Deck 2: Understanding Culture As Multilevel

Question 1

Describe the two broad properties of culture that are especially relevant for developing cultural competence. Cite an example to illustrate your answer.

Answer 1

The two broad properties of culture that are especially relevant for developing cultural competence are diversity and dynamism.

Diversity refers to the wide range of beliefs, values, behaviors, and traditions within a particular culture or across different cultures. It is important to understand and appreciate this diversity in order to effectively interact with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. For example, in a multicultural workplace, employees may have different communication styles, decision-making processes, and approaches to conflict resolution based on their cultural backgrounds. Recognizing and respecting these differences is crucial for creating a harmonious and inclusive work environment.

Dynamism refers to the fact that culture is not static, but rather it evolves and changes over time. Cultural competence requires individuals to stay open-minded and adaptable as they encounter new cultural experiences and information. For instance, as technology advances and globalization continues to connect people from different parts of the world, new cultural practices and norms may emerge. Being culturally competent means being willing to continuously learn and update one's understanding of different cultures in order to effectively navigate these changes.

In summary, understanding the diversity and dynamism of culture is essential for developing cultural competence, as it allows individuals to navigate and effectively interact with people from diverse cultural backgrounds in a respectful and adaptable manner.

Question 2

Discuss three beneficial results of using the "Aspects of Culture. " Cite an example to illustrate your answer.

Answer 2

The "Aspects of Culture" framework helps individuals and organizations to understand and appreciate different cultural practices and beliefs. Three beneficial results of using this framework include promoting cultural awareness and sensitivity, fostering cross-cultural communication and collaboration, and facilitating effective diversity and inclusion initiatives.

For example, in a business setting, understanding the "Aspects of Culture" can help employees and leaders to recognize and respect cultural differences, leading to a more inclusive and harmonious work environment. This can also lead to improved communication and collaboration among team members from diverse cultural backgrounds, ultimately resulting in better decision-making and problem-solving. Additionally, by incorporating the "Aspects of Culture" into diversity and inclusion initiatives, organizations can create a more welcoming and equitable workplace for employees of all cultural backgrounds. Overall, the "Aspects of Culture" framework can have a positive impact on both individual and organizational levels, promoting a more inclusive and interconnected global society.

Question 3

Describe the four levels of culture used with the Aspects of Culture citing an example of each.

Answer 3

The four levels of culture used with the Aspects of Culture are:

1. Symbols: This level of culture includes language, gestures, and other forms of communication that convey meaning. An example of symbols in culture is the American flag, which represents freedom and democracy.

2. Heroes: This level of culture involves the people who are celebrated and admired in a society. An example of heroes in culture is Mahatma Gandhi, who is revered for his peaceful leadership in India's fight for independence.

3. Rituals: This level of culture includes the customs and traditions that are repeated and symbolic in a society. An example of rituals in culture is the Japanese tea ceremony, which is a highly choreographed and symbolic practice.

4. Values: This level of culture encompasses the beliefs and principles that guide behavior and decision-making in a society. An example of values in culture is the emphasis on family and community in many Asian cultures, where the collective well-being is prioritized over individual success.

Question 4

Discuss the meaning of personal culture. Cite an example to illustrate your answer.

Question 5

Discuss the meaning of ethnic group and the race concept. Cite an example to illustrate your answer.

Question 6

Discuss mainstream/national culture. What is meant by institutionalized? Cite an example to illustrate your answer.

Question 7

Discuss organization culture. Cite an example to illustrate your answer

Question 8

Which best describes the culture concept

A) learned, shared, and transmitted values, beliefs, and customs of a designated group
B) learned, shared, and transmitted values, beliefs, and customs of a designated group that
Influence the thinking and actions of individual members.
C) patterned lifeways of a designated group
D) a and c are correct

Question 9

Broad properties of culture include

A) culture is both subjective and objective
B) culture is transmitted inter-generationally
C) culture is multilevel and dynamic.
D) a and c above
E) all of the above

Question 10

Which best describes culture as "software of our mind"

A) pervasive yet invisible influence of culture on our thought and behavior
B) compelling way in which one's culture effects behavior
C) ways in which culture is organized into systems that affect behavior
D) all of the above are correct
E) none of the above are correct

Question 11

Culture is objective because it

A) provides unbiased ways of understanding
B) is embodied in patterned behavior
C) manifests in social interaction
D) b and c are correct
E) none of the above are correct

Question 12

Culture as multilevel means

A) culture operates on six levels
B) operates on five levels
C) operates on eight levels
D) operates on several levels simultaneously

Question 13

Which best describes culture as dynamic

A) our daily decisions and actions as individuals are the generative source of culture
B) culture is always changing
C) culture is changing today due to the diverse cultures residing in the same communities
D) practical activity has nothing to do with culture

Question 14

Which of the following is not one of the 12 Aspects of Culture

A) Value Orientations
B) Family Life Processes
C) Healing Beliefs and Practices
D) Thinking and Learning Style
E) Spiritual Beliefs and Practices

Question 15

Which best describes personal culture

A) the entirety of a person's meaning system and usual behavior
B) a person's ethnicity, sex, race, class, religion, and sexual orientation
C) a person's values and goals
D) none of the above

Question 16

Which best describes ethnic group

A) the race and culture of a group
B) the common heritage shared by a group
C) associated beliefs and behavior systems that are generally passed on through learning to the next generation
D) b and c are correct

Question 17

Which best describes mainstream/national culture

A) The dominant culture whose core is English in origin
B) the dominant culture that is incorporated in and informs all major institutions
C) Americans don't have a culture; they are individuals
D) a and b are correct

Question 18

Which is not true about organization culture

A) the values, beliefs, assumptions, and customary ways of behaving embodied in
Organization policies, procedures, programs and processes
B) because they are always changing, organizations do not have time to develop a culture
C) highly congruent with mainstream culture
D) a and c
E) none of the above

Question 19

It is important to understand the stages of socio-cultural awareness that occur in the identity-change process because

A) they effect the work domain
B) their dynamics comprise the micro-cognitive processes within people's perceptions and
Judgments that underlie their behavior
C) as we grow older we experience less stress if we understand what is happening to us
D) a and b are correct

Question 20

The construction of our sense of self within the context of U.S. mainstream culture

A) is heavily influenced by mainstream culture's mechanisms of stratification which are
Based on five assumptions about diversity
B) results in a struggle with diversity issues because most of us are at stage one or two in the identity-change process
C) although mainstream culture's mono-cultural assumptions and stratification mechanisms effect personality development generally, the process is highly unconscious
D) all of the above are correct