Culture Awareness Prof Jarosław Rokicki Ph D Andrzej

Culture Awareness Prof. Jarosław Rokicki, Ph. D. Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Kraków University Jagiellonian University Kraków, Poland NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 1

Learning Objectives The student will be able to: • Define culture and understand it as human’s way of life • Understand cultural similarities and deep differences • Understand causes and construction of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism • Deconstruct prejudice and stereotype • Cope with a culture shock • Find out a compromise between his/her own culture and the „other country’s society and culture • Apply CIMIC corporate identity in countries he/she has been sent to perform his/her mission NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 2

Definitions of Culture: Classical definition of culture: Culture. . . is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society. 19 th-century English anthropologist Edward Burnett Tylor NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 3

Definitions of Culture: Modern Definition: „fairly integrated whole, containing of human behaviors which proceed according to collective, common patterns that have been created and learned in the course of social interactions. This whole also contains results and products of that behaviors. Antonina Kłoskowska, Polish sociologist *integrated whole = system *human bahaviors = system’s elements *arranged according to common patterns *patterns have been socially created, individuals learned them from societies they belonged to *results and products of human behaviors also belong to realm of culture NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 4

Cultural differences: females’ outward appearance • A woman in Iran • A woman in Kenya • A woman in New Guinea • A woman in Egypt NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 5

Cultural differences: males’ outward appearance • A man from Taiwan • A man from Peru • A man from India • A man from New Guinea NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 6

Cultural differences: beauty and standards of attractiveness • Turkey • South Africa • Nigeria • Ecuador • Japan • Myanmar (Burma) NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 7

Cultural differences: the meaning of gestures NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 8

Eating habits Since Muslims typically perform bathroom hygiene with the left hand, they find the sight of a person eating with that hand to be revolting NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 9

Bottoms of feet exposure Islam holds that the sole of a shoe is unclean, therefore, to display the bottom of the foot is insulting. It says „you are like a worm that is to be crushed” NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 10

A-”OK” gesture A – OK gesture which express approval and pleasure. In some regions of France this symbol means „You’re worth of zero”. In some parts of Germany it is taken as a vulgar word for „rectum” NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 11

„Come here” gesture Malaysians understand this gestures also as „come here”. But they use it exlusively for calling animals NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 12

„Thumbs up” or hitchhiking gesture In Euro-American culture code this gesture means „good job” or „all right”. In Nigeria and also in Australia (particularly with a slight upward movement) it crudely says „Up yours” NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 13

„Stop” or „No, thanks” gesture In West Africa it means „You have five fathers” or, more simply, „You bastard!” NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 14

Dilemmas of Culture • Universalism vs. Relativism (All people are alike vs. each groups of people are different) • Ethnocentrism vs. Cultural Relativism (the practice of judging another culture by the standards of one’s own culture vs. the practice of judging a culture by its own standards) - Eurocentrism (the dominance of European cultural patterns) • Cultural Differentiation vs. Global Culture NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 15

What is this? NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 16

Wrong or right way? NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 17

Globalisation & cultural anchors Seoul, South Korea NATO UNCLASSIFIED Kristiansand, Norway www. cimic-coe. org Tianjin, P. R. C. 18

Kraków, Poland NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 19

Systems of Culture • Myth • Religion • Language • Arts and Fine Arts • History • Science Ernst Cassirer NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 20

What Does Culture Organize? • Space • Time • Life cycles • Norms & Values • Beliefs • Authority and Power • Social Groups NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 21

Space organizing: contact distance • Intimate distance for embracing, touching or whispering • Close phase - less than 6 inches • Far phase - 6 to 18 inches • Personal distance for interactions among good friends • Close phase - 1. 5 to 2. 5 feet • Far phase - 2. 5 to 4 feet • Social distance for interactions among acquaintances • Close phase - 5 to 7 feet • Far phase - 7 to 12 feet • Public distance used for public speaking • Close phase - 12 to 25 feet • Far phase - 25 feet or more NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 22

Space organizing: example of personal space • The most important variables infuecing the size of personal distance - Density of population - Position in society - Gender - Culture Cartoonist’s version of a personal space "bubble". NATO UNCLASSIFIED Cartoonist’s version of a bubble being violated and a harsh reaction. www. cimic-coe. org 23

Prejudices NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 24

Culture Shock Culture shock is a term used to describe the anxiety and feelings (of surprise, disorientation, confusion, etc. ) felt when people have to operate within an entirely different culture or social environment such as a different country. Dr. Kalervo Oberg in 1960’s NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 25

Culture Shock NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 26

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES? • Being cut off from cultural signals and known patterns of communication, especially the subtle, indirect ways of expressing feelings. Living or working over an extended period of time in a situation that is ambiguous. • Having your values (which were previously considered absolutes) brought into question. Being continually put into positions in which you are expected to function with maximum skill and speed, but where the rules have not been adequately explained. NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 27

