 2005)

17. (1) Honeymoon period (initial euphoria stage)
Curiosity, fascination and excitement
Neglecting differences, reinforcement of similarities
(2) Crisis period (frustration stage)
Confusion and disintegration when confronting differences in values, behaviours, lifestyles, etc.
Ethnocentrism, rejecting the new culture,  noticing its shortcomings
U-curve model
(Chen & Starosta, 2005)

18. (3) Adjustment period (recovery stage)
Gradual adaptation to the host culture
By trial‐and‐error you learn what is appropriate, what 
works in the new culture and you regain effectiveness, you 
learn how to exist here
Relaxation, comfort
Sensitivity towards cultural differences
(4) Bi-culturalism period (mastery period)
Cultivated understanding of the host culture
Feeling of enjoyment in the new environment
Capacity for a dual cultural identity
U-curve model
(Chen & Starosta, 2005)

19. Re-entry or reverse culture shock (W-curve pattern)
When returning to home country → readjustment to one’s own culture
Proceeding through the four stages of U-curve model once again
Often not expected
Assuming that things “will be the same” back home

20. Re-entry shock: W-curve model
Bi-culturalism
Re- adjustment
Honeymoon
Going home
Adjustment
Re-entry shock
Crisis
Maria El Said 2008

21. Managing stress

22. Managing stress Expect culture shock to happen
It is natural and not a weakness
Give yourself time to adapt
Don’t stay alone with your worries
Talk to your family and friends back home
Share experiences with other international students
Write a diary / blog
Practical matters: your tutors and the International Office
Psychological support: Student Health Service (YTHS)
Use your humor!

23. Adaptation leads to GROWTH
The Stress-Adaptation-Growth Dynamic:
A Process Model (Young Yun Kim, 2001)
Adaptation
Growth over time
Stress

24. To be successful in intercultural encounters …
Positive attitude and motivation
Self-awareness ( = knowledge )
Social skills (  learning to listen )
Sensitivity:
Patience
Flexibility, tolerance for ambiguity

25. Experiencing Finland: some general information
Respect for privacy and personal space
Silence
Reserved nature
Punctuality
Direct communication style

26. University as a Bubble

27. Success! Successful intercultural exchange brings:
Awareness and acceptance of cultural differences
Open-mindedness
Personal growth: communicative competence, ability to adapt, discovering new perspectives to life, learning new ways of doing things.

28. More information KVVA103 Introduction to Intercultural Communication.
Collection of Finnish public sector online services:
Guide to Finnish customs and manners:
Travel and Tourism guide:
City of Jyväskylä:

29. Readings
Chen, G. and Starosta, W. (2005) Foundations of Intercultural Communication
Martin, J. and Nakayama, T. (2004) Intercultural Communication in Contexts
Holliday, A., Hyde, M. and Kullman, J. (2010) Intercultual Communication: an advanved resource book for students
Liu, S., Volcic, Z. and Gallois, C. (2011) Introducing intercultural communication: global cultures and contexts
Samovar, L.A., Porter, R.E. and McDaniel, E.R. (2010) Communication between cultures
Ward, C., Bochner S. And Furnham A.A. (2001) The Psychology of Culture Shock

30. Enjoy your stay in Jyväskylä!
Thank you for your attention!