Cultural Differences
Every culture has its own rules and conventions and few of us are aware of our own cultural biases. And while some of culture's knowledge, rules, beliefs, values, phobias and anxieties are taught explicitly, most of it is learned implicitly (unconsciously) without us even realizing. We are all different, however, generalizations can be made to help with problems that might happen when communicating with someone from of a different culture. Generalizations are different to stereotyping because as we study we do not judge others and remain open to exceptions.
Every culture has its own rules and conventions and few of us are aware of our own cultural biases. And while some of culture's knowledge, rules, beliefs, values, phobias and anxieties are taught explicitly, most of it is learned implicitly (unconsciously) without us even realizing. We are all different, however, generalizations can be made to help with problems that might happen when communicating with someone from of a different culture. Generalizations are different to stereotyping because as we study we do not judge others and remain open to exceptions.
|
|
Below we have combined Geert Hofsted's five cultural dimensions with Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner's seven cultural dimensions to highlight some of the most significant cultural differences found around the world. If we accept there are differences between cultures and that misunderstandings can occur between people because of cultural differences, how can we begin to try and prevent these misunderstandings and learn to communicate effectively? To help us understand, various academics have developed a variety of theories and models to try and explain just how cultures are different.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Lewis Model
|
Problems with Cultural Models
iCE recommends that students are a little skeptical when looking at the models here. They are useful and interesting and we should all be grateful to the social scientists who have collected, analyzed and presented the data. However, data collected within this discipline is done so through people's opinions and with samples of populations. Results must then be interpreted which again involves personal opinions and personal judgements. These models do not provide absolute truths, rather they give us an indication of trends.
iCE recommends that students are a little skeptical when looking at the models here. They are useful and interesting and we should all be grateful to the social scientists who have collected, analyzed and presented the data. However, data collected within this discipline is done so through people's opinions and with samples of populations. Results must then be interpreted which again involves personal opinions and personal judgements. These models do not provide absolute truths, rather they give us an indication of trends.
|