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF CULTURE SHOCK? • Homesickness • Withdrawal (ex: spending excessive amounts of time reading and avoiding contact with local nationals) Chauvinist excesses Stereotyping of host nationals • Need for excessive amounts of sleep • Marital stress • Loss of ability to work effectively • Compulsive eating or drinking • Unexplainable fits of weeping • Irritability • Physical ailments (psychosomatic illness) • Boredom • Exaggerated cleanliness • Family tension & conflict NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 28

Culture Shock: Dynamics • Culture shock can be a process / phase of individual length depending on how close / distant the new culture is to the familiar culture. • Individuals go through a cycle of four sub-phases that can repeat themselves within the process. NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 29

Culture Shock: Phases • Phase I - the Honeymoon Phase • All encounters are considered positive and stimulating. • The individual is usually enthusiastic and willing to ignore minor irritations. The new surroundings / culture are seen as a (positive) chance to widen the individuals horizon. NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 30

Culture Shock: Phases Phase II - Culture shock proper • The individuals starts to notice discrepancies between his ideals / fantasies and reality. • Disorientation (the feeling of not knowing what is happening) and a general feeling of unhappiness can arise. The normal frame of reference seems lost. NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 31

Culture Shock: Phases • Phase III - the Healing Phase • The individual understands causes of the problem • The individual starts to solve the problem through means of compromise between his/her expectactions and reality of current social and cultural milieu NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 32

Culture Shock: Phases Phase IV - the Adaptation Phase • The individual adapts to the novel situation. • The individual has reached the point where s/he is able to work effectively, know the personal limits, pursue new ways of solving problems. • A more flexible approach has been reached. NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 33

Culture Shock U Curve NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 34

Typical Problems with „Alien“ Cultures Remember: People from different cultures usually are confronted with the same problems. Problems: • Insecurity in regards to social identity and self-esteem can become a problem when confronted with an alien setting. • The values of „our“ culture and the foreign culture – e. g. in the field of doing business - can vary greatly. • The greater the immersion into a foreign culture the greater the chance of regaining a (new) security/ identity. NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 35

Coping Strategies • Typical reaction to such „alien“ situations will follow three patterns: - an individual ignores or negates the situation. - an individual defines the situation as s/he would define a similar situation in his/her own context - an individual accepts that he/she is an „alien“ social and cultural milieu and he/she will try to widen his/her scope of view to come to find out an alternate but adequate solution NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 36

Cultural Values • To be able to reach an understanding of an „alien“ culture it is essential to understand its values • To be able to understand other people we have to understand their system of values • Accepting these values as values for oneself is not necessary - accepting them as values for others is! NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 37

Typical problems in dealing with/doing business with foreign cultures: • Formal approach vs. approach based on personal relation • Dissimilar styles of interaction: team structure - democracy vs. hierarchy - autocracy • Favaorable, tolerant, paternalist or openly racist views • Open vs. obscured expression of opinion / or information • Different mentality of population: activism/fatalism, perception of time, formalism/improvisation, time-oriented, task-oriented, people-oriented NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 38

How to Cope with „Alien“ Cultures? • The key to coping with „alien“ cultures is establishing means of communication with the other culture • To be able to function and prosper in an alien environment it is important to find a compromise between adhering to one‘s cultural background and traditions and adapting to the new setting. NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 39

CIMIC Corporate Identity • Communicative: by talking and listening, treating military and civilian counter-parts as equals, but keeping your military obligations in mind. NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 40

Applied CIMIC Corporate Identity • . . . talking and listening, but not arrogantly imposing personal views or ignoring local expertise • . . . treating military and civilian counterparts as equals, but not regarding others as inferiors because of their situation • . . . keeping our military obligations in mind but not giving up one‘s own background/ duties. NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 41

Cultural awareness - does and don‘ts • Respect your counterpart - treat him/her (if possible) as an equal, not as a subordinate. • Respect his/her personal / historical / cultural / religious / legal background and values. • Avoid trying to convert him/her to your own set of beliefs - find workable compromises. • Remain conscious of your own personal / historical / cultural / religious / legal background. NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 42

Culture Awareness: the Golden Rule The Golden Rule: Act unto others as you would like them to do unto you! "Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law. " Categorical Imperative NATO UNCLASSIFIED Immanuel Kant www. cimic-coe. org 43

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Symbols of Religions 1. Christianity, judaism, hinduism, bahaiism 2. Islam, tribal religions, Taoism, shintoism, 3. Buddhism, sikhism, hinduism, dżinism 4. Ayyavali, Penthagram (Wicca), Malteese cross, Pre. Christian Slavic religion NATO UNCLASSIFIED www. cimic-coe. org 45