What term describes the disorientation and discomfort when experiencing another culture?

• A. Culture Shock
• B. Acculturation
• C. Acculturative Stress
• D. Enculturation

Answer: (A)

Experiencing another culture can bring a sudden sense of disorientation and discomfort as you encounter unfamiliar language, norms, and everyday customs. This immediate reaction is what culture shock refers to. It captures the initial emotional and cognitive overwhelm that often occurs when first immersed in a different cultural environment. Acculturation, by contrast, is the longer process of adapting to and integrating into the new culture. Acculturative stress describes the psychological strain that can accompany that adaptation, such as anxiety or identity conflicts. Enculturation is about learning and maintaining the customs of one’s own culture. So the term that best explains the disorientation and discomfort of encountering a new culture is culture shock.