They talk funny. They drive on the wrong side of the road. They eat strange things. They wear silly clothing. These are some of the reactions we typically have when we experience a culture that is different from our own. Depending on the way in which we view the other culture, our level of culture shock may be mild or intense. Although culture shock is a feeling more commonly experienced by an ethnocentric, cultural relativist may also have some feelings of disorientation due to significant differences in the newly experienced culture. We can be ethnocentric in one situation, and a cultural relativist in another.
Experiencing an unfamiliar culture can be interesting and rewarding. However, it could also result in feelings of anxiety, fear and depression. This broad range of feelings has been defined by anthropologists and sociologists as culture shock. Culture shock is a feeling of awkwardness or confusion experienced by a person who abruptly enters an unfamiliar culture. This could be caused by a move or visit to another country, or a transition into another social environment. Culture shock typically occurs because the individual was not expecting the differences in the new place.
When I was in the Navy, we entered the port of Dubai as part of a western pacific cruise. Prior to entering the port, the leadership on our ship attempted to explain to us the different culture that we were about to experience. They explained a few differences and told us to be respectful to the people. I was very unfamiliar with the Islamic culture and had no idea what I was about to experience. When a siren sounded, everyone cleared the streets. The women were covered from head to toe, and the men were obviously the ones with control, authority and power in society. I felt bewildered by these things. However, I did not judge. I ensured that my behavior was appropriate at all times. I had the opportunity to see a culture that was completely different than my own. I respected them and felt no judgement toward their differences.
Another experience I had with culture shock was completely different. I spent most of my life among middle to upper class individuals, graduated from law school and began to experience life as part of the elite. When my world came crashing in on my and I found myself sitting in federal prison, I experienced culture shock in its most pure form. Suddenly, I was among individuals with whom I had nothing in common. My values and norms were completely opposite of those around me. I was stressed, anxious and fearful. I had a hard time overcoming this culture shock. There was a long period of adjustment for me. I was critical of the behavior and attitude of other inmates and I felt superior in every way to those around me, even the guards.
ETHNOCENTRISM
Ethnocentrism is the belief that one’s own ethnic group is superior to all others. An individual who is ethnocentric feels as though his or her own group is superior to that of other groups. This other group may be different based on ethnicity, race, religion, culture or even social class. An ethnocentric person thinks that his or her way of doing things is the only right way, and that anyone who does things differently is not only wrong, but inferior. In judging the behavior and beliefs of others who are different from themselves, an ethnocentric uses his or her own values and attitudes.
In the prison example above, I was completely ethnocentric. I viewed the beliefs and attitudes of others as inferior to me own. I based my opinions of others on my own norms and values. Rather than trying to understand, I judged. This is a typical ethnocentric reaction. As a result, my feelings of tension, stress and anxiety were intense, and it took me a very long time to adjust and accept others.
CULTURAL RELATIVISM
Cultural relativists believe that all people from all races, religions, cultures or any other group are equal and deserve respect regardless of differences. Rather than judging others based on their own beliefs, cultural relativists withhold their own assumptions about the different culture so that they can better understand those who are from other cultures and who have different norms and behaviors. Cultural relativists have a desire to appreciate different cultures and do not judge those who are different as inferior.
In my military experience described above, I reacted as a cultural relativist. I chose not to judge the differences and made an effort to appreciate the differences. Due to my reaction, I had a much lesser degree of culture shock than I did in the prison experience. I did feel some anxiety, however, because I was willing to view the different culture as equal rather than inferior, my feelings dissipated quite rapidly. I chose to accept rather than judge.
CONCLUSION
Culture shock is a real feeling that we may experience when we are exposed to a culture different than our own. The level and intensity of culture shock depends upon how we view others. We may be ethnocentric, and have the opinion that our culture is superior to all others. On the other hand, we may be accepting and willing to appreciate the other culture as a cultural relativist. We can be ethnocentric in one experience and cultural relativist in another. This depends on how much of an open mind we choose to have in the new situation.
Works Cited
Culture. n.d. The Connexions Project. <http://fileserver.net-texts.com/asset.aspx?dl=no&id=61558>.
Study Abroad Center. 2011. University of California. <http://www.cie.uci.edu/prepare/shock.shtml>.
