Cultural Orientation Shock: Sheng's Experience in the United States

What cultural shock did Sheng experience when he came to the United States?

Sheng is accustomed to referring to his boss as "Mr. Jones" because that’s what his culture dictates. When he came to the United States, he was surprised everyone calls their bosses by their first names. Sheng explained to his colleagues that in his country, this practice would be a violation of ______ orientation.

Answer:

Sheng thought that it would be a violation of cultural orientation

Sheng's experience highlights the differences in cultural orientation between different countries. Cultural orientation is an inclination to think and act in a certain way that is culturally acceptable in a particular place.

For example, in most African and Asian parts of the world, it is a culturally acceptable standard to address your elderly ones in formal settings like "Elder sister" or "Elder brother." This is a form of respect and acknowledgment of age differences among the individuals involved.

Doing so shows the cultural upbringing of the person, unlike in the United States where it is common to address people by their first name. In the case of Sheng, she believes that a situation where their boss is addressed by their first name shows a violation of cultural orientation which has been inculcated in her while growing up.