Figuring Foreigners Out and Hofstede’s Dimensions of Culture attempt to explain how cultural values shape the way people think, act, and interact. Figuring Foreigners Out introduces a set of building blocks for understanding cultural differences, such as individualism vs. collectivism, monochronic vs. polychronic time, direct vs. indirect communication, and internal vs. external control. These ideas emphasize that cultures are not at either extreme but rather exist along a spectrum, and that behaviors are always interpreted according to their cultural context. Similarly, Hofstede identifies measurable cultural dimensions, including power distance, individualism/collectivism, masculinity/femininity, uncertainty avoidance, long vs. short-term orientation, and indulgence vs. restraint.
I find these assessments rather useful because they provide frameworks for recognizing and interpreting cultural differences. For example, the idea that some societies value punctuality, order, and efficiency while others value flexibility, mental health, and relationships can be seen from my personal experience. However, I also find certain generalizations problematic. Hofstede’s research, for instance, was based on IBM employees in the late 1960s and the 1970s, which makes me question how well it represents entire cultures and societies today.
Relating this to my own life, I noticed that the culture that I grew up with (American) strongly reflects individualism and values such as financial and physical independence. The other cultures that influenced me in more private settings (like China and Japan) place a lot of emphasis on collectivism, indirect communication, and harmony within the group (like don’t be different or stand out). Hofstede’s findings on Japan, such as its relatively high uncertainty avoidance and focus on group success, pretty much align with what I have learned about Japanese society in general.
I'm learning Korean, and although the Figuring Foreigners Out reading say that the Korean value peace and prefer indirect communication like its nearby countries, the country, as a capitalist functioning one, does have a lot of values that are similar to those of Americans. So I think that Korean culture presents a unique blend of individualistic and collectivistic values, influenced by its history and interactions with neighboring countries. I can better understand language use and social expectations when I am aware of these differences, and it serves as a reminder to approach cross-cultural interactions with openness rather than preconceptions.
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