Adapting to Another Culture: Rewards and Challenges

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Use this source:
Heine, S. J. (2020). Cultural psychology (4th ed.). W.W. Norton & Company.
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A's Post:
Adapting to another culture can have its rewards and challenges. It can be rewarding to learn about the traditions and customs of another culture. It can promote respect for the differences in another culture. However, it can also have its challenges such as language barriers, different social norms, and values, and/or unfamiliar foods and ways of living. As mentioned in the reading, “moving to a new culture involves psychological adjustment. Adjustments include acquiring a new language, learning new interpersonal and social behaviors, getting used to new values, perhaps becoming part of a minority group, and adjusting one’s self-concept” (Heine, 2020, p. 254). Language can be a barrier because not being able to effectively express yourself can led to frustration, anger, and loneliness. Each culture has its own set of rules and customs, so becoming aware of them might take time and be confusing, especially in the beginning. In addition, adjusting to another culture’s food and/or living environment such as climate might be tough and an effort to get used to. Also, individuals might miss their friends and become homesick (Heine, 2020, p. 256).
When faced with obstacles or challenges, it is important to demonstrate specific behaviors in order to adapt to the new culture. For example, learning to communicate with the locals by learning the language can help you to effectively communicate. Being aware of and respecting the new culture’s traditions, norms, and values can help you to better fit in and avoid misunderstandings. Also, trying new foods can help you better acclimate to the culture. It will help you become more connected to the locals. In addition, dressing appropriately for the weather and local environment will help you to adjust to your new surroundings and not stand out. According to the reading, in order for individuals to adjust to the new culture they need to have acculturation strategies such as the “efforts to fit in and fully participate in the host culture, while at the same time striving to maintain the traditions of the heritage culture” (Heine, 2020, p. 262).
The need for adaptation depends on the cultural difference or cultural distance between the place one is moving from and the new location. According to the reading, cultural distance is “the difference between two cultures in their overall ways of life” (Heine, 2020, p. 258). This cultural distance determines a person’s success in adjusting to a new culture or lack of success. For example, if you move to another Western country like Canada which is very similar in its language, norms, values, and way of living like the United States, it would be fairly easy to adapt to the new environment. However, for example, if you move to a non-Western country like Japan where locals speak a different language, unfamiliar norms, values, and way of living, it would be harder to adjust to the new environment. All in all, moving to a new environment where the cultural distance is smaller because the countries have similar values and practices makes it easier to adapt. Whereas moving to a new environment where the cultural distance is bigger because the countries have different cultures, makes it much harder to adapt
In conclusion, adapting to another culture may have its rewards and challenges. Overcoming challenges when adapting to a new culture takes patience, time, and flexibility to learn the language, norms, and customs, accept the food, and become accustomed to the environment. Moving within Western cultures may require minimal adaptation since the cultures are similar. However, moving to a non-Western culture may require major adaptation since the culture is so different than our Western culture.
References
Heine, S. J. (2020). Cultural psychology (4th ed.). W.W. Norton & Company.