According to the article written by Winkelman (1994), culture shock is an overall experience resulting from various factors of contact with another culture. Culture shock reactions can lead to psychological or physical problems if they hinder our performance. Being aware of culture shock and implementing strategies to overcome this problem are necessary to achieve stable adaptations. There are three key elements to help better understand culture shock: the nature, stages and causes of culture shock. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Culture shock is naturally the concept of escalating stress and anxiety resulting from an individual's contact with a new culture. This situation challenges an individual to live in a new environment, outside of their familiar home culture. There are different answers to this; it affects both psychological, physiological and social factors. There are four main stages of culture shock. The honeymoon or tourist phase is the first stage of the culture shock that people generally experience when entering another culture in a short period of time. The experience at this stage is generally exciting and fascinating and the contribution of other cultures is still limited. The reason is that local culture is masked by institutions such as hotels, resorts or airports. Second, the crisis phase can occur upon arrival or in the following weeks or months. This usually appears due to escalating problems and negative experiences that may cause an individual to want to return to their home country. Acceptance of the new culture will lead to effective adjustment of the new environment. So, the third stage is called adjustment and reorientation phase where an individual has realized that to facilitate adjustment is to accept it. The fourth stage is the adaptation, resolution or acculturation stage. Adaptation to the new culture can lead to the establishment of a bicultural identity; a positive reaction is therefore necessary for adaptation to be effective. In order to overcome culture shock, we must identify its causes. There are four main factors that cause culture shock: stress reactions, cognitive fatigue, role shock, and personal shock. Adapting to a new culture can result in both a physiological and psychological stress response. Stress can weaken the immune system and increase anxiety levels. Second, cognitive fatigue may occur during the process of understanding each aspect of the new culture that requires significant effort and concentration. As a result, the intensity usually causes mental and emotional exhaustion. Third, one can also experience role shock. Role clash basically occurs when one is not ready to accept the new cultural arrangement which might not suit the role and expectations of the old one. Personal shock is the final main cause of culture shock. This experience occurs because the new culture disrupts a person's core belief, principle, or value. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In conclusion, this article defines that culture shock will occur if an individual is not ready to accept the recent situation and does not try to adapt to the new local culture. Adjustment will definitely occur and it is generally categorized into four main stages. The explanation concerning the causes of the shock..