DIMENSIONS OF CULTURAL VARIABILITY PSYC 338

FRAMEWORKS FOR STUDYING CROSS-CULTURAL VARIABILITY * Hofstede’s value dimensions * Schwartz’ universal value structure * Trompenaars’ value dilemmas * Triandis’ cultural patterns * Hall’s concepts of time, space and context  Cultural Dimensions

Questions to ask Which values are universal? Which values are only shared by a group of people? Do people share the same basic value orientations? Do different environmental conditions produce different values? Does this mean that these fundamentals of human behavior cannot be compared across cultures? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Values are… “a broad tendency to prefer certain states of affairs over others.” (Hofstede, 1980, p. 19) * Values are what you wish and what is important to you. * Values are essential for the concept of our self. Cultural values … represent explicit and implicit shared ideas about what is good, correct and desirable within a group of people.

HOFSTEDE’S VALUE DIMENSIONS Individualism versus Collectivism Power Distance Uncertainty Avoidance Masculinity versus Femininity

Individualism pertains to societies in which the ties between individuals are loose: everyone is expected to look after himself or herself and his or her immediate family. Collectivism as its opposite pertains to societies in which people form birth onwards are integrated into strong, cohesive in-groups which throughout people’s lifetime continue to protect them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty.

Power distance- amount of respect and deference between those in superior and subordinate positions

Uncertainty Avoidance- the focus on planning and the creation of stability as a way of dealing with life’s uncertainties

Masculinity- emphasis on dominance, achievement, recognition, task-orientation Femininity - emphasis on Harmony, co-operation, social relationships

Schwartz’ Seven Value Types Issue 1: Relation between the individual and group * Conservatism * Intellectual Autonomy * Affective Autonomy Issue 2: Preservation of social structure * Hierarchy * Egalitarianism Issue 3: Relation between natural and social world * Mastery * Harmony

TROMPENAARS’ DIMENSIONS Individualism-Communitarianism Universalism-Particularism Ascription Oriented- Achievement Oriented Diffuse-Specific

TROMPENAARS’ DIMENSIONS Neutral- Affective Internal-External control Past, present, future time orientation

TRIANDIS’ CULTURAL PATTERNS * Individualism-collectivism * Cultural looseness-tightness * Cultural Complexity

Individualist cultures:“I” consciousness, prioritizing personal goals, independence Collectivist cultures: “We consciousness,” relational, group oriented

Cultural tightness: cultures where norms are clear, deviations are prohibited Cultural complexity: developed, industrialized, urbanized societies

HALL’S CONCEPTS Polychronic versus monochronic time orientation Space High versus low context of information

ADDITIONAL DIMENSIONS Direct versus indirect style of communication Saving face Focus on past, presence or future Matter-of-fact versus building up social relationships Action versus results Problem-solving styles

I. Attitudes towards Work 1.Power DistanceHigh  Low 2. Uncertainty AvoidanceReady to take risks  Sceptical 3. AttitudesPerformance  Quality of life 4. Key to ProductivityFacts  Harmony 5. Problem-solving StyleResults  Action II. Social Relationships 1. Social RelationsLess important  Very important 2. Significance of GroupLow  High III. Time Orientation 1. Concept of TimeMonochronic  Polychronic 2. Time and Other PeopleOne after another  All at once 3. OrientationPast  Future IV. Communication 1.Styledirect  indirect 2. ContextLow  High 3. Saving FaceLess important  More important

QUESTIONS Why are dimensions of cultural variability important? Does New Zealand’s positioning on Individualism,Uncertainty Avoidance, Masculinity, Power Distance surprise you?