Culture Shock: U.S. vs Indonesian CCOnline version
Cross Culture Understanding
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🌎Culture Shock: U.S. vs Indonesian CC
Preseted by: - Muhammad Agung Tri Yoviadi (24340027)
- Annisa Kurnia Fitri (24340015)
- Kharisma Dyah Claradwitha (24340014)
Cross Culture Understanding Universitas Muhammadiyah Metro
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Introduction: What Is Culture Shock?
- Emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reaction to an unfamiliar culture.
- Oberg (1960): “Anxiety from losing familiar signs and symbols of social interaction.”
- Common reactions: homesickness, confusion, frustration, loneliness.
- Four stages (U-curve): Honeymoon → Crisis → Recovery → Adjustment (Oberg, 1960; Ward et al., 2001)
Oberg (1960): Classic four-stage model of culture shock. Berry (1997): Acculturation strategies: - Assimilation (adopt host culture),
- Integration (blend both),
- Separation (stay with home culture),
- Marginalization (feel disconnected).
Ward, Bochner & Furnham (2001): - Psychological adjustment: emotional well-being.
- Sociocultural adjustment: ability to function effectively.
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Key Cultural Differences: U.S. vs Indonesia
In the U.S., students call professors by first names and are encouraged to speak up — that’s low power distance and individualism. In Indonesia, people tend to avoid open disagreement to maintain social harmony. Also, Americans value punctuality (“on time is late”), while Indonesians may be more flexible about time because relationships matter more than the clock.
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Common Misunderstandings
- Direct feedback vs face-saving: Americans may sound blunt; Indonesians may avoid saying “no” directly.
- Time & scheduling: Americans expect strict timing; Indonesians see time as negotiable.
- Classroom behavior: American professors expect open debate; Indonesian students often hesitate out of respect.
- Religion & food: Lack of understanding about prayer times or halal food options can cause discomfort.
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Evidence: Indonesian Students in the U.S.
Common struggles: - Language barriers, loneliness, different learning styles, culture-related stress.
- Social support (friends, mentors) reduces anxiety and increases adjustment.
- Students with open-mindedness and proactive behavior adapt faster.
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Coping Strategies & Adaptation
Individual strategies: - Manage expectations — culture shock is normal.
- Learn and observe local norms before judging.
- Join student clubs, international offices, or Indonesian associations.
- Maintain personal routines (prayer, food, journaling).
Institutional strategies: - Pre-departure orientation and ongoing mentoring.
- Cultural sensitivity workshops.
- Campus support for religion, food, and counseling.
Emphasize that culture shock isn’t just negative — it’s a learning journey. Students who go through it often become more empathetic and adaptable. They gain skills that employers value: teamwork, communication, and problem-solving in multicultural settings.
- Berry, J. W. (1997). Immigration, acculturation, and adaptation. Applied Psychology, 46(1), 5–34. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-0597.1997.tb01087.x
- Demes, K. A., & Geeraert, N. (2015). The highs and lows of a cultural transition. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 512. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00512
- Hall, E. T. (1976). Beyond Culture. Doubleday.
- Hofstede, G. (2010). Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind. McGraw-Hill.
- Oberg, K. (1960). Cultural shock: Adjustment to new cultural environments. Practical Anthropology, 7, 177–182.
- Ward, C., Bochner, S., & Furnham, A. (2001). The Psychology of Culture Shock (2nd ed.). Routledge.
- Hasyim, H., & Nur, S. (2022). Culture Shock Experienced by Indonesian Students in the U.S. IDEAS Journal, 10(2).
- Phillo, C., & Susanto, E. H. (2021). Culture Shock Phenomenon among Indonesian Students Returning from Abroad. Atlantis Press.
- Ting-Toomey, S. (2018). Communicating Across Cultures (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
- Gudykunst, W. B., & Kim, Y. Y. (2003). Communicating with Strangers (4th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
- Smith, R. A., & Khawaja, N. G. (2011). A review of the acculturation experiences of international students. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 35, 699–713.
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