Culture dimensions

Question 1

What are cultural dimensions and what is one example?

Answer 1

A dimension describes the trends of behaviour that are valued in a given culture.
One of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions is Individualisms vs collectivism

In Individualist societies:
- Ties between individuals are loose
- Expected to look after oneself or their immediate family

In collectivist societies:
- People are integrated into strong, cohesive in-groups, often extended families, which provides them with support and protection
However if an individual does not live up to the norms of the family or the larger social group, the result can sometimes be severe

Question 2

Aim of Berry?

Answer 2

To measure the difference of conformity between individualistic and collectivist communities

Question 3

Method of Berry?

Answer 3

• Using the Temne people of Sierra Leone and the Inuit people in Canada
  
  • The Temne is an collectivist community and Inuits are a individualist community
  • All never had western education and maintained the traditional way of life - and people were “in transition” - either have western education or having western employment
  • Scots were used as a reference group
  • They had to match a line to the most similar (out of 9 lines)
  • 2 practice tests were done to ensure they understood the assignment
  • On later trials, instructor hinted at a specific line which has the correct answer and told that their in-group also chose it
  • Then for the 4-6 trial, that was repeated but the answer hinted was purposely incorrect
  • The DV was the number of lines that their answer was away from the correct line.

Question 4

Findings of Berry?

Answer 4

• The Temne, which is the collectivistic culture had a much higher rate of conformity when told what other Temne believed, even though it was incorrect.
  
  • The Inuits had a even lower rate of conformity than the Scots.
  • There was no significant difference within groups, so whether they lived a traditional or western life.

Question 5

Conclusion of Berry?

Answer 5

• Cultural dimension played a significant role in conformity. They acted differently based on their individualistic and collectivistic culture that was reinforced by the instructions.