Cole Frederick CAPS Blog #4

U-Curve Model

           

The U-curve theory is a theory of cultural adaptation that claims migrants go through fairly predictable phases in adapting to a new cultural situation (Martin & Nakayama, 2009). The three main phases of the U-curve are anticipation, culture shock, and adjustment. Migrants are first very excited and have a sense of anticipation to be in the foreign region. Although most of the time slightly nervous, most migrants are excited and optimistic about the new experience. The phase of anticipation is at the top-left of the u-curve. The second phase of the curve is the bottom-rounded phase, the cultural shock phase. This is the phase where the individual faces challenges and has a hard time transitioning into the new culture. Although not everyone experiences this in quite the same way, almost everyone experiences some kind of cultural shock as they adapt to their new environment and ways of life. The final stage of the u-curve theory is the adjustment process. After going through the initial excitement and a down period of cultural shock, most people adjust and become confident in who they are in their new society. The u-curve is a general model of adaptation process. Obviously everyone is going to have individual unique experiences but for the most part most migrants will go through this process pretty closely.

An intercultural communication example would be a student from China traveling to the United States to study abroad. The Chinese student will be anxious to get to America and learn a new way of life. Upon arrival the student may then experience cultural shock. The student may not be able to adjust to the American food or sleep and wake schedule. The student may then become depressed and become homesick. The lack of family interaction can play a big part in cultural shock. After several weeks or months the foreign exchange student may being to adapt to the American culture. The student begins to feel comfortable in school and makes friends that respect and understand their culture. When different cultures do things different ways, there is a time of learning and adapting to the new environment. The exchange student will struggle at times in the beginning but if they stick it out and work hard, will adapt to the American way of life. My Chinese roommate that I am living with this semester explained to me how he struggled with not being able to eat his favorite Chinese traditional foods. Food was something to him that made him think of home and whenever he ate he would become depressed. He eventually adapted to this by adapting to American food and eating Chinese food from time to time.

This u-curve is important in intercultural interactions because it explains how a foreigner may be feeling due to the impact of adaption. When communicating with someone who is here from another country we must take into consideration their feelings and thoughts if we want to clearly communicate with them. An individual in the cultural shock stage may be difficult to communicate with. I plan to take this u-curve model into consideration when interacting with a foreign student here on campus. I hope I can understand that they are going through difficult times and are doing their best to adjust to this new environment. I can’t imagine what it would be like to enter a foreign country with very little knowledge of the culture of that country. The u-curve can be a bridge between a local and a foreigner in that it can help the local resident understand much more about the foreigner.

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Reference:

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