Figuring Foreigners Out suggests that individualism and collectivism exist in different cultures. These two elements can also be manifested in persoanl identities. To be specific, individualism is prominant throughout countries using English and other European languages. In addition, it also talks about the existence of nonverbal behaviors such as body languages and facial expressions in many regions.
Geert Hofstede's Analysis provides several dimensions in cultures. These dimensions are used to describe and compare cultural differences between societies. The most interesting one is masculinity vs. femininty. I notice that masculinity is dominated all over the world.
I agree with most of the arguments according to my own understanding and cogent analysis in the articles. However, oversimplication of complex cultural differences that reduce cultures into sets of dimensions is problemtic. Cultures are so complex that thye need to be fully comprehended in many different ways instead of simple models.
I realize that it is important to understand the cultural values and beliefs that shape our interactions with people from other cultures. This helps to avoid misunderstandings and to promote effective communication. Understanding the cultural differences between one's own culture and the target culture can also provide insights into the motivations and behaviors of people from that culture, leading to more effective and meaningful interactions.
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