Describe and Evaluate Cultural Differences Between Western and Non-Western Relationships (24marks)

892 Words4 Pages
Most Western cultures are individualistic, placing emphasis on the individual person and their rights, goals, aspirations and so on. Individual performance and achievement are praised, while reliance on others may be regarded as undesirable or a weakness. In individual cultures, such as the UK and the USA, there is greater emphasis on ‘I’ rather than ‘we’ in interpersonal relationships. Where there is a conflict between the goals of the individual and the goals of the collective, personal needs are considered as important. In collectivist cultures, such as Pakistan or Thailand, more value is placed on the ‘we’ than the ‘I’. The desires of particular individuals are considered less important than ties between, and responsibilities to, collective units such as families and communities. In their social relationships, members of collectivist cultures are encouraged to be interdependent rather than autonomous, and marriage is often seen more as a union between families than a union between individuals. Various factors affect how relationships are formed, including the geographical and social mobility, and the degree of choice. In many Western, industrialized societies, people enjoy considerable geographical and social mobility. They are free to interact with a relatively large number of people on a daily basis. When it comes to the formation of relationships there is greater choice of potential partners and fewer restrictions on choice, and are generally expected to be able to choose their own partner. The primary basis for marriage is expected to be romantic love, parental consent is considered desirable, but by no means necessary. More traditional, non-Western cultures on the other hand offer less geographical and social mobility, so individuals have less choice in whom they interact with. The available ‘pool’ of potential, suitable romantic partners is therefore
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