5/30/2020 W06: Attributional Tendencies

Attributional Tendencies: Understanding who is at fault, Is it I or they?

In my continuous study of cultural differences, this topic is I think is the most complicated yet the most beneficial in knowing ourselves first. Have you been blaming yourself  or others lately for any reason?  It is time to know then these attribution tendencies...

What is attributions?

Attributions are inferences that people draw about the cause of events, others' behavior, and their own behavior

What causes X to behave like Y?

Examples:

• Others' Behavior: "He turned down my invitation because he's overworked."
• Events: "I'm stuck at home because  I failed to plan ahead."
• Self Behavior: "I failed to plan ahead because I'm a procrastinator."

More examples:

Professor Ivers (2020) during his interesting discussion cited these examples: In Hongkong and India, they use internal attributions to explain both personal successes and personal failures. An in Japan, they're the exact opposite of  the people in the United States, for personal failures and personal successes.If one is successful in the USA , it is because you are determined and good and if you fail, it is because of other factors. But if others are successful, they attribute it externally. They think, "you were born with a silvers' spoon, had good connections or good friends. But with personal failures of others, typical American attribute it internally: "They failed because they were just pretty dumb, not very talented or lazy."

In Japan, the typical Japanese person will attribute personal successes externally. "The reason I am successful is because of my parents, my great teachers, etc.. But he or she will attribute personal failures internally. Every time they fail, it's their fault, it's always their fault. and Japan has a high suicide rate. Ever wonder why?

Thoughts to Consider


How about you?  are your personal attributional models consistent with those dominant in your culture?  Are you kind and understanding to yourself and others? Maybe it is time to examine deeper this aspect. Good luck for world peace!


References:

https://wattersattribution.wordpress.com/
Ivers, J (2020). Attributional Tendencies Cultures. BYUI lectures
https://content.byui.edu/file/45b9e59e-e91a-44eb-879b-18efd35d7bab/3/Attributional%20Tendencies%20Cultures.html

5/28/2020 W6: Individualism vs. Collectivism

What is Individualism and Collectivism in the Context of Cultural Differences?



    Individualism  vs Collectivism


This is another very interesting, amazing  and helpful topic to discuss if you are trying to understand cultural differences.



The world has become borderless because of technology and we are having friends from around the world. Awareness to these  practices as dictated by culture will help you get along well with your foreigner friends and acquaintances.  I found very helpful google image to capture the differences.
First, there are contrasting values between individualist and collectivist culture. The image below summarizes these values:


https://images.app.goo.gl/Z1XGiLFqHMMU8okC9


Second, the ideals can also be identified. The image below shows the ideals between Western and Eastern countries:



https://images.app.goo.gl/8B2kpo8FFUDTW5aY9


Implications in the Classroom

This is very important for teachers to know because students will usually behave according to their culture. Individualistic can work on their own but students who are seemingly timid to recite may not  be true at all times because they are not just comfortable to be above others.


https://images.app.goo.gl/zGG442i7X1wJo6nGA

Understanding this behavior will allow the teacher to adjust the teaching-learning methodology.

https://images.app.goo.gl/4C3n7w8aXiDErADK9


Watch the video for additional information.

Personal Reflection



Personally, I just realized that I am also in a collectivist mode most of the times and my individualistic trait would just comes out if necessary.

Being informed on these uniqueness, we can always adjust our sails to avoid  misunderstanding ourselves and others

5/30/2020 W6: Personal Space Differences

Understanding Personal Space Differences

What is Personal Space Differences?

As a student of a culture class or just studying culture or you are planing to go abroad and visit some places, it would be interesting to seriously consider how to get near or far to people.

Personal space is partially culturally determined. Some cultures, such as Japanese  are accustomed to crowding. Others prefer the wide open spaces and like you to keep your distance.


In this photo, a personal space is like wearing and invisible bubble or barrier so that others are not allowed to get close or else you may be accused of invading the personal space.



Some people would feel safe inside their personal space.


This picture also depicts personal zone distances. It would tend to reduce between two women and increase between two men.

Countries like UK, Canada, USA, giving people their personal space is respectful but to others like the Philippines, people prefer to be closer to each other.

