CN2 : Cultural dimensions.

1. We will be asking numerous questions, so, like the last powerpoint, PARTICIPATE! I’ve heard how painful a laser to the eye is. Not mentioning that it can cause blindness…just sayin…

2. CN2:Cultural dimensions. By: Yo’ Mama Why does this look like a Pro-Ocean Powerpoint?

3. Dimensions! • In addition to cultural norms, dimensions are another cultural component. • They are perspectives of a culture based on values and cultural norms. • Hoefstede’sclassic study (1973) involved asking employees of the multinational company IBM to fill in surveys. He focused on the key differences submitted by employees in different countries and the trends he noticed were then called ‘dimensions.’

4. Halfway Decent Critical Thinking • Based on any preconceived notions of “cultural perspectives based on values and cultural norms,” can you deduce what the two Dimensions may be, and what they might consist of?

5. Not this kind of “cordial,” however, I could go for one right about now! Cordial Relations • Hoefstede argued that understanding dimensionswill ease communications between cultures. • Ex o’ Dif: Business in Middle Eastern and Western countries. During negotiation, Western countries work towards a target of mutual agreement, and shake hands when that agreement is met. In Middle Eastern countries, much negotiation takes place leading into the agreement. However, the hand shake represents serious negotiation is about to commence.

6. Not so “Critical” Thinking • Other than the example of differences between cultures just provided, what other prominent differences may exist between cultures? (Sports, medias, norms, etc.)

7. Individualism and Collectivism • Same old individual v collective differentiation. • Markus and Kitayama (1991) characterized the difference between US and Japanese cultures by citing two of their proverbs: • “In America, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” • “In Japan, the nail that stands out gets pounded down.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW7aWKXB5J4

8. Uncertainty and Avoidance • This deals with a society’s tolerance for indecision and ambiguity. • It indicates to what extent a culture programs itself to feel, either comfortable or uncomfortable, in unstructured situations. • Uncertainty-avoiding cultures try to minimize the possibility of such situations by strict laws and regulations. • Some cultures embrace these unforeseeable circumstances, and “go with the flow” as it were. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qem46KUMIOM 0:45—2:17

9. Keep it up! • What are two cultures, that you know of, that fit into this polarized way of structuring? Provide an example that helps explain your answer.

10. Confucian Work Dynamism • Bond (1988) argues that the Chinese, and other Asian cultures, replace “uncertainty-avoiding” with Confucian Work Dynamism, mostly due to having a long-term-orientation; valuing persistence and trustworthiness. • Hoefstedefound that some countries, including the US, have a short-term-orientation; valuing personal steadiness and stability. He also warned against succumbing to ecological fallacy—the assumption that people from different cultures are different. This concept simply gives psychologists a way to generalize about cultures in evaluating how culture effects behavior.

11. Lastly, AA it up for our ending question • What other applications do the dimensions have in American life? Are there examples where these dimensions were broken?

12. I lied…Proxemic Theory (1966) • Based on the individuals’ need for “personal space.” In Hall’s book, he showed that different cultures have different lengths of personal space. In contrast, from America and Europe, Americans have wider personal spaces, and often feel distressed when overseas and in crowds. • Hall also discussed the norm, time consciousness. Monochromic cultures focus on one thing at a time, whereas polychronic cultures multitask. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcJQg1YrDow&feature=related

13. Done Sorry for the not so “riveting” powerpoint and thanks to those who weren’t dead babies.