Cultural shock and cultural stress occur when moving to a new culture. Cultural shock is anxiety from losing familiar cultural signs and symbols, while cultural stress is stress from adjusting to a new way of living. Physical symptoms include fatigue and appetite changes, and psychosocial symptoms include loneliness, homesickness, and loss of identity. Greater differences in personality, values, and communication between one's home and host culture lead to greater stress. Cures include accepting the host culture, recognizing cultural stress as normal, taking breaks, and maintaining one's identity despite acculturation. When arriving in Germany, common stresses are the language barrier, adherence to strict cultural etiquette like punctuality, and differences in communication styles which can seem direct or emotionally reserved

1. Cultural Shock & Cultural Stress

2. What is Cultural Shock & Cultural Stress?
Cultural shock:
anxiety that results from losing all familiar
signs & symbols of our familiar culture
Cultural stress:
stress that occurs when you change to a
different way of living in a new culture.

4. Symptoms of Cultural Stress
Physical Symptoms
 Fatigue, malaise
 Generalised aches and pains
 Excessive need of sleep
 Inability to sleep
 Overeatomg ot lack of appetite
 Abuse of Alcohol & Drugs

5. Symptoms of Cultural Stress
Psychosocial Symptoms
 Loneliness
 Sadness
 Homesickness
 Loss of identity
 Stereotyping host culture nationals
 Loss of sense of humour
 Feeling of insecurity

6. Reasons for Cultural Stress
Temperament:
the greater the difference between your
personality and the average personality in the
new culture, the greater the stress.
Involvement:
the more you become personally involved in
the culture, the more culture stress you will
feel
(Example- a reserved person will find it difficult to feel at home
when the people in the new culture are outgoing)

7. Reasons for Cultural Stress
 Values:
the greater the difference in values between your
home and the host culture, the greater the stress
(Values can be: Cleanliness, responsibility, use of time,...)
 Communication:
Learning the meaning of words & grammar rules
represents only a part of being able to communicate
effectively. You also have to understand the way of
thinking and the non-verbal communication.
(This knowledge is only adquired after some familiarity with the culture)

8. Cures for Cultural Stress
 Acceptance: You should admit that the host culture
is a valid way of life
 Recognition: Realize that culture stress is inevitable
for those attempting to become at home in a host
culture, and look at what factors cause you the most
Stress.

9. Cures for Cultural Stress
 Escape: You need daily, weekly, and annual respites.
God made the Sabbath for people, so be sure you
keep it. Reading, music hikes and vacations are
necessary
 Identity: Know who you are and what you will allow
to be changed about you. Acculturation involves
changes in you personality, so determine the
unchangeables

10. Cultural Stress when arriving in Germany
Language:
 Most people who arrive in Germany state that the
biggest cutural hurdle is the language barrier.
 Its good to learn a bit German before your arrival
because Germans appreciate it if you try to speak
their language and are more willing to help you.
 In addition some language skills will make socialising
with the locals easier

11. Cultural Stress when arriving in Germany
Cultural Etiquette:
 Germans adhere to rules quite strictly and they´re
seen as letting people know what´s expected of them
 Efficiency is quite important in the workplace.
Staying longer at work it´s seen as a sign that they
didn´t plan their day well
 Punctually is also very important for business and
social arrangements. Being unpunctual for a meeting
is seen as disrespectful

12. Cultural Stress when arriving in Germany
Communication
 Germans may seem unfriendly and unemotional at
first. But that´s often because they respect each
other´s privacy. Similarly, getting loud or angry in
public is seen as a sign of weaknes.
 While they are generally polite, Germans tend to
communicate directly. This type of honesty may
cause offence in other cultures

13. Congrats, you‘ve reached the end of our
presentation!
Remember: be aware of the existence and the
effects of Cultural Stress and Cultural Shock.
Even though the emotional roller coaster is still
going to be the same, it‘ll help you to better
understand the emotions and the process you‘re
going through while living abroad.