Cultural Fatigue
2009-10-01 16:45:49
Cultural Fatigue
Definition of Cultural Fatigue:
“Cultural Fatigue is the physical and emotional exhaustion that almost invariably results from the infinite series of minute adjustments required for long-term survival in an alien culture. Living and working overseas generally requires that one must suspend his automatic evaluations and judgments, that he must supply new interpretations to seemingly familiar behavior and that he must demand of himself constant alterations in the style and content of his activity. Whether this process is conscious or unconscious, successful, or unsuccessful, it consumes and enormous amount of energy leaving the individual decidedly fatigued…”
- Cultural Confrontation in the Philippines
Book by David L. Szanton
Maybe this a helpful reference:
“Cultural Confrontation in the Philippines. In Textor ed, Cultural Frontiers of the Peace Corps. MIT Press, 1965.“
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Philippines
Southeast Asia
Friday, October 2, 2009
Buy the Same Gear as Andy uses… Sold at three times the price, sorry.
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I would personally thank David L. Szanton for writing this comment some 40 years ago, it is as poignant accurate today as it was than.
Cultural Fatigue
I personally know I become culturally fatigued, however fatigue is often too mild of word, I can be exhausted, and consumed by frustration anger. I have developed many coping mechanisms that allows me to travel perpetually travel and continually change cultures. I ride an emotional roller coaster and must be continually in touch with my emotions or lose the plot.
I will be exploring this concept in small doses, the denial, anger, shame, and rage that can be elicited by this discussion of cultural fatigue is incredible.
Are you losing the plot?
Cultural Fatigue
http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/faculty/Szanton.html
Cultural Fatigue