What Is Reverse Culture Shock?
You might not expect it, but reverse culture shock is the emotional and psychological distress that hits some people when they come back home after spending years overseas. I know from experience that this can make readjusting to your home country's culture and values surprisingly tough, as what was once familiar now feels strange and out of place.
In the world of business, globalization means more employees are heading out on long-term assignments to other countries. With the rise in expatriates living and working abroad, reverse culture shock is becoming more common, and you need to be aware of it if you're in that boat.
Key Takeaways
- Reverse culture shock is the emotional and psychological distress people face when returning home after years overseas.
- Globalization in business has led to more employees on lengthy international assignments.
- The longer you spend abroad and the greater the cultural gap, the more intense the reverse culture shock will be.
- If you don't keep up regular talks with family and friends back home, it's easier to drift away from your native customs and embrace the new ones, making readjustment harder.
Understanding Reverse Culture Shock
Let me tell you, the intensity of reverse culture shock often scales with how long you've been away—the more time abroad, the bigger the jolt when you get back. Another key factor is how different the cultures are between your home and the foreign country; bigger differences mean a tougher reentry.
It's important to note that if your contacts back home aren't interested in your overseas stories, it can create a bigger gap between you, amplifying the reverse culture shock when you return.
How Reverse Culture Shock May Occur
As you spend time overseas and get used to the local ways, you might find yourself more in tune with those norms than your old ones at home. For example, in many places, it's standard to take off your shoes before entering a house, and that habit can stick with you, making things awkward when you return.
You could also notice shifts in work and leisure paces that disrupt your routine at first but then become normal. This can lead you to question your native behaviors and customs. On a deeper level, how much you communicate with family, friends, or colleagues back home affects the shock; less talk makes it easier to detach from home ways and adopt the new culture.
If you've traveled abroad and returned multiple times, you probably handle reverse culture shock better because you've built up experience in dealing with different cultures.
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