Final answer:
Culture shock is a sensation of disorientation that occurs when an individual encounters a culture different from their own, leading to initial excitement followed by stress and discomfort. Over time, as one learns about the new culture, adaptation occurs and the individual overcomes culture shock.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term culture shock refers to the feeling of disorientation and discomfort that individuals may experience when they are exposed to a new and different culture. This can occur when traveling to another country or even within one's own country when encountering diverse cultural practices. For instance, a traveler from Chicago might perceive the silence of rural Montana differently, and an exchange student from China might find the American classroom dynamics unusual. Culture shock can lead to frustration, but as individuals learn more about the new culture, they often adapt and recover from the initial discomfort.
Culture shock can manifest in various scenarios, such as U.S. students studying abroad. For example, Rodney, a U.S. student in Italy, experiences culture shock when greeted with a kiss on the cheeks by his host brother because in his culture, such an act is not customary among men unless they are romantically involved. The concept was first coined by Anthropologist Kalervo Oberg, who noted that adjusting to new cultural surroundings involves excitement followed by stress as one learns to navigate different social norms, languages, and daily routines.