culture shock

culture shock   n.  A condition of confusion and anxiety affecting a person suddenly exposed to an alien culture or milieu.

Main Entry: culture shock
Function: noun
: a sense of confusion and uncertainty sometimes with feelings of anxiety that may affect people exposed to an alien culture orenvironment without adequate preparation

culture shock n.
A condition of confusion and anxiety affecting a person suddenly exposed to an unfamiliar culture or milieu.

culture shock

A state of confusion and anxiety experienced by someone upon encountering an alien environment. For example, It's not just jet lagit's the culture shock of being in a new country. This term was first used by social scientists to describe, for example, the experience of a person moving from the country to a big city. It is now used more loosely, as in the example. [Late 1930s]