Deck 6: Cultural Values:guidelines for Behavior

Question 1

Working with others, list the American cultural values mentioned in this chapter. Try to think of other values that are not included in the text. Then find examples from American advertising campaigns that illustrate those values. For example, the advertising slogan, "Just do it," from an athletic-shoe manufacturer, reflects the American values of perseverance and accomplishment.

Answer 1

Ameri-an culture values include control over the environment through personal actions, dynamic changes, values equality and gives importance to individuals privacy and space, have future orientation and high level of competition. Most of them value their work and like to be open minded and honest in their actions.
They believe in practical effort and efficiency. They prefer their work culture and people with openness and direct with a futuristic and competitiveness.
The other values include good work life balance, helping nature, respecting their multicultural and lifestyles etc. are a part of their values.
The example of American advertising campaigns that depicts the values that Americ--s believe and share are of L'-real brand that says "because you are worth it". The punch line of this advertising campaign says a lot about the perception that Ameri--n holds about them. The importance of their personal attire is highlighted.
Thus advertising campaigns too depicts a lot of behavioral traits of a particular culture and people belonging to that very culture. Through advertising campaigns the values of their culture are expressed and the product is taken to the customers.

Question 2

How does a study of cultural values help you understand other cultures?

Answer 2

Studying about ones culture helps to shape and develop ones personality that best fits the culture. The norms, traditions, practices and values can be learned through studying the culture. It helps a person to create an identity and act according to the acceptable norms. Cultural knowledge enables a person to act, interact, communicate, understand and makes people a part of the society.
Studying culture helps a person to understand other cultures wherein the individual relates one's own culture with other cultures.
In other words, studying new culture gives a platform to relate one's existing cultural beliefs and knowledge with that new culture. It becomes very obvious when a new culture is studied and it gets related to the existing culture of the individual. Thus an individual looks at his own perspective when he studies and looks about any new culture. He can easily learn the new culture and better understand the differences. This helps him develop an easy adaptability towards other culture.

Question 3

Working with others and using Hofstede's value dimensions, make a list of behaviors found in American culture that reflect individualism, uncertainty avoidance, and femininity.

Answer 3

Hofstede's value dimensions are all about the behaviors that one exhibits being in a particular culture. The following is the list of behaviors found in Ameri--n culture that reflects individualism, uncertainty avoidance, and femininity.
• Uncertainty avoidance is the extent to which one can avoid and control uncertainty regarding the future events by following certain norms, practices and protocols.
Ameri-n culture has low uncertainty avoidance. They accept the changes, more flexible and less constrained by the social protocols and easily accepts the uncertainty inherent in their life.
• Individualism: high level of importance is given to individual role and privacy. Independence is given more weightage than interdependence. Individual are rewarded in a group and given first preference and secondary preference is given to organization and workers.
• Femininity: Ameri- - n culture respects women and encourages them in nurturing roles. Although few aspects are dominated by masculinity particularly in politics, women are treated with respect and care.

Question 4

What differences in behavior are exhibited by people who come from cultures that have different activity orientations?

Question 5

Working with others, make a list of typical American behaviors that relate to evil, good and evil, and good. How widespread are these behaviors within the culture?

Question 6

Examine the concept of high- and low-context cultures. What problems can you anticipate when you are communicating with someone who holds a different context orientation?

Question 7

Examine your behavior and determine how well you fit into the various degrees of time orientation.

Question 8

How can cultural differences in social perception affect the intercultural communication process?

Question 9

Think about a recent conflict situation in which you participated (e.g., an argument with your significant other, your parents, or a stranger). What communication strategies did you use to give, maintain, or take face?

Question 10

What cultural values help explain why face is more important in Asian societies than in the United States?