When you encounter a different structure and culture, you may suddenly find yourself having to adapt and get to know your own culture better, which can be challenging if what you are confronted with also causes confusion, stress or anxiety.
Psychological crisis is a term used to describe a state of mind in which the person’s previous experiences and learned ways of responding are not sufficient to understand and cope psychologically with the current situation.
The physical and psychological signs of a crisis can vary greatly from person to person, but there are some common symptoms that many people experience.
How to reqognize crisis in culture shock?
A crisis can be described as the state in which an experience – in this case culture shock – causes us so much psychological stress that our usual coping strategies fail. Culture shock is a developmental crisis because it stems from a fundamental change in life conditions.
Development-crisis in culture shock
- Moving to or living in a new country or environment
- Encountering unfamiliar norms, language and social codes
- Loss of familiarity and networks, uncertainty about own role
Traumatic crisis in extreme cases
- Sudden cultural conflict or discrimination
- Violence, threats or other serious incidents during your stay
Common to all crises is that it is the individual’s subjective experience that determines how severe the culture shock is experienced. Two people in the same situation can react very differently – and that’s perfectly natural.
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The crisis of personal development, also known as a life crisis, has always been a central theme of science.
Judith Herman (1942)
An American psychiatrist, researcher, educator and author who has focused on understanding and treating traumatic stress.
Her approach is known for being phase-oriented, with a process approach divided into 3 phases. 1. Safety and Stabilisation. 2. Remembrance and grief. 3. Reintegration and reconstruction.
Milton J. Bennet
American researcher and educator known for his work in intercultural communication and the development of cultural competence. His most famous contribution is the development of the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS), which describes the different stages people go through as they develop an understanding and appreciation of cultural differences.
Johan Cullberg (1975)
Johan Cullberg's Acute Crisis Process recognises that our lives consist of a series of psychological crises. These can be illness and death, or life crises such as puberty and retirement. The crisis is often a prerequisite for development, but it can also lead to lifelong mental disability.
1. THE SHOCK PHASE
2. THE REACTIVE PHASE
3. THE REPAIR PHASE
4. THE REORIENTATION PHASE
