VALUE DIFFERENCES INDIVIDUALISTIC VS COLLECTIVISTIC LANGUAGE STYLES POWERGENDER

 Individualistic ◦ “I” oriented ◦ Personal achievement/growth ◦ What is best for “me”  Collectivistic ◦ “We” oriented ◦ Cooperation

 Low context style ◦ Message content ◦ very precise/direct ◦ “what is your point”  High context style ◦ Context is key ◦ Harmony

 Low power distance ◦ Minimize differences ◦ Allow for debate ◦ Does not eliminate hierarchy system  High power distance ◦ Maintains differences ◦ Hierarchy system enforced

 Masculine dominated ◦ Dominance ◦ Status ◦ Strict gender roles  Feminine culture ◦ Sensitivity ◦ Compassion ◦ Connection

 Cultural relativism ◦ All beliefs, customs, and ethics are relative to the individual within his own context. ◦ What is right to one culture may be considered wrong to another. ◦ “I will impose my culture on you”

 Misattribution ◦ misreading behavior  Interpersonal mis- communications ◦ understand the cultural norms/roles/rules of the culture ◦ “what works in “A” will not work with “B”

 Pay attention to your behavior ◦ Do not label until… ◦ Open to new information ◦ Recognize different perspectives

 Promote convergence (similarities between cultures) ◦ adjust styles of speaking ◦ find common ground ◦ ask questions