Culture Shock - Cultural Differences in Coping Strategies

Cultural Differences in Coping Strategies

Research Paper (postgraduate) from the year 2005 in the subject Psychology - Developmental Psychology, grade: A- , LMU Munich (Department Psychologie), course: Research Practice, 15 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Crossing the nations boarder was always one of people's aims. This ancient phenomenon was over hundreds and thousands of years connected with conquer and war, territories and colonies. Only the recent development of information and communication technologies allowed a global network of economy, politics and science. The connection of these fields lead to an exchange of cultures; especially larger cities are often named as a melting pot. Therefore, the development of multicultural societies concerns every single person and crosscultural competences are required from everybody. Taking part in international exchange study programs is a possibility for students to reach those competences (Thomas 1993, p. 377). According to Thomas (1993, pp. 389-391) cultures differ in four dimensions. First dimension is the unequal allocation of power, and the acceptance of this condition, in institutions and organizations.