You can watch this short video with the link below for additional information on personal space
https://youtu.be/L81JO9g3P4o






My personal tips include:
1. Study the place where you are going. The internet is a wonderful tool. There are even social experiments being done on this topic.
2. Never touch anyone you don't know.
3. Maintain social distancing. The Covid19 pandemic introduces this distancing to culture who value closeness and might understand personal space this time.
4. Be observant and  kind.


References:

____Personal Space Ownership       
      .https://westsidetoastmasters.com/resources/book_of_body_language/chap9.html

Mayne, D. (2020) Etiquette Rules of Defining Personal Space.https://www.thespruce.com/etiquette-rules-of-defining-personal-space-1216625

5/26/2020 Differences in Emotional Expressivity

What is Emotional Expressivity in Cross-Cultural Differences?


This question is very interesting in the study of cultural differences. It simply means the emotions people are showing in public which is controlled by the culture they belong.

Professor Ivers (2020) in one of his BYU lectures mentioned that we all have the same emotions which is referred to as cultural universal. Studies show that people would often show the same emotion as a reaction to a scene in private but public showing of emotion depends on their culture.  


Graph showing the different expressivity tendency of different cultures
Google image




I am from the Philippines and I would say that this is true. I am also surprise to find out where my people is found in the graph as compared to others. Yes, we are already learning how to be expressive owing to the Western influence I guess, but we still avoid confrontations subconsciously. It means most of us would not refuse any invitation but may not be really serious about it.

Filipinos by nature are happy, friendly and very accommodating people that refusing to invitation would cost you more time to explain or embarrassment or offense, so people would just say yes but don't be very offended if they don't show up. Follow ups will do the trick.

Filipinos always have the tendency to smile or laugh and be very excited about things. Public display of affection such as holding hands or a kiss can be seen from time to time but more than that is already considered immodest and non-Filipino ways (but there are people who would really do that and you will end up viral or the talk of the town).

We also laugh when we are embarrassed but be very observant about this. The most intriguing attitude of Filipinos that I have noticed is the way we behave as audience in a show like concert or any program. Mistakes whether scripted or not are more loudly applauded than really good ones. International performers would also often comment that Filipino audience are the best ones because people would really be happy during the event.

Important lessons:

1. Don't be quick to judge others when they show public emotions; just respect them and try to understand their background.
2. We have the same emotions and would show the same in private.
3. Respecting others and helping them if necessary is already a kind gesture.




Ref:
Google image https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/cross-cultural-conflict-use-anthropologists-map-cardillo-piccolino

Ivers, J. (2020). Differences in Emotional Expressivity BYUI lectures https://video.byui.edu/media/05+Differences+in+Emotional+Expressivity/0_753le546

5/21/2020 Cultural Miscommunication

Minimizing the Barriers of Cultural Communication

What do you see in the picture above?  They are both professional but they seem to have exchanged  culture or they  just misunderstood each other? What where they taught at school?
Study of the different cultural differences is overwhelming for there are so many. Without seriously studying it, will surely lead to problems in communication among diverse colleague.  There are of course factors that we might consider to learn. According to typetalk.com here are some of those factors:Factors:1. EducationSome of us pursue formal training (i.e. college degrees, certification programs etc.) before entering our career. How people acquire knowledge and skills can shape how they approach work and people around them.2.Personal BackgroundWhere people grow up or currently live can influence their work values. For example, New Yorkers are known for their fast pace and long hours. Someone new to New York City may struggle to keep up with that pace and a New Yorker moving to a smaller city might rub some peoople the wrong way with their constant sense of urgency.3. EthnicityEthicity or national origin creates a lot of differences in regards to how people perceive certain expression, behaviors, and habits.4. GenerationThere are plenty of ideas about the cultural differences between Millenials, Generation X and Baby Boomers. Our varying life experiences and stages in life can strongly influence how we act and think when it comes to dealing and communicating with people.5. Work ExperienceWhen someone moves from a bigger company to a startup or vice versa, they often face some form of a culture shock when they get there. Same thing happens when a teacher moved from public to private or vice versa. Their experiences may cause miscommunication too..
After learning these factors here are my personal tips:1. Educate yourself2. Be patient with others3. Enjoy diversity

Reference:


 

https://www.typetalk.com/blog/overcoming-cultural-barriers%E2%80%8B-communication/

5/21/2020 Cultural Differences Concerning Time

Monochronic Versus Polychronic Time

Hi Everyone,

Let me share my new learning on diversity. This time it is about cultural time differences. Thanks to the lecture of professor Iver of BYUI on line education (my TESOL class). It is amazing. I finally found the perfect ideas how to articulate the behaviors of different cultures as pertains the observance and use of time. The map below shows that more places in the world including my country the Philippines, belongs to the polychronic time culture. I say yes to this ideas and I,  myself is so comfortable in my polychronic time except at work. My work has already taught me to be monochronic. Late reporting to work means salary deduction. So somehow I would say, I am living in both time culture.

