This metaphor of Square Heads, Round Heads, and Stop-Sign Heads is a way to explain the identity changes sojourners face after spending time in another culture. As you spend more and more time adopting some of the culture, traditions, and norms your square head gets reshaped, your corners get rounded off. Watch this short movie to see how it works:

The difficulty begins as you and your loved ones realize you will never truly be a Round Head but yet will never be 100% a Square Head again either. 

Sojourners must find a balance in this new identity. Finding support from others like you can help.

Reverse culture shock, or reentry shock, is the term researchers ascribe to the crisis that results from these identity changes. The theory explains why transitions back home after a cross-cultural experience are often more difficult than the initial transition into the new culture. Expectations have a lot to do with it - sojourners expect the new culture to be different and, thus, pose challenges, but they don't always expect the return home to present any difficulties. Ultimately, if sojourners admit that they have changed through their experience and that their families and friends have also changed, then they will be better able to anticipate and deal with any difficulties.


To learn more about the theory behind the metaphor, click here.