Hofstede

masculinity

assertive and competitive

uncertainty avoidance

deals with a society's tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity It indicates to what extent a culture programs its members to feel either uncomfortable or comfortable in unstructured situations. Unstructured situations are novel, unknown, surprising, different from usual.

feminine

modest, caring values

uncertainty accepting cultures

more tolerant of opinions different from what they are used to; they try to have as few rules as possible, and on the philosophical and religious level they are relativist and allow many currents to flow side by side. People within these cultures are more phlegmatic and contemplative, and not expected by their environment to express emotions

short term

respect for tradition, fulfilling social obligations, and protecting one's 'face'

collectivism

societies in which people from birth onwards are integrated into strong, cohesive in-groups, often extended families (with uncles, aunts and grandparents) which continue protecting them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty

individualist

societies in which the ties between individuals are loose: everyone is expected to look after him/herself and his/her immediate family.

power distance

the less powerful members of organizations and institutions (like the family) accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. This represents inequality (more versus less), but defined from below, not from above. It suggests that a society's level of inequality is endorsed by the followers as much as by the leaders.

long term

thrift and perseverance

uncertainty avoiding cultures

try to minimize the possibility of such situations by strict laws and rules, safety and security measures, and on the philosophical and religious level by a belief in absolute Truth; 'there can only be one Truth and we have it'. People in uncertainty avoiding countries are also more emotional, and motivated by inner nervous energy.