This document discusses cultural awareness and differences. It begins by defining culture and explaining that it is relative, learned, and changes over time. It then discusses some forces that shape individual cultures like values, beliefs, education, and religion. The document outlines some dangers of stereotypes and ethnocentrism. It provides examples of cultural differences in areas like eating habits, religion, family structures, communication, and time. It stresses the importance of understanding other cultural frameworks and seeing cultural differences as creative problem-solving opportunities. The document also discusses the stages of cultural adaptation like honeymoon, confrontation, crisis, and recovery.

6. Forces Shaping Individual Culture Personal Culture Values World-views Beliefs Behaviours Urbanization Migration Minority Experience Cross-cultural Adjustments Profession Gender Language Education Industrialization Social background Ethnic background Religion Nationalism Colonisation

24. The Adaptation Stages STAGE SITUATION APPROACH REACTION Honeymoon First exciting contact with new culture Observe Excitement; Curiosity; Slight concern Initial confrontation First intensive feeling with new culture Solve problems in familiar ways Confusion; Mystified about; Others behaviour

25. The Adaptation Stages STAGE SITUATION APPROACH REACTION Adjustment crisis Problems intensify Experimentation with new behaviours Frustration; Anger; Confusion about Recovery Sense of belonging to culture emerges New strategies to help one function effectively New culture is understandable; Enjoying many aspect of it