PSYCHOLOGICAL ADAPTATION DURING INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Intercultural communications have become an integral part of our modern society and an interesting topic for investigation. Communications are the primary tool for information transfer. However, this process is interrelated to some psychological difficulties. During communication, our psyche carries out different functions, including information processing and adaptation to the situation. Any new information is perceived as stress. Communication with people is the stress itself, and communication with other cultures representatives can significantly impact the psyche. When having intercultural communication, most frequently, the speakers are stressed fur to the following factors: 1. Language barrier; 2. Fear to be misunderstood; 3. Fear of the opponent's social or cultural norms. A small survey (50 people were asked) identified that only five people are psychologically resistant (e.g., staying calm and confident) when communicating with other cultures' representatives. Other interviewees preferred to communicate through the interpreter or e-mail. Unless people have an opportunity to involve an interpreter, there is a possibility that the communication might fail or the sense of communication will be lost. The following points can become the main contributors to the communicational failure: 1. Use of the wrong vocabulary due to the stress impact; 2. Use of inappropriate body language that can lead to misunderstanding; 3. Selection of the wrong topic for discussion. Therefore, one's psychological status and knowledge about other cultures' peculiarities are essential for communication success. To ensure successful communication and stable emotional status, one should become psychologically adapted to the situation. Psychological adaptation can be divided into two parts: passive and active adaptation. It is a well-known fact that during communication, the speaker plays both active and passive roles. Hence, the social adaptation process stipulates both the environmental impact on the subject and its impact on the environment. This article aims to provide examples of psychological adaptation during intercultural communications, investigate and present new methods to overcome psychological difficulties during intercultural communication. It gives ideas on how intercultural communications can be facilitated. The investigation is conducted based on a sociological survey, questionnaires, and Internet materials.