Question

When members of the Tsonga tribal culture first witnessed European colonizers kissing romantically in 1980, they reportedly reacted with surprise and horror. Kissing was unknown in their society, and they considered it gross and disgusting. The Tsonga response was an example of

Answer 1

The Tsonga tribe's reaction to European romantic kissing is an example of culture shock, a phenomenon experienced when one encounters unfamiliar cultural practices that differ greatly from their own.

Step-by-step explanation:

The response of the Tsonga to witnessing European colonizers kissing romantically and considering it gross and disgusting is an example of culture shock. Culture shock originates from encountering cultural practices that are unfamiliar and often startlingly different from those in one's own culture. It reflects deeply held beliefs and norms that can vary greatly between societies, affecting interpretations and emotional responses to such behaviors.

In a similar modern example, when US students are surprised by the cheek-kissing greeting in Italy, it is also a result of culture shock. Europeans often had norms and customs unfamiliar to the indigenous peoples they encountered during colonization, and such engagements highlight the complex dynamics of transculturation, where differing cultural practices come into contact and potentially integrate or clash.