Chapter 4
Ethnocentricity
Assuming one's own culture to be superior to other cultures
Sociocultural
Description of the social world through which we observe the effects of culture. It is the combination of social and cultural.
Low Context Culture
Explicit communication, direct, unambiguous, to the point. Does not rely on context and is commonly found in North America.
Communitarianism
belief that the group is the beneficiary of actions
Univeralist
condition in which concepts apply to all
Particularist
condition in which context determines what concepts apply
Monochronic
having to do with linear time, sequential activities that is divisible into block. Low context cultures are monochronic.
Polychronic
having to do with simultaneous activities, multi-tasking. High context cultures are polychronic.
Specific vs. diffuse
life divided into public and private vs. life undifferentiated
Context
the relevant environment
Culture
the sum total of beliefs, rules, techniques, institutions, and artifacts that characterize human populations
Achievement vs. ascription
what a person does vs. who a person is
Neutral vs. affective
withholding emotion vs. expressing emotion
Aesthetics
A culture's sense of beauty and good taste
High Context Culture
Communication is implicit and indirect, subtle and inferred. Context plays exceeding strong role and carries much meaning. Usually found in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East
Material culture or artifacts
all human-made objects; concerned with how people make things (technology) and who make what and why (economics)
