A Cross-Cultural Perspective

527 Words3 Pages
chapter one Conceptualization of the Cross-Cultural Problem: The short-term success of professional or host-guest relationships sometimes leads people to discount the importance of cultural differences in cross-cultural interaction. Until recently, little attention has been given to the effect of cultural differences or sociocultural factors on interpersonal relations. In practice, confusion is created by two basic aspects of culture. One aspect is subjective culture- the psychological features of culture, including assumptions, values, and patterns of thinking. The other is objective culture-the institutions and artifacts of a culture, such as its economic system, social customs, political structures and processes, arts, crafts, and literature. subjective culture becomes a major subject only in cultural anthropology. Faced with cross-cultural uncertainties, people tend to impose their own perspectives in an effort to dispel the ambiguity created by the unusual behavior of host country nationals. They are unlikely to suspend judgement about differences in behavior because they assume unconsciously that their own ways are normal, natural, and right. Those of the other culture, therefore, must be abnormal, unnatural, and wrong. Americans abroad readily observe and describe cross-cultural differences of language, customs and preferences. The fact that these kinds of differences may be easily perceived often obscures the deeply imbedded but more profound disparities in concepts of the world and human experience and in patterns of thought and modes of action, all of which affect the person-to-person interaction of Americans and their hosts. Subtle differences in the behavior, thought and modes of action, all of which differences in the behavior, thoughts, and emotions of associates may not always be perceived by Americans, but as they cumulate they require
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