Cross Cultural

Communications
for the Soldier
 Why Study Culture?
The lack of sensitivity to local customs, values,
and feelings often creates tension which can
assist those politically active groups
disenchanted with the decisions of
Gulf State governments.

To prevent a crisis, the US should ensure that it

maintains as low a profile as possible while at
the same time being aware of the cultural
sensitivities and national pride of the local
population.
- Joseph Moynihan, Gulf Security in the 21st Century
 Culture & Terrorism
The American military man is a perfect target. He is a symbol
of Americas military interests overseas. His death weakens
the ties between America and our countrys military rulers.

The American military people are paid to risk their lives for
their country. Do not hesitate to kill them. Kill their wives
and children if necessary. Make America order them back
home or risk open rebellion in the streets of Washington.

American military members are highly visible targets. They

seem to intentionally act in such a way to be culturally
obnoxious and alienate themselves for no apparent reason.

- Hussein Balkir
Turkish W orkers and
Peasants Liberation Army
 Military Disaster
British invade
Zululand
Lord Chelmsford
I cant
Reenactment of Isandlwana
understand it, I
left a thousand
men there.
Battle of Isandlwana
Rorkes Drift
Lord Chelmsford
 What is Culture?
Now that we have established why culture should
be studied we must understand what culture is.

Shirley Teper, an anthropologist, defines culture

as a habit system in which truths that have
been perpetuated by a group over centuries have
permeated the unconscious.

Culture is a belief system that ties a society

together and gives a perspective on the order
of the world (an outlook on life).
 Opening the Door

Archetype in Action: Think about when your supervisor calls

you Come to my office please. As you go in your supervisor
tells you Close the door please! How do you feel?
 Cultural Sensitivity
Knowing & Respecting
Liking not required
Accepting differences
Surface behaviors
Beneath the surface
values and
assumptions.
 Aspects of Culture
1. Understanding of the Natural World
1. Rules of Social
2. General World View Etiquette
3. Religious Beliefs 2. Eating Habits
4. Religious Customs 3. Foods
5. Holiday Customs 4. Importance of time
6. Values 5. Notions of Modesty
7. Child raising beliefs 6. Fashion
8. Concept of self 7. Facial Expressions
9. Social Relationships 8. Gestures
10. Work Ethic 9. Concept of beauty
11. Concept of Leadership 10. Paintings
12. Concept of Personal space 11. Music
13. Concept of Fairness 12. Literature
 Above the Waterline

01 Concept of Self (Concept of Fairness, Understanding of the Natural

W orld)
03 Religious rituals (Religious beliefs)
05 Paintings (Concept of Beauty)
07 Literature (Concept of Beauty)
08 Child raising (Values and Social Relationships)
09 Leadership (Values and Social Relationships)
10 Gestures (Concept of Modesty, Values, and Social Relationships)
11 Holiday Customs (Religious beliefs)
15 Foods (Religious beliefs and Understanding of the Natural W orld)
16 Eating Habits (Religious beliefs, and Social Relationships)
18 W ork Ethic (importance of time and values)
21 Music (Concept of Beauty)
22 Fashion (Concept of Beauty and Social Relationships)
24 Personal Space (Values, Social Relationships, and Concept of
Modesty)
 Below the Waterline
02 Religious beliefs (Religious rituals, holiday
customs, foods, and eating habits)
04 Importance of Time (work ethic)
06 Values (Child Raising , Leadership, Gestures, and
work ethic)
12 Concept of Fairness (self)
13 Social relationships (child raising, leadership,
gestures, eating habits, fashion, and personal space)
14 Concept of Modesty (gestures and personal
space)
17 Understanding of the Natural World (self, foods)
20 Concept of Beauty (determines Paintings,
Literature, Music and Fashion)
 Culture is Learned

Culture is learned not genetic

Shapes behavior & consciousness
Culture is everywhere
Humans are social animals
Individuals cannot survive on their own
Larger groups require more complexity
Culture vehicle for organization
Culture is always evolving and changing
Everything that is taught is not always learned
Technology & Trauma can change culture
Context can evolve over time as well
 Culture & Social
Organization
Cultures evolve into civilizations
Government harness resources and protects from invasion
Political stability establishes sound economy
Strong economy encourages specialization and invention
Technology - skills or procedures necessary to make or use tools
New technologies - emerging technologies have a significant impact on
social life
System of education indoctrinates new members
Understand Culture and become a student of History
Understand Conflicts of Today
Predict Conflicts of Tomorrow
Predict Adversarial Courses of Action
 Cultural Conditioning
Occurs mostly in childhood
Basic activities (eating, walking, talking, etc)
Adult conditioning
New behaviors
New ways to perform old behaviors
Cultural Conditioning
Observation/Instruction
Imitation
Reinforcement
Internalization
Spontaneous manifestation
 Cultural Awareness

