Dimensions of culture Flashcards

1
Q

What is a cultural theory?

A

A framework, a structure that results from observing/analyzing/studying
social behavior, structures, institutions

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2
Q

What do macro analytic cultural theories offer?

A
  • Focus on the “big picture” not on the individual level
  • Analysis of large-scale, systemic patterns of a culture
  • Examination of societal shifts due to globalization or technological
    change, …
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3
Q

Edward Hall´s theory

A
  • high context vs low context
  • high territoriality vs low territoriality
  • monochromic time vs polychromic time
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4
Q

High context vs. low context cultures

A

High context cultures:
* many unwritten rules and contextual elements, much is taken for granted,
less verbal communication needed, probability of misunderstanding for an “outsider” is high
* clear social structure, loyality and hierarchy
* stable, “old” cultures – e.g. Spain, France, …

Low context cultures:
* very few unwritten rules, explanation is needed,
direct communication, less misunderstanding
e.g. US-american culture – mobile environments, intercultural society (urban
spaces) with different cultural backgrounds

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5
Q

Monochromic time vs polychromic time

A

Monochronic time culture:

  • doing one thing at a time, planning, scheduling, concentrate on one thing,
    “time management”, “iron hand of time”
  • high context cultures, structure of society: hierarchical, tendence to authoritarian

Polychronic time cultures:
* everything needs its own time, human interaction is more valued than time ore materal things, improvisation
* low context cultures, structure of society: more egalitarian, relationship first

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6
Q

High territoriality vs low territoriality

A

High territoriality
- ownership, need of own space, big spaces (homes, cars, …)
- conflicts about boundaries (high territorial nation culture)
- tendence to low context culture

Low territoriality
- Less ownership, no need of own space, reduced spaces
- Less or no conflicts about boundaries (low territorial nation culture)
- tendence to high context culture -> if rules and unwritten contents are
clear, less security is needed and so less space is needed?

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7
Q

Proxemics

A

Space: personal body space, home space, public space

Public: walking around, keeping distance to people we dont know, safety

Social zone: in a group or a room, getting connected, but comfortable distance

Personal: e.g. two people talking to each other, affection

Intimate: if not respected feeling that the other is “invading” our own space

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8
Q

Some criticism to Hall:

A
  • Stereotypes and generalization, clichés
  • Intercultural communication but not multicultural
  • Lack in methodology (empirical surveys)
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9
Q

Organizational Cultures Theory:
– Geert Hofstede

A

> Culture is always a collective phenomenon, within each collective there is a variety of individuals.

-> Culture distinguishes (outside) and connects (interior)

-> Organizational cultures: the way people perceive what goes on in their organizational environment

-> The researcher is part of the research: subjectivity of (social) science

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10
Q

6 dimensions

A
  1. Power Distance
  2. Uncertainty Avoidance
  3. Individualism versus Collectivism
  4. Masculinity versus Femininity
  5. Long Term versus Short Term Orientation
  6. Indulgence versus Restraint
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11
Q
  1. Power distance
A

Related to the different solutions to the basic problem of human inequality.

Small power distance cultures.
- Society treats children as equals
- Student-centered education
- Hierarchy: inequality of roles
- Subordinated expect to be consulted
- Pluralist governments
- Corruption is rare, scandals end political carrees
- Income distribution rather even

Large power distance cultures:
- Society teaches children obedience
- Teacher centered education
Hierarchy: inequality by existence
- Subordinated expect to be told what to do
- Autocratic governments
- Corruption is high, scandals are covered
- Income distribution very uneven

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12
Q
  1. Uncertainty Avoidance
A
  • Related to the level of stress in a society in the face of an unknown future
  • Society’s tolerance for ambiguity
  • Uncertainty avoiding cultures try to minimize the possibility of uncertain/unstructured situations by strict behavioral codes, laws and rules,
    disapproval of deviant opinions, and a belief in absolute Truth
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13
Q

