Cultural Dimensions思维导图

Cultural Dimensions学习笔记，适用于预习、复习的参照。适用于考前复习，也可以综合其他资料使用。

Cultural Dimensions

• Individualism versus collectivism
  • definition: the degree to which a culture relies on and has allegiance to the self or the group
  • how to assess: an individualism index(IDV)
    • high IDVs：be highly individualistic(key words: independence, privacy, self)-e.g.Australia, the United States
    • low IDVs: a collectivist orientation(key words: obligations to the group, dependence of the individual on organizations and institutions, a "we"consciousness, an emphasis on belonging)-e.g.Indonesia, West Africa
  • the differences
    • the psychological distance between the ingroup and the outgroup
      • collectivistic cultures: large
      • individualistic cultures: small
    • the means of resolving difficulties
      • collectivistic cultures: not speak out
      • individualistic cultures: speak out
    • the means of dealing with interpersonal problems
      • collectivistic cultures: use avoidance, third-party intermediaries, or other face-saving techniques
      • individualistic cultures: use confrontational strategies
• Uncertainty avoidance
  • definition: the extent to which the culture feels threatened by ambiguous, uncertain situations and tries to avoid them by establishing more structure
  • how to assess: an uncertainty avoidance index(UAI)
    • low UAIs: e.g. Denmark, Ireland
      • have a high tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity
      • believe in minimizing the number of rules and rituals that govern social conduct and human behavior
      • believe in tolerating people who behave in ways that are considered socially deviant
      • believe in taking risks and trying new things
    • high UAIs: e.g. Greece
      • desire or even demand consensus about societal goals
      • do not tolerate dissent or allow deviation in the behaviors of cultural members
      • believe in accepting and encouraging dissent among cultural members
      • try to ensure certainty and security through an extensive set of rules, regulations, and rituals
• Power distance
  • definition: the degree to which the culture believes that institutional and organizational power should be distributed unequally and the decisions of the power holders should be challenged or accepted
  • how to assess: a power distance index(PDI)
    • low PDIs: prefer small power distance(e.g. Austria, Denmark, Israel)
      • believe in the importance of minimizing social or class inequalities
      • question or challenge authority figures
      • reduce hierarchical organizational structures
      • use power only for legitimate purposes
    • high PDIs: prefer large power distance(e.g. Arab countries, Malaysia)
      • believe that each person has a rightful and protected place in the social order, that the actions of authorities should not be challenged or questioned
      • believe that hierarchy and inequality are appropriate and beneficial
      • believe that those with social status have a right to use their power for whatever purposes and in whatever ways they deem desirable
  • the consequences
    • family customs
      • Children raised in high-PDI cultures: be expected to obey their parents without challenging or questioning them, while children raised in
      • Children raised in low-PDI cultures: put less value on obedience and are taught to seek reasons or justifications for their parents' actions
    • the relationships between students and teachers
      • Students in high-PDI cultures: be expected to comply with the wishes and requests of their teachers
      • Students in low-PDI cultures: regard their independence as very important, and they are less likely to conform to the expectations of teachers or other authorities.
    • organizational practices
• Masculinity versus femininity
  • definition: the degree to which a culture values such behaviors as assertiveness and the acquisition of wealth or caring for others and the quality of life.
  • how to assess: a masculinity index(MAS)
    • high-MAS culture: e.g. Mexico,Italy
      • believe in achievement and ambition in judging people on the basis of their performance and in the right to display the material goods that have been acquired.
      • believe in ostentatious manliness, and very specific behaviors and products are associated with appropriate male behavior
    • low-MAS culture: e.g. Chile, Sweden
      • believe less in external achievements and shows of manliness and more in the importance of life choices that improve intrinsic aspects of the quality of life
      • prefer equality between the sexes, less prescriptive role behaviors associated with each gender, and an acceptance of nurturing roles for both women and men.
  • the differences
    • high-MAS culture
      • believe that men should be assertive and women should be nurturing.
      • Sex roles are clearly differentiated, and sexual inequality is regarded as beneficial.
    • low-MAS culture
      • men are far less interested in achievement
      • sex roles are far more fluid, and equality between the sexes is the norm
• have a Western bias
• Long-term versus short-term orientation
  • basis
    • the work of Michael H. Bond
  • definition: a person's point of reference about life and work.
  • classification
    • long-term orientation
    • short-term orientation
• provides insights into the influence of culture on the communication process