Final answer:
The W-curve theory explains that cultural adjustment is a fluctuating process that includes initial excitement, subsequent culture shock, and eventual adaptation. It also recognizes the occurrence of reverse culture shock upon returning to one's home culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
W-curve theory suggests that cultural adjustment is a long-term process involving a pattern of ups and downs. When people find themselves in a new culture, whether through traveling or moving, they initially may feel excited about the change. However, as they encounter differences such as language barriers, new social norms, and different daily routines, they can begin to experience stress and a sense of incompetence, leading to culture shock. Over time, they may adapt and adjust to the new cultural environment, but this process is not always linear and can involve several cycles of excitement, shock, and adaptation, hence the term W-curve. This theory acknowledges that cultural adjustment is not only a process that occurs when encountering a foreign culture but can also be experienced when individuals return to their home culture after an extended time away, often referred to as reverse culture shock.