Functions of cultural value Chapter 3

Value orientation Based on set of universal questions that human beings consciously or unconsciously seek to answer. The answers or solutions to these questions are available in all cultures but each culture has it’s own preferences. Basic criteria through which we evaluate our own behaviors and the behaviors of others. These are guidelines for our motivations, expectations, perceptions, interpretations, and communicative actions.

Values have many functions Identity meaning function Fundamental questions such as “Who am I in this world”? Explanatory function We commonly share and/or understand values in our cultures. We play “guessing game” when interacting with other culture.

Functions continued Boundary-regulation function Adaptation function Ingroup and outgroup attitude when dealing with people who are culturally dissimilar. Adaptation function People adapt their needs and ways of living in response to changing habitat; culture also changes Surface-level cultural artifacts (fashion) change faster than deeper-level cultural elements (beliefs and values)

Analyzing cultural value dimension Cultural value analysis highlights the potential differences and similarities of value patterns between cultural groups. These are general tendencies of culture, there are wide variety of individual value tendencies

Cultural Values Identified four dimensions along which dominant patterns of a culture can be ordered: Individualism-collectivism Small/large power distance Low/high uncertainty avoidance Masculinity-femininity

Individualism Refers to the balance of concern for oneself and concern for others (individual over group identity) Promotes self-sufficiency, individual responsibility, and personal autonomy. Everyone is expected to look after him/herself and their immediate family. This cultural pattern is found in most northern and western regions of Europe and North America (U.S., Australia, Great Britain, and Canada) Values emphasized: freedom, honesty, social recognition, comfort, and personal equity.

Collectivism Emphasizes the importance of the “we” identity over the “I” identity. Promotes relational interdependence, ingroup harmony, and ingroup collaborative spirit. Cultural patterns found in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Central and South America, and the Pacific islands. Values emphasized: harmony, face-saving, respect parents/elderly, equality among peers.

Power Distance Has been defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions (like the family) accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. People in small power distance value equal power distribution, equal rights and relations, and rewards. People in large power distance tend to accept unequal power distribution, hierarchical rights. Consequences of power distance evident in family, student-teacher, and business relationships.

Uncertainty avoidance Uncertainty avoidance- refers to how a culture chooses to adapt to change, to what extend they do not mind the conflicts and cope with uncertainty. Weak (low) uncertainty avoidance cultures encourage risk taking and conflict-approaching modes; United States is weak in uncertainty avoidance. Strong (high) uncertainty avoidance cultures tend to: be highly resistant to change, perceive uncertainty and conflict as threatening, and often adopt many rules to control social behavior.

Uncertainty Avoidance Is not the same as risk avoidance; but it deals with a society’s tolerance for ambiguity. It indicates extent for either structured or unstructured situations. Unstructured: novel, unknown, surprising Structured: strict behavioral codes, laws and rules etc.

Masculinity-femininity Refers to the extent cultures prefer achievement or nurturance. Social and gender roles are clearly defined in highly masculine cultures. Men are suppose to be assertive, masculine, tough, and focused on tasks, often primary breadwinners. In feminine cultures, social accommodation is highly regarded. Social gender roles are fluid and can overlap.

IBM research reveled Women’s values differ less among societies than men’s values Men’s values from one country to another and contain dimension from very assertive and competitive to modest and caring and similar to women’s values. Masculinity is high in Japan, German speaking countries, Latin like Italy and Mexico. It is low in Nordic countries.

Additional value orientation patterns Based on set of universal questions that human beings consciously or unconsciously seek to answer. The answer or solutions to these questions are available in all cultures; however some cultures have a stronger preference for one particular set of answers than for others.

Meaning: doing-being activity value orientation Question: What do people consider as meaningful: doing or being? Doing: solution means achievement-orientation activities. Being: solution means living with emotional vitality. Being-in-becoming: means living with an emphasis on spiritual renewal

Discussion question: What do U.S. Americans tend to consider meaningful activity?

Destiny: Controlling-yielding people-nature value orientation Question: Is the relationship between people and the natural (or supernatural) environment one of control, harmony, or subordination? Controlling their environment: These cultures tend to believe in mastery and control over the natural environment. Includes middle-class European Americans.

Destiny: continued Harmony-with-nature or “flowing” value solution: These cultures tend to emphasize spiritual transformation or enlightenment rather than material gain (Example; includes Buddhist culture). Subjugation-to-nature or “yielding” value solution: These cultures believe that nature is a powerful force that is beyond the control of individuals (Example; includes many Middle Eastern cultures).

Time: future-past temporal value orientation Question: Is the temporal focus in the culture based on the future, present or past? Future-oriented time sense: means planning for desirable short- to medium-term developments and setting out clear objectives to realize them. European Americans subscribe to this orientation.

Time: continued Present-oriented time sense: means valuing the here and how, especially the interpersonal relationships that are unfolding currently, Latino/a Americans tend to subscribe to this orientation. Past-oriented time sense: means honoring historic and ancestral ties plus respecting the wisdom of the elders. Asian immigrants tend to subscribe to this orientation.

Space: privacy-communal spatial value orientation Question: What is the spatial value emphasis in this particular culture Proxemics studies examine the functions are regulation of interpersonal space in different cultures. Conversational distance or personal space for European Americans is 20 inches; for Latin Americans, it is 14-15 inches, and for Saudis, it is 9-10 inches.

Proxemic studies Have you ever had someone stand too close to you as he or she spoke to you? How close was it? What thoughts or interpretations did you have? What feelings were you feeling?

Space; continued High spatial privacy people have a strong need for a well-defined personal space. Low spatial privacy people may have come from a family or cultural region high in density; they are used to crowding.