CULTURE SHOCK - A THEATRE OF THE ABSURD.

The present paper focuses on the affective and cognitive impact a new culture has on the individual. Culture shock is a very controversial term in today's society. Some of the factors that cause such feelings of alienation, helplessness, irritation or confusion are language, food, climate, social roles or values. In the globalization context, people have to be able to cope with stress, with accepting a new identity and with developing a new dimension for understanding social contexts. Multiculturalism should be regarded as a positive aspect and the individual must focus on integration rather than segregation. The papers also researches ways of facilitating the adjustment process, of helping people to adapt to unfamiliar cultural settings. The key to getting over culture shock is to understand and assimilate the new culture while preserving one's own values and principles intact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]