Which Is Easier, Adjusting to a Similar or to a Dissimilar Culture?

Abstract

The intuitively paradoxical research proposition that it could be as difficult for business expatriates to adjust to a similar as to a dissimilar host culture is tested in this exploratory study. Based on data from a mail survey, a comparison of American business expatriates in Canada and Germany respectively did not reveal any difference in their extent of adjustment. Besides a significant between-group difference in cultural distance, confirming that the American expatriates perceived Canada as more culturally similar to America than Germany, no significant intergroup differences were detected for general adjustment, interaction adjustment, work adjustment and psychological adjustment. Neither was there a difference in the time-related variable; time to proficiency. Although highly tentative, the suggestion that the degree of cultural similarity/dissimilarity may be irrelevant as to how easily expatriates adjust is fundamental. Implications for theory, practice and future research of these findings are discussed in detail.

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