How does Paris syndrome affect some visitors to the French capital?

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How does Paris Syndrome affect some visitors to the French capital?
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Romance, sophistication, croissants and sipping fine wine with the Eiffel Tower in the background spring to mind when thinking of a visit to Paris. With such a romanticized notion of the French capital, it's no surprise that it remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, with 33 million people expected to visit in 2022 according to Le Monde. But it seems that the reality of Paris is more than what some visitors' stomachs can handle. In fact, some are so shocked by how it compares to their expectations that they experience psychiatric breakdowns or symptoms such as hallucinations, depersonalization, anxiety, dizziness and nausea. This is known as the Paris Syndrome and was first identified by Japanese psychiatrist Hiroaki Ota in 1986 Why do some visitors have such unrealistic expectations of Paris? Pop culture has played a pivotal role in shaping the expectations for those visiting Paris. More specifically, film and TV have shaped how the world may perceive the French capital. The popular Netflix show Emily in Paris is a prime example.
Some of the perceived stereotypes that the show portrays, such as Parisians being unfriendly and not speaking English, sparked controversy over how true the show is to real Parisian life. Many view it as perpetuating stereotypes. Some argue that such presentations of Paris are inaccurate and outdated, perhaps reflecting the Paris of decades gone by rather than the current reality. Paris Syndrome is said to be most common among Japanese people. However, there are reports of the syndrome having affected a variety of people. How do you actually explain the physical symptoms? Paris Syndrome is essentially an extreme form of culture shock. With idealistic expectations in mind, visitors are extremely surprised to find out that Paris isn't always as lovey-dovey as they thought it would be.
There's litter on the streets, visible poverty and other normal real-life situations that aren't shown in the movies. There are also some differences between Japanese and Parisian culture that may contribute to Japanese visitors in particular being affected. One example is overt Parisian pride, which can be seen as snobbiness or arrogance by some, including French people from other parts of the country. That stands in stark contrast with the general air of humility and politeness present in Japanese culture. Paris Syndrome can be understood as an example of the reality versus expectation trap, where people can experience feelings of discontentment and unhappiness when there's a disparity between the two. The best way to avoid Paris Syndrome is to remember that real life isn't always like the movies. There you have it.
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