Chapter 11 - Cultural bereavement, culture shock and culture conflict:

Summary

One of the key factors in the process of migration is what the individuals carry with them and what they leave behind. Following the process of migration and then settling down in the new society, the individual may experience cultural bereavement, culture shock or culture conflict. Although grief is often associated with loss, the notion of cultural bereavement arises from an understanding of losses incurred and related to cultural values. This chapter describes in brief various theories related to bereavement. To understand culture shock and culture conflict, the role of acculturation and the processes related to it become very important. Acculturation is seen as the process in which individuals and groups from different cultures come into continuous contact with another culture. Racial and cultural congruity become important in understanding where an individual settles down and what kind of response they and their group generate amongs the larger society.