Culture and cultural dimensions
What is the definition of culture?
A set of unique attitudes, behaviours, customs and symbols shared by a large group of people. We learn all of these customs etc. through the process of socialization. Country does not necessarily equate to culture.
According to Hofstede, these are some key ideas of highly collectivist cultures with regard to family, school, and the workplace:
Group goals have priority of individual goals Behaviour is regulated by group norms Harmony should always be maintained.
The name of a study that can be used to highlight the role of cultural norms.
Milgram
The name of a study that can be used to highlight how the cultural dimension of individualism and collectivism can influence behaivour.
Milgram (dimensions)
This is one essential way to add critical thinking to an essay about the role of cultural dimensions in behaviour.
One has to be careful with applying the idea of dimensions too casually. These different dimensions are not sets of polar opposites, but rather a continuum. When one looks at two different cultures, it should not be assumed that two members from two different cultures must be different from one another, or that a single member of a culture will always demonstrate the dimensions which are the norm of that culture. There will always be normal variation within a culture and not all members of a culture will exhibit behaviours consistent with each dimension.
These people conducted a Meta-Analysis of the results of 133 studies that replicated Asch's original line study in 17 different countries. The researchers analysed all of the studies looking for cultural similarities and/or differences in conformity. They found that generally speaking, people from more individualist cultures conformed less often than those from collectivist cultures.
Smith and Bond
According to Hofstede, these are some key ideas of highly individualist cultures with regard to family, school, and the workplace:
Speaking one's mind is healthy. Honest people speak their mind. Individual goals are more important than group goals The pursuit of individual happiness is important.
What is deep culture? Give an example
The beliefs and values of a culture. For example, moral codes and religious beliefs.
A general definition of the individualism / collectivism cultural dimension.
The degree to which people in a society are integrated into groups. On the individualist side we find cultures in which the ties between individuals are loose: everyone is expected to look after him/herself and his/her immediate family. On the collectivist side we find cultures in which people from birth onwards are integrated into strong, cohesive in-groups, often with extended families.
Definition of cultural dimensions
Descriptive continuums that help to describe some of the more commonly shared characteristics of individuals within a particular culture.
Most cultural dimensions are based on the work of this researcher.
Hofstede
This is how Milgram's study highlights the role of individualism and collectivism in behaviour.
In this instance conformity appears to be more common (more of a group norm) in collectivist societies. This is in line with the idea that in collectivist societies behaviour is regulated by group norms. Collectivist societies believe that harmony should always be maintained and thus conforming would maintain harmony. Whereas, in individualist societies honest people speak their mind and speaking one's mind is healthy, thus, it would be the right thing to do to give the correct answer instead of going along with the group and giving the incorrect one.
This is the cultural dimensions that you need to be aware of.
Individualism / collectivism
What is surface culture? Give an example
The visible parts of a culture. Eg., food and clothing.
Definition of cultural norms
Typical, accepted and expected ways of behaving in a culture. They regulate behaviour within a culture.
We can distinguish between two different types of cultures. What are the two different types?
surface and deep
