An Overview of the Various Migrant’s Disorders
 
This work was commissioned by one Mimie of Hallifax, an immigrant herself who had only a few years before the commission joined our glorious society after having left the cultural sink-hole that is the Duchy of Gaudiguch.  This transition is unsurprisingly a jarring one, given the sharp divide between the behaviour of each society, and her disorientation led to an interest in the study of what might be described as 'cultural shock.'  Following her victory in the Institute's recent author auction, she has elected to have a work produced on this topic.  It is the author's opinion that it might be particularly valuable to some of our glorious Nation's ministers in various matters related to foreign relations and trade as well as the assimilation of new citizens.
 
It has been observed in both foreigners visiting the glorious capital of the Hallifaxian Commonwealth and in our own couriers, traders, and various diplomatic functionaries in travel abroad that the initial and early experiences of visiting a new city can provoke a variety of psychological responses.  These responses appear to be an extension of the general range of mental effects arising from exposure to new experiences, exacerbated by the magnitude of and all-encompassing nature of a visit to a new city.  Collectively, these various responses might be termed Migrant's Disorders.
 
The intensity of these responses can range from mild, transient phenomena to debilitating psychological syndromes.  A number of factors have been found to have predictive power regarding the severity and specific nature of these responses.  The following text is a collection of observations about the specific manifestations of the Migrant's Disorders and the factors predictive of specific outcomes.
 
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Description of Predictive Factors

While the presentation of the various symptoms is to some degree random, an analysis of conditions a prior allow a prediction with some degree of accuracy.  Such an assessment may be useful prior to the assignment of duties abroad to the middle and lower castes to predict and account for potential impairment as a result of such effects. 

The single most significant factor is the duration of exposure.  The results of a brief visit of a few days will be dramatically different than the results of long-term residence.  Consequently, the other factors that need be considered depend heavily on the nature of the visit being conducted.

Brief visits, such as those conducted by our merchants and messengers, are most likely to produce sudden and dramatic effects.  The severity of the symptoms in this case are largely dependent on the mindset and attitude of the traveller.  Worldly explorers, those of high status who are well-accustomed to splendour, and those of the stern-minded temperament often observed in veterans are best able to deal with the sudden shock of immersion in a new culture.  It is recommended that the leaders of missions abroad make allowances such that their plans do not depend on their younger and more impressionable assistants, at least in their first visit to a new society.  It is noted that another significant contributor in the effect of brief visits is the prior conception of the city a visitor has, with some symptoms being provoked by a substantial discrepancy between their own image of a society and its impression in person.

Longer residence, which might occur in the establishment of a permanent trade post or the maintenance of a diplomatic mission, provokes a different set of responses.  In ensuring the loyalty of our own citizens while abroad, the same traits which reduce the likelihood of sudden cultural shock will also reduce the impact of long-term immersion in foreign culture.  Unfortunately, such roles require individuals amiable to and empathetic of foreigners.  For this reason, citizens with demonstrated long-term loyalty to the Commonwealth substantial ties to the well established families of Hallifax, and with significant personal holdings within our city which they would forfeit if they were to shirk their duties are all important in preventing the process of cultural assimilation in such individuals.  Strong ties to organizations of our nation, particularly its guilds and religious orders, further serve to prevent the erosion of Hallifaxian identity.  Equally important is the establishment of an enclave around our citizens abroad, ensuring that through mutual oversight and interaction with other citizens they might reinforce one another's ties to the Commonwealth. 

On the other hand, assimilation is to be encouraged in foreigners within our realms.  We might expect the best results in inculcating our culture and virtues into foreigners who are young, open-minded, and social.  It is particularly effective to see that they are isolated from other members of their previous society as much as possible, to prevent recidivistic tendencies in readopting old habits.

Other predictive factors, such as self-esteem, financial security, and job satisfaction, among others, can also be influential in determining the course of assimilation but are unlikely to be significant concerns in trusted citizens given duties abroad by the Board or the ministers.

In cases of prolonged residence, fewer symptoms and complications arise when a resident's native culture is similar to the surrounding culture.  Assimilation is easier, but conversely defection is less likely as acclimation will provoke little or no moral dissonance which might inspire a shift in loyalties.

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Description of Symptoms

A wide variety of effects have been observed as a result of culture shock.  In particular, the symptoms fall into two overarching categories corresponding to the two major predictive factors; Initial visits may provoke symptoms of exposure, while prolonged visits are responsible for symptoms of immersion.

Symptoms of exposure result from the initial impression a city makes on its visitor.  Because this is a more sudden process than immersion, the symptoms tend to be more dramatic and intense.  The most mild and common symptom is a feeling of confusion or disorientation which arises naturally from sudden confrontation with many new experiences.  This symptom can be dramatically reduced if a travel is accompanied by an experienced guide.  In more sever cases, this confusion manifests itself in a sense of unreality, with many travellers describing a 'dream-like' impression during their first days in a new society.  A visitor note a number of other symptoms including dizziness, an elevation of the pulse, or even fainting.  Psychological complications such as hallucinations are exceedingly rare but not unheard in severe cases.  Two particularly distinct and severe manifestations of exposure symptoms have been recognized and are designated Tower Syndrome and Sand Syndrome, both detailed on later pages.

Symptoms of immersion arise from the discrepancy of a resident's personal cultural and the culture of the society they are immersed in.  For this reason, it is obvious that cultures that differ substantially will produce more serious symptoms than similar cultures will. The emotional stresses of foreign immersion provoke primarily psychological complications.  In their mildest cases, these stresses give rise to feelings of general anxiety which can rise to feels of inadequacy and sensations of persecution, with the potential to escalate towards a feeling of lost identity in prolonged and severe cases.  In the long term, these stresses either compel a subject to adopt the culture and practices around them to reduce this strain or else provoke a sense of rebellion against the encroachment of the surrounding society, with the subject embracing an attitude of resentment and isolation and potentially engaging in contrary, defiant, and even destructive behaviour.  While particularly severe cases are recognized as a mental disorder known as Immigrant Syndrome, these cases are not particularly distinct from lesser expressions of immersion symptoms except by their severity.

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Spire Syndrome

One of the most severe expressions of culture shock is Tower Syndrome, so called because many reported cases have been prompted by the awe-inspiring impression left by the towers of Hallifax on new guests.  While cases have been reported in all of the cities and communes of the Basin of life, there is a strong correlation observed between the presence of large or striking architecture and manifestation of the syndrome.  Related to this trend, it has been observed that those from less majestic environs, particularly the villages of the Basin but certain a certain commune and city as well, are particularly susceptible to the syndrome.

The worst symptoms of cultural shock are often expressed persistently over several days.  Palpations, sensations of unreality, and fainting are the early warning signs of the disorder.  While these symptoms are common to multiple presentations of acute culture shock, Spire Syndrome is particularly distinguished by a sudden and overwhelming impression of the supremacy of the city responsible for the condition.  The sufferer will find themselves fascinated by their environment and, as a result, filled with admiration for those responsible for it. 

Individuals afflicted with Spire Syndrome manifest their fascination in a number of ways.  In some cases, the suffer wanders aimless through the city, so intent on absorbing the fine qualities of their surroundings they are rendered nearly unresponsive to other stimuli.  Others become fascinated with the inhabitants of the city and single-mindedly pursue chances to talk to and otherwise interact with them, particular concerning themselves with the praise of the surrounding society.  Less commonly, the subject becomes fascinated with a specific aspect or even a single element of the society.  They may spend every available moment admiring a single sculpture or a particular type of art.

While a variety of specific manias may manifest, certain other properties are observed universally, their severity being proportional to the degree of fascination.  A reduced awareness of their surroundings and an impaired ability to focus are the most obvious of these symptoms.  The subject's fascination will persist even if they are temporarily isolated from the culture and environment inspiring their obsession and is likely that they will attempt to find ways to relate to or learn more about that culture, taking any opportunity to discuss it or peruse literature related to it.  

It should be clarified at this juncture that the fascination a sufferer of Spire Syndrome experiences is a genuine emotional response.  Unlike the transient nature of certain magically induced feelings, such as the effects of the tarot of Lust which can be overcome with a few moments of focused willpower, or the induced psychological conditions such as paranoia which can be treated herbally, Spire Syndrome must in large part be allowed to run its course.

The long-term complications and recovery from Spire Syndrome are quite variable and unpredictable.  Some subjects recover from it within a few days without requiring any assistance or counselling, shrugging off their fascination as an impulsive child might dismiss a hobby that ceases to amuse them.  Others wrestle with their fascination for some time, eventually coming to accept that the new society they have been exposed to is, while different, not necessarily more grand than their own.  In some cases, the fascination is permanent or gives way to a milder but enduring appreciation of the city in question.  Such subjects may abandon their prior obligations to pursue a place in the nation they have come to idolize; typically in such cases, cultural assimilation is dramatically eased as the subject desires to embrace their new way of life and tends to take an optimistic view in regards to obstacles and negative experiences.  These dramatic converts sometimes come to embody traits and qualities of their new society with greater zeal than its natives.

It is difficult to prematurely terminate a case of Spire Syndrome.  For the most part, a subject must be allowed to reach the natural conclusions of the emotional experience.  Just as serious-minded individuals and a greater scope of life experiences serves to protect one from the range of acute cultural shock symptoms so too do these qualities tend to diminish the length of fascination in the case of Spire Syndrome.  To some degree, respected individuals and symbols of the sufferer's own culture can help diminish the severity and duration of the disorder.

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Sand Syndrome

In an inverse of Spire Syndrome, some cases of culture shock produce an intense adverse reaction to the society.  While the contrast of one's native lands to those visited is responsible for the prior condition, Sand Syndrome arises from misconceptions regarding a visited civilization.  A particularly common case arises from a false impression of the so-called Holy Duchy of Gaudiguch, the geographical location of which lends this disorder its name.  Those compelled to visit the city, should they be expecting to be marvelled by the majesty of the ancient pyramids or anticipating spirited philosophical debate may find themselves sorely disappointed upon discovering the degenerate reality of that nation.  Just as Spire Syndrome is often induced by towering and majestic sites, both naturally occurring and, more often, produced by civilization, Sand Syndrome is more common upon exposure to societies that possess grand reputations but either through the absence of striking features or through poor maintenance of the same dramatically fail to live up to their historic reputation.  It must be none-the-less acknowledged that only societies sufficiently large and capable to even appear capable of living up to a magnificent reputation and with the potential to induce any degree of culture shock can cause Sand Syndrome.

Since the syndrome arises primarily out of cognitive dissonance, it is unsurprising that its symptoms are manifest primarily as adversarial to the society they temporarily coexist with.  In addition to the expected symptoms associated with almost all similar disorders, one will observe symptoms such as a sensation of persecution, including potentially false perceptions of prejudice, hostility, and judgement from natives of the visited region.  The syndrome often culminates in confrontations, either verbal or violent, with the citizenry.

As with the previous disorder, there is no treatment capable of spontaneously resolving this psychological condition quickly, but unlike that condition, Sand Syndrome typically does not resolve itself after a few days or weeks.  The sudden shock combined with negative experiences exacerbated by the disorder usually cement a soundly negative impression in the mind of the sufferer.  Only a prolonged period of positive experiences in the offending society have been known to reduce the severity of the condition.  Since such conditions are hard to arrange, it is unusual for a sufferer to ever fully overcome their aversions.  This may not be a problem for Commonwealth agents abroad, as their overwhelming contempt for a lesser society at least ensures they will not be susceptible to corruption by that society.

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Conclusions

Exposure to a new society can potentially provoke a wide range of responses in a traveller.  While the conditions here are uncommon (with studies conducted through the Ministry of the Ambassador indicating an occurrence of approximate two dozen cases of disorders serious enough to classify as syndromes each year) an awareness about the psychology of travel and assimilation is essential for many of our ministers and their aides.  By ensuring our ministers are informed, their aides prepared, and our citizens abroad forewarned, we might minimize the losses caused by psychological complications, improve the processes by which new citizens are incorporated into our society, and ensure the loyalty of our agents in foreign cities.  Such information may also be valuable in compromising known or suspected spies, either by pushing them into a deranged mental state or by inducing them to prefer service to the glorious Overcity in preference to their foreign masters.  Failing all else, it is hoped that this text might convince wanderers sitting the fence on the issue to do themselves the service of avoiding Gaudiguch during their travels.