Weak uncertainty avoidance

A
  • Tolerance of deviant persons and ideas: what is different is curious
  • Comfortable with ambiguity and chaos
  • Higher scores on subjective wellbeing
  • Dislike of rules - written or unwritten
  • Citizens feel and are seen as
    competent towards authorities
  • In religion, philosophy and science: relativism and empiricism
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14
Q

Strong uncertainty avoidance

A
  • No tolerance of deviant persons and ideas: what is different is dangerous
  • Need for clarity and structure
  • Lower scores on subjective wellbeing
  • Emotional need for rules, even if not obeyed
  • Citizens feel and are seen as incompetent
    towards authorities
  • In religion, philosophy and science: belief in ultimate truths and grand theories
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15
Q

Individualism versus Collectivism

A
  • societal, not individual characteristic
  • Which/how many people in a society are integrated into groups?
  • Hofstede: fundamental dimension, regarding all societies in the world
  • wealth tends to lead to individualism
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16
Q

Individualism vs collectivism- differences

A

Individualism:

  • Individual and immediate family
  • “I” – consciousness
  • Others classified as individuals
  • Personal opinion expected: one person one vote
  • Task prevails over relationship

Collectivism
- Extended families or clans
- We” –consciousness
- Others classified as in-group or out-group
- Opinions and votes predetermined by in-
group
- Relationship prevails over task

17
Q
  1. Masculinity versus Femininity
A
  • societal, not individual characteristic
  • related to the division of emotional roles between women and men
  • distribution of values between the genders
18
Q

Masculinity

A
  • Maximum emotional and social role differentiation between the genders
  • Assertiveness, competition
  • Work prevails over family
  • Admiration for the strong
  • Few women in elected political positions

Japan, Germany, Italy, Mexico

19
Q

Feminity

A
  • Minimum emotional and social role differentiation between the genders
  • Caring, cooperation
  • Balance between family and work
  • Sympathy for the weak
  • Many women in elected political positions
  • Nordic countries, Netherlands
20
Q
  1. Long Term versus Short Term Orientation
A
  • related to the choice of focus for people’s efforts:
  • the future or the present and past
  • strongly correlated with recent economic growth
21
Q

Short term oriented cultures

A
  • Past and present oriented
  • Steadiness and stability
  • Universal guidelines about what is good and evil
  • Traditions are sacrosanct
  • Proud of one culture
  • Social spending and consumption
  • Slow or no economic growth
22
Q

Long term oriented cultures

A
  • Future oriented
  • Dynamic, changes
  • Good and evil depends upon the circumstances
  • Traditions are adaptable
  • Open minded to learn from new cultures
  • Large savings quote
  • Fast economic growth of countries
23
Q
  1. Indulgence versus Restraint
A

Related to the gratification versus control of basic human desires related to
enjoying life, “happiness”

Indulgence tends to prevail in South and North America, in Western Europe and in parts of Sub-Sahara Africa.

Restraint prevails in Eastern Europe, in Asia and in the Muslim world. Mediterranean Europe takes a middle position on this dimension.

24
Q

Indulgent cultures

A
  • Perception of personal life control: what happens to me is my own doing
  • Higher importance of leisure
  • More likely to remember positive emotions and experiences
  • In countries with educated
    populations, higher birthrates
  • Maintaining order in the nation is not given a high priority
25
Q

Restraint cultures

A

Perception of helplessness: what happens to me is not my own doing

Lower importance of leisure

More likely to remember negative emotions
and experiences

In countries with educated populations, lower birthrates

Higher number of police officers per 100,000
population

26
Q

Critical consideration of Hofstede

A
  • Stereotypes and generalization
  • Lack in methodology: Do IBM employees represent a population of a country or world’s population? National culture?
  • Critics argue that Hofstede country scores based on IBM subsidiaries around 1970 are obsolete today:
  • New technologies, ways of communication and globalization are making
    societies more and more similar.