Map of Monochronic and Polychronic cultures (click to enlarge)
Based on Morden, 1999; Kotabe and Helsen, 2001

Below is a quick look for this differences:

            

Monochronic Cultures	Polychronic Cultures
They prefer doing one thing at a time	They prefer doing many things at the same time
They concentrate on their tasks and try not to disturb others	Interruptions aren’t really interruptions, they can still carry on with what they’re doing now or later
Time is linear, they take deadlines and time schedules seriously	Time is spatial. Deadlines and time schedules can be kept to, if possible
Their communication is low context	Their communication is high context
They need explicit information	They don’t usually need explicit information, because that is what their network is for, to keep them informed up to the minute
They’re task oriented	They’re relationship oriented
They do their work swiftly and promptly	How swiftly and promptly they work depends completely on how good the relationship is
They make plans and keep to them	They make plans and change them with the greatest ease and flexibility

My own thoughts and take away for teachings are:

• understand your own time to understand the difference from others
• always consider your learners culture time background
• have a lot of patience and understanding
• be amazed and enjoy diversity.

References:

Kristof ( 2019) Are your Freelancers Polychronic or  Monochronic?.https://habitgrowth.com/polychronic-vs-monochronic/

5/18/2020 ;Week 5:Cultural Paradigms

Demystifying Cultural Paradigms: A Shocking View of Reality


  Cultural Paradigm is a shocking and amazing fact that an individual my find as he/she begins the study of human or learners' diversity. In simple words, this paradigms are how people look, and experience things as compared to other people and other places.

In my study of this topic, although I am aware of the many differences existing in many culture, I found myself so amazed of the following facts I just discovered:

•  In America, friends find humor in insulting each other. It’s a strange anthropological rite of passage in America. You're not part of the group until they start insulting you and laughing at everything cool. If you're roommates haven't started insulting you and laughing about it you're not quite a member of the group yet. It's a strange American thing. Whereas it doesn't work in all cultures. You have to be real careful of things like that ( Prof J. Ivers (2020) , BYU-Idaho Online Learning Video Transcript). Hearing this fact helps me to explain what is going on in with my friends here in the Philippines when we make fun and insult each other. I think we are already adopting this culture although most of the time we end up apologizing.

• African people have rich culture to understand, in their place they seem to be perfectly living a good life and finds other culture such as American culture absurd. Having more wives with them is okay. You may watch the national geographic documentary about some Sudanist guys experience of other culture in this link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT0kzF4A-WQ  
• Beauty has many different definition. Slim in other country is ugly but beautiful in others ( see also this TED Talk  https://www.ted.com/talks/delali_bright_cultural_clashes_in_defining_beauty#t-241643)       

The most shocking of all... the cultural paradigm in education...

• Yes, I found that it is "Meritocracy Paradigms in education" is the most shocking to me and I admit that I also have this thinking just like most people. 
• Meritocracy says things need to be earned.  You need to deserve what you get.  If you get something good it needs to be deserved.  You need to stand out to deserve it. Prof Ivers (2020) mentioned that the smartest kids are the only one allowed in top ranking schools instead of the dumbest ones so they get the best education to succeed.

So my honest question is... Why would the smartest guys in this planet would only keep the best education to themselves?  Perhaps this twisted paradigm is the very reason why up to this time our educational system cannot solve the problems in education/learning.

 
Study of Cultural paradigms is truly amazing. Understanding and doing something with these paradigms could be the key to problems in education.

Rerences:
Prof J. Ivers (2020) , BYU-Idaho Online Learning Video Transcript
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT0kzF4A-WQ
https://www.ted.com/talks/delali_bright_cultural_clashes_in_defining_beauty#t-241643)