Culture

Understanding culture

Concept of culture:

Culture can be defined in many ways. It is a complex system of shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviours, and artifacts shared by a society. Culture teaches us how to act, behave and cope with one another. It is transmitted from generations to generations through learning. 

Here is an example How culture works in a city

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Elements of Culture

• Language
• Values
• Customs
• Religion
• Ethnicity
• Social Class
• Corporate Culture
• Norms

Culture has its own normative rules. It binds the society and people together by prescribing do's and don'ts. 

Characteristics of culture:

• it is learned
• it is unconscious
• it is shared
• it is integrated
• it is symbolic
• it is a way of life
• it is universal
• it is relative

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dimensions of Culture 


Context:

Context is description of how society and people behave and act in different types of cultural space or the totality that people rely on when they are making decisions.

There are two types of Contexts:

Examples of High vs Low Context through countries

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Communication style:

There are different style of communication in every culture.

Example:

 North Americans tend to take words literally, whereas Latinos enjoy plays on words; and Arabs and South Americans sometimes speak with extravagant or poetic figures of speech that may be misinterpreted if taken literally. Nigerians prefer a quiet, clear form of expression; and Germans tend to be direct but understated.

Higher Context Communication style

• Forceful
• Lively
• Thinks Loud
• Interrupts
• Talkative
• Dislikes Silence
• Truth before diplomacy
• Overt Body Language

Lower Context Communication style

• Modest
• quiet
• Thinks in silence
• Doesn't interrupt
• distrusts big talkers
• Use silence
• Like body Language

     ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stereotypes:

Stereotypes is a generalization of the people.

Here is an example of stereotypes:

Prototypes:

Prototypes is based on mental representation subject to change.

Example: Indians are strictly traditional. This prototype is accurate may change over the time.

Prejudice:

Prejudice are rigid false beliefs and preconceptions about the group of people.

Here is another example on theories and origins of prejudice

Generalization

Generalization is essentially placing people in categories.

References

Guffey, Mary Ellen, and Patricia Rogin. Business Communication: Process and Product. 4rd Brief Canadian ed. Toronto: Nelson Education, 2009. Print. 

N.p., 2015. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

China-forecast.com,. '5 Ways To Understand Cultural Differences Between The U.S. & China | China Forecast'. N.p., 2013. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

YouTube,. 'Prejudice: Theories And Ideas On Origins'. N.p., 2015. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

YouTube,. 'Prejudice: Theories And Ideas On Origins'. N.p., 2015. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.

YouTube,. 'What Is Culture?'. N.p., 2015. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.