During your trip to Great Britain, you notice that the British drive on the opposite side of the road, criticize your American accent, and refuse to accept U.S. dollars in shops. Feeling confused and out of your element, what are you most likely experiencing?

Explanation

Culture shock occurs when someone feels disoriented or uncomfortable due to unfamiliar cultural practices and social norms, such as driving on the opposite side of the road or language differences. In this scenario, the traveler’s feelings of confusion and alienation indicate culture shock, rather than xenocentrism, the Hawthorne effect, or the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis.