Despite the rich cultural diversity, stunning architecture, and dozens of Michelin-starred restaurants, some individuals experience “Paris Syndrome” – a psychological condition characterized by symptoms such as nausea, hallucinations, and increased heart rate upon arriving in the French capital.
What is Paris Syndrome?
Although it is very rare and not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), Paris Syndrome is recognized by many experts as a real phenomenon.
Paris Syndrome is a form of extreme culture shock.
Culture shock refers to the anxiety and emotions such as surprise, disorientation, and confusion that a person feels when exposed to a completely different culture or social environment.
According to The Atlantic, the symptoms of culture shock are similar to anxiety and mental disorders. When someone feels anxious, signals are sent to the stomach. These signals alter how the stomach and intestines process and digest food, leading to feelings of nausea.
“In cases of particularly severe anxiety – such as culture shock – feelings of nausea can lead to vomiting and trigger other physical reactions like acute paranoia, hallucinations, dizziness, sweating, and a feeling of persecution.”
Paris Syndrome is a form of extreme culture shock. (Photo: Hashcorner).
The majority of culture shock cases involve foreigners or international students living in a new country for several months. In contrast, Paris Syndrome occurs among tourists on short-term vacations.
Mathieu Deflem, a sociology professor at the University of South Carolina (USA), states that tourists often have an overly romanticized view of the City of Light. This is largely due to the portrayal of Paris in films such as Amélie (2001), Before Sunset (2004), and Emily in Paris (2020), as well as books like A Night at the Majestic (2006) and A Moveable Feast (1964).
These works focus on art, café culture, historic restaurants, and witty conversations. He believes this expectation is unrealistic.
In a 2020 study published by CEOWORLD, 36% of respondents rated Paris as the rudest city in Europe, double that of London (which ranked second).
Additionally, the city faces numerous issues such as rats, trash, graffiti, pickpocketing, and unpleasant odors.
Japanese Tourists are Most Likely to Experience Paris Syndrome
According to Deflem, Paris Syndrome is most common among Japanese tourists. He notes that Japan has a very orderly and polite culture. Meanwhile, Parisians sometimes disregard even those French individuals who do not live in the city.
Cultural differences, unmet romantic expectations, exhaustion, and language barriers explain why Japanese visitors are at higher risk for developing Paris Syndrome.
Two Japanese tourists take a photo in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. (Photo: SBS)
In 2006, NBC News reported that about 10 tourists in severe condition required medical attention. That year, the Japanese embassy in Paris repatriated at least four tourists. Among them, two women claimed their hotel room was being bugged.
The Japanese embassy also operates a 24-hour hotline to assist foreigners experiencing this syndrome.
Paris Syndrome Can Occur Anywhere
Do tourists visiting other famous, historically rich cities like Vienna (Austria), New York (USA), or Beijing (China) experience feelings and symptoms similar to those of Paris Syndrome?
Dr. Rodanthi Tzanelli (University of Leeds, UK) argues that Paris Syndrome is not exclusive to the French capital. She describes it as a “complex psychological phenomenon related to disappointment, even despair when reality does not match the tourists’ expectations.”
Young people tend to travel the world more, preparing well for what they will experience at a new destination. However, Tzanelli points out that no one is immune to culture shock, regardless of age or the number of countries they have visited.
“Humans are creatures of habit. We get caught up in a specific lifestyle, adopting behaviors and habits from our surroundings and becoming part of a culture or social group. When suddenly removed from that belief system and daily habits, people struggle to shape and define who they are, when to apologize, and when not to ask questions,” Deflem analyzes.
