Intercultural Interactions

What is culture?

- Culture is the behavior of patterns, beliefs and all other products of a particular group of people that are passed on from one generation to another.

- Should not be confused with nationality

- Can be tangible or not

What is the difference between cultural awareness, cultural sensitivity and culturally competent?

- Cultural awareness is being conscious of cultural similarities and differences (knowledge/mental)

- Cultural sensitivity (heart/emotional)

- Cultural competence is applying cultural sensitivity

What are the differences between absolutism, universalism and relativism?

Absolutism: sees cultural phenomena as essentially the same across cultures

Universalism: adopts the notion basic psychological processes are the same across cultures but that culture influences the different expressions and variations of behavior

Relativism: approaches human variations as a result of cultural factors. Believe that people should be understood relative to the sociocultural context from the perspective of the people involved. Believe that behavior should be examined within the culture, specific to the cultural nuances

Ethnocentrism: belief in the superiority of one’s own cultural group or society and corresponding dislike or misunderstanding of other such groups

- Flexible ethnocentrism: awareness of viewing the world through the cultural filters of their own particular lifestyles and culture

- Inflexible ethnocentrism: inability in going beyond one’s own cultural filters in interpreting the behaviors of others

Nine elements of culture

1. Religion and Science

2. Welfare

3. Community and Government

4. Individual and family activities

5. Sex and the lifecycle

6. Economy and transportation

7. Food and clothing

8. Housing and technology

9. General characteristics