Culture shock is a feeling of confusion and uncertainty with a sense of anxiety that can affect people exposed to a new culture or environment without sufficient preparation. However, the intensity of culture shock depends on the level of preparation prior to exposure to the new culture. Therefore, it is entirely possible that some may not experience the negative effects of culture shock.
Some of the main reasons for foreigners to be in Thailand include holidays, education, work and business. This study focuses only on a group of ten expatriates working in various industries in Thailand. Thailand has its own cultural characteristics and traditions, so expats working here may experience a certain level of culture shock.
It is interesting to find out how they prepare and manage themselves through cultural differences while living in Thailand. This study aims to examine the expatriate culture shock experience in order to better understand the issues involved in this process and to be able to find ways to respond to the needs of those affected. He will make suggestions to help minimize the effects of culture shock and enable a positive adjustment to Thai culture.
This study analyzes the social support that influences the process of expatriate adaptation to Thai culture while working in Thailand.
LITERATURE REVIEW
- Culture shock symptoms
- The stages of culture shock
- The Honeymoon Stage
- The Crisis Stage
- The Stage of Development of a Positive Attitude
- The Stage of Adjustment
- Thai Way
- Individual Personality
The extent, intensity and duration of culture shock appears to be a function of differences between home and host cultures (Uwaje, 2009). Expatriates are intrigued and curious about anything that is different from what they are used to and at the same time amazed by cultural similarities (Pedersen 1995). Oberg (1960) describes that immigrants will have an aggressive attitude towards the host country and develop stereotypes after the honeymoon period is over.
Expatriates are struck by the new culture and everything they have found entertaining until now begins to be irritating, resulting in culture shock (Oberg 1960). This is the first stage of acceptance, of developing a positive attitude that will be the time when expats understand how to survive in the new country and accept the changing culture and know how to deal with it. It is the time of the beginning of adaptation and the challenges of how to function in the new culture are being faced positively (Oberg, 1960).
If expats have gained some knowledge, they can be more open to communication with their colleagues and instead of criticizing them, they start to joke about them and even be sarcastic about their dire plight. In addition, expatriates accept that they have some problems and start asking their colleagues for help, gradually reaching the final stage of their adjustment (Oberg 1960). The final stage of the adjustment model is adjustment, if expatriates make it through.
This will be the time when they accept the new culture as a different way of living and working. They embrace the new culture and feel comfortable, confident and able to make decisions based on their own preferences. No longer feel alone or isolated and begin to feel at home because you appreciate both the differences and the similarities in the new culture.
Living in Thailand can be not only interesting and exciting, but also very frustrating when expats realize what the cultural differences are. All expats can suffer from culture shock, but the degree to which they suffer depends on the host country and its specific cultural characteristics, the individual personality of the expats and how effective they are at doing their job, their attitude towards people from the host country and vice versa, and the importance of the international task (Adler 2008; Marx 1999; Oberg 1960). It has been seen as predictive of how well expats can adapt to a new culture.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
- Research design
- Population and sampling
- Data collection
- Data analysis
The target samples are five expats from different industries who are currently working in Thailand and another five who used to work in Thailand. A total of ten expats representing both genders as well as Western and non-Western countries selected through purposive sampling. Some were executives in the office, former business partners and personal contacts, or recommended by others.
For this study, the characteristics were related to the background of the expatriates, such as country of origin and age, trying to get a sample that covered a wide range of expats, but also with their accessibility. The interviews seem to be a suitable method because they provide the opportunity to ask open-ended questions to a small sample and explore individual experiences or opinions. It is a sampling method that allows committed individuals to share their experiences and the way they handled the culture shock in their working lives.
This study used semi-structured interviews because this type of interview focuses on the interviewee's opinion and experience, with the aim of obtaining in-depth data (Bryman 2008). The pattern of interview was more conversational rather than a formal interview, and the conversation based on participant not interviewer (Marshall and Rossman, 1999). There was an interview guide which made sure that important theoretical issues were covered in the conversation and it facilitated the analysis by categories.
The reason the interview was not fully structured was that it allowed the interviewees to talk about individual opinions and experiences in a non-restrictive way. Clarifying questions were asked when it seemed necessary to check how the interviewees understood the questions and whether the interviewer correctly understood their answer. The interview questions aimed to gain a more in-depth understanding of the cultural experience of expats and their problems and concerns in adapting to and working in Thailand.
The research method most commonly used to analyze interview transcripts to reveal or model people's information-related behaviors and thoughts (Patton, 2002). Therefore, the definition of the coding unit is one of the most fundamental and important decisions (Weber, 1990). The conclusion from the coded data involves making sense of the identified themes or categories and their characteristics.
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
Observation findings
Demographic profiles of respondents
Factors toward breaking thought culture shock consumption
The expats are still excited about life in the new culture and working in the new office, even though some of them have traveled to Thailand before. They enjoy a very good time and feel little fear from the host culture as the environment in the new culture is considered to be fantastic and exotic. So this allows them to express enjoyment to the host culture with a low level of responsibility for their behavior, so that once they experienced difficulties, they still perceived them as part of the adventure.
It is a crisis phase without the help of the company in dealing with expectations and differences in their perception and cultural transitions, which are usually considered that the symptoms of culture shock can persist and negatively affect their successful adaptation. In the recovery phase, individuals begin to deal with their emotions and create a positive attitude towards the surrounding people and the environment of the host country (Oberg 1960). I feel that I have to change to some extent to adapt to Thai working habits and to become part of the team in the office.'
Expatriates must be aware of the value conflicts they will encounter and be prepared to change their attitudes towards the new culture by recognizing the advantages of living in the new country rather than complaining about their experiences of feeling inferior and the differences from their Home country. When adjustment to the general environment is properly handled, expatriates can form satisfactory relationships and friendships, but the nature of the foreigner. So also for expats who have been working in Thailand for a few years but seem to be seriously focusing on learning the local language.
However, it is noted that non-verbal expressions of communication caused more problems than language barriers. Most of the time, expats learn to understand that it is the Thai way, but they have difficulty accepting it. All immigrants seem to have adjusted well even though they have problems at work.
The analysis showed that the expats need time to adapt themselves to the host country. After learning about the stages and symptoms of culture shock, the expats all experienced some form of culture shock. The order of the stages can be changed because some of them said their crisis occurred after they already felt adjusted.
The findings of the study indicate that expats do not seem to be aware of the culture shock phenomenon at the time they are living through it. This unexpected result forces the theory that these companies should provide the expats with a pre-departure training program to better prepare them for the obstacles they will encounter in the host country.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Practical Implications
Limitations of the study & Recommendations for future research
Science Service, (23 October 1940), 'Culture Shock Seen as a Strategic Factor' in Daily Emporia Gazette (Kansas).
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