Culture
Definitions and Explanations
Learning Targets
What you need to know/be able to do:
1) Define the term ‘culture’
2) Define the term ‘cultural norms’
3) Examine the role of two cultural dimensions
on behaviour
1) Individualism/Collectivism
2) Confucian Time Dynamism
Defining Culture
• Try to write your own definition of what you
think culture is…
• Share with a partner and try to think of the
best definition.
Define Culture
• Numerous definition but there are two important ones:
– Shiraev and Levy’s: “a set of attitudes, behaviours
and symbols shared by a large group of people
and usually communicated from one generation
to the next.”
– Matsumoto and Juang’s: “a unique meaning and
information system, shared by a group and
transmitted across generations, that allows the
group to meet basic needs of survival, pursue
happiness and well-being, and derive meaning
from life.”
Similarities in Definitions
• Passed across generations
• Shared by a group
• Other important aspects:
– Attitudes
– Behaviours
– Symbols
– Allows survival
Functions of Culture
• Makes it possible for people to interact
– Produce food
– Produce babies
– Develop knowledge, skills and tools
• Allows complex social networks and
relationships to form
– We can produce, appreciate and use:
• Art, science, mathematics
Objective vs. Subjective Culture
Objective Culture
• Cuisine
Subjective culture
• Attitudes
• Fashion
• Norms
• Technology
• Beliefs and values
• Anything you can see
• What you can’t see
Cultural Norm
• A cultural norm is…(find in text)
– “the norms of an established group
which:
• are transmitted across generations
• regulate behaviour
• Stay true to the group’s beliefs about ways
of thinking, feeling and behaving.”
– Related to:
• Attitudes
• Behaviours
• Symbols
Brainstorm three cultural
norms that exist in Japan
that fit the above bullet
points.
Cultural Norms cont…
• Extend to wider groups than social norms
• Contribute to a longer lasting sense of social
identity
Top 5 Individual Countries
1) America
2) Australia
3) UK
4) Netherlands
5) N.Z
Two Proverbs – guess the countries
• The squeaky wheel gets the grease
• The nail that stands out gets pounded down
Individualism/Collectivism
Individualism
• Personal is more important
than the social
• Persons are viewed as
unique
• Individual autonomy and
self-expression valued
• Competitiveness and selfsufficiency highly regarded
Collectivism
• Social more important than
personal
• Self defined by relationships
and obligations
• Individual autonomy and
self expression discouraged
• Group harmony more
important than individual
achievement
Ind/Col and Conformity
• Read the infomration on page 137 and write
one paragraph explaining how Bond and
Smith’s meta-analysis demonstrates that:
– A) ind/col can influence conformity
– B) this is an example of culture influencing
conformity
Time Orientation
• Long-term vs. Short-term Orientation
• How willing are you to delay getting material, social
and emotional needs?
• E.g. do you want 1,000yen right now, or 3,000yen in
two months time?
Long-Term vs. Short Term
• Long Term:
• Future-orientated
• Favour long standing
traditions
• Fulfil long term social
obligations
• Short Term:
• Not concerned with
past traditions
• Impatient
• Strive for immediate
results
How much will a culture delay their gratification of emotional, material
and social needs??? This is what determines long vs short term
orientation.
Examples
• Chen et. al, survey – Singaporean vs. American
– Would you rather pay more and have a book
delivered now, or pay less and have it a few days
later.
– US. Vs. Thai Managers
– Life Pace;
• Fastest in Switzerland, Ireland and Germany.
• Slowest in Mexico, Indonesia and Brazil.
Drama Activity
• You are to write and act (not in front of the class)
a scene that displays the differences between
long-term orientation and short-term orientation.
• Choose from one of the following scenarios to
write a script: you get bonus points for the more
characteristics you can add:
– A law student’s first day
– A first date
– A CEO of a marketing company in a boardroom
meeting