The cultural environment

Question 1

What is ethnocentrism ?

Answer 1

This is when somebody relates to the world only in terms of their own culture. ( therefore thinking that every other culture is wrong)

Question 2

What is polycentrism ?

Answer 2

This means openness and understanding of other cultures

Question 3

What is a subculture ?

Answer 3

This is a group of people who share a unique way of life within a larger dominant culture

Question 4

What does the culture as an iceberg mean ?

Answer 4

1. high culture - culture that is visible
2. folk culture - culture that we are aware of
3. deep culture - culture that people aren’t aware of

Question 5

What are the components of culture ?

Answer 5

1. aesthetics
2. physical and material environments
3. values and attitudes
4. social structure
5. personal communication
6. religion
7. education

Question 6

What are the two dimensions of social structure ?

Answer 6

1. individuals vs groups (reference groups, family run businesses)
2. social stratification and social mobility (caste vs class system)

Question 7

What is social structure ?

Answer 7

This is the pattern of social arrangements and organised relationships that characterise a society

Question 8

What are values ?

Answer 8

Ideas, beliefs and customs that people are emotionally attached to

Question 9

What are attitudes ?

Answer 9

They reflect peoples underlying values

Question 10

What are manners ?

Answer 10

These are appropriate ways of behaving, speaking and dressing

Question 11

What are customs ?

Answer 11

Habits or other ways of behaving in specific circumstances that are passed from generations in a culture

Question 12

What is folk custom?

Answer 12

This is behaviour often dating back several generations in a group of people

Question 13

What is popular custom?

Answer 13

This is behaviour shared by a heterogeneous group

Question 14

What are gift giving customs ?

Answer 14

For example, in China etc. it is normal whereas in most western societies it is regarded as bribery

Question 15

What does low context culture mean in terms of language ?

Answer 15

This means clear and direct communication e.g. no means no

Question 16

What does high context mean in terms of language ?

Answer 16

This means that communication relies heavily on relationships e.g. it relies on context to get the point across

Question 17

What is a lingua franca ?

Answer 17

This is a third or link language understood by two parties of different languages

Question 18

What is the Kluckhohn -Strodtbeck framework ?

Answer 18

This means the relation to nature, time orientation, trust and control, material / spiritual, responsibility to others and view of personal space

Question 19

What is the Hofstede framework ?

Answer 19

This was the first framework for culture and it initially had four dimensions and then cadded more on
It included individualism vs collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity vs femininty, lon g term orientation, indulgence vs restraint

Question 20

What causes migration and social change ?

Answer 20

push factors - escape from poverty etc.

pull factors - prospect of work and economic betterment

Question 21

What is urbanisation ?

Answer 21

This is the movement of people from rural areas to urban areas

Question 22

What is cross-cultural risk ?

Answer 22

This is a situation where a cultural misunderstanding puts some human value at stake

Question 23

How to achieve cross-cultural literacy ?

Answer 23

1. tolerance for ambiguity
2. perceptiveness
3. valuing personal relationships
4. flexibility and adaptability