Angelica visits Thailand with her family. When she wears short-shorts and tank tops while visiting a series of temples during her first trip, she is met with hostility from the locals. She feels she no longer knows how to behave or interact with those outside her family. Angelica is experiencing select one:
a. Culture shock
b. Cultural imperialism
c. Xenocentricism
d. Material culture
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is a. Culture shock.
Explanation:
Culture shock refers to the feelings of disorientation and confusion that individuals often experience when they are exposed to a culture that is vastly different from their own. In this scenario, Angelica is facing discomfort and hostility from the locals in Thailand after wearing clothing that is not deemed appropriate for visiting temples. The reaction of the locals is a result of Angelica unintentionally violating cultural norms and expectations regarding appropriate attire for sacred places. This misunderstanding between her personal cultural habits and the cultural practices in Thailand creates the feeling of discomfort, confusion, and frustration — all hallmark symptoms of culture shock.
Culture shock typically involves a person feeling out of place, lost, or unsure about how to behave in a new cultural environment. It can arise when someone travels or moves to a place with different social norms, practices, and values than they are accustomed to. In this case, Angelica’s experience of being met with hostility from the locals suggests that she is struggling to adjust to the cultural expectations of Thailand, which is a classic indicator of culture shock.
To further clarify the other options:
- b. Cultural imperialism refers to the imposition of one culture’s values or practices onto another culture, often by a more dominant or powerful group. This doesn’t apply here as Angelica is not trying to impose her cultural norms but is merely unaware of the local customs.
- c. Xenocentrism is the belief that another culture is superior to one’s own, which is not reflected in Angelica’s experience.
- d. Material culture refers to physical objects or artifacts that are significant in a particular culture. This term is not relevant to Angelica’s interaction with cultural norms and practices.
Thus, Angelica’s feelings of confusion and alienation in the face of the locals’ reactions are best explained by culture shock.