Caps #4

The W-Curve Model

By Nolan DeBord

            The W-Curve model is essentially the same concept as the U-Curve with the fact that the phases are the exact same.  These phases are excitement/anticipation, shock/disorientation, and adjustment to the new culture as stated in our text.(Martin/Nakayama,2010,327)  However, with the U-Curve it is applied to anyone migrating to a new country.  The difference with the W-Curve is that it is most applicable to sojourners, which is a migrant who has plans of returning to his or her country of origin.  The concept is the fact that people who go through the phases of the U-Curve when going to another country will experience this process in the same order again when returning home.

            A great example of  this can be applied to soldiers being deployed to the war we are in now.  In the past research has shown that a lot of soldiers do not experience the U-Curve because they are usually still surrounded by the U.S. culture even though they are over seas.  However, the interaction between soldiers and the culture of this war has been increasing and soldiers are now more prone to experiencing the phases of the U-Curve.  So upon returning home this also increases the likeliness of going through these phases all over again but this time as the W-Curve.  There is also a difference in the experience of returning home compared to arriving to a new culture.  When returning home an individual has already adapted and changed in regards to the new culture he was exposed to, making his experience returning home quite different.(Martin/Nakayama,2010,332)

            I feel that this is applicable to me because there is a chance that I will someday be in this very same situation and experience this culture shock as many other soldiers have before me.  I hope that with this knowledge and self-awareness that I have acquired through our text I will be able to control my own emotions when venturing into another country.  The information given to me has provided me with the right tools to understand the meaning of adapting and accepting other cultures and I hope to use these tools when it becomes necessary.

Martin, J. N., & Nakayama T. K. (2009). Intercultural communication in contexts (5th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.