Unconscious Incompetence
Blissful ignorance
Unaware of cultural
differences
Conscious Incompetence
Conscious Competence
Unconscious Competence
 American Culture
Essential to CCC knowing yourself
Similarities & differences can be compared
People from culture sometimes have difficulty
seeing their own
out of body experience
Americans are diverse
Americans share a core set of values &
beliefs
 American Culture
Frontier Culture
Individualism
Achievement & Success
Freedom & Democracy
Egalitarian
Informal
Providence
Risk taking
Religiosity
Yankee Ingenuity
Science & Technology
Efficiency & Practicality
Communication
Direct & Blunt
Honesty
Saving Face not a priority
Sources of American Culture
PROTESTANTISM
A strong work ethicwork is intrinsically goodand the notion
of predestination, that salvation is apparent through worldly
success
GEOGRAPHY
The frontier, unlimited resources and opportunity, isolation,
sparse population, distance from Europe
FREEDOM & INDEPENDENCE
From religious and economic repression and rigid class system
and social stratification
THE MELTING POT
Out of the mainstream in home country, dissatisfied with lot in
life, willing to take risks, adventuresome
 How Non-Americans see
Americans
Decisive Intelligent
Energetic Friendly
Honest Greedy
Industrious Nationalistic
Sexy Inventive
Self-indulgent Lazy
Sophisticated Rude
Why are you Americans always
in such a hurry to get things
done?
We often seem this way because of our
tendency to use achievements and
accomplishments as a measure of a
persons worth. Were in a hurry to get
things done because its only then that we
feel we have proved our worth.
Why do you Americans insist on
treating everyone the same?

We do this because of a deep cultural

instinct toward egalitarianism, which was
a reaction to the class system and, before
that, the feudal system that existed in
Europe. In cultures where inequality is
more accepted, our insistence on
egalitarianism may be grating.
Why do you Americans always
have to say what youre
thinking?

We believe that being direct is the most

efficient way to communicate. And being
more efficient means you get more done.
Why do you Americans always
want to change things?

We think things can always be better,

that progress is inevitable. Older
cultures are more skeptical because
they have been around longer and
seen more.
 Why dont you Americans show
more respect for your seniors and
elders?
We respect results, not age or
authority. Therefore, unless an elder
or a senior also happens to be a
superior achiever, there is no
automatic respect.
Why do you Americans always
think things are going to get
better?

We are optimists because we believe

the locus of control is in ourselves.
Therefore, the only obstacle to things
getting better is a personal lack of will or
effort, which is eminently fixable.
 Why are you Americans so
concerned about individual
recognition?

Individualism is ingrained in
us. Not being used to working
together that much, we dont
trust team or group
recognition.
 Why are you Americans so
impatient?

If things take a long time to do, we

can do fewer of them. And when
youre counting achievements,
more is better.
ETHNOCENTRISM
The point of view that
ones own culture is to
be preferred to all
others.
 NEGATIVE
ETHNOCENTRISM
Prejudice
Cognitive = believing stereotypes
Emotional = feeling toward another person
Behavioral = engaging in discrimination
Stereotypes
repeated & exaggerated
continuously reinforced
almost impossible to unlearn
Racism: outward manifestation of prejudice
Sports and Stereotypes
 Cultural Awareness
Unconscious Incompetence
Blissful ignorance
Unaware of cultural differences
Conscious Incompetence
Realize differences exist
How do I figure these people out
Conscious Competence
Unconscious Competence
 Cultural Relativism
To counter our tendency to use our own
culture as a tool for judgment, we can
practice cultural relativism.
Practicing cultural relativism allows us to
understand another culture on its own
terms.
We can analyze how the elements of
culture fit together without judgment.
 Ethnocentrism vs. Cultural
relativism
Ethnocentrism Denial
Associated with Unconscious Incompetence
Disbelief in cultural differences
Think people who behave differently dont know any better
Impose their own values on others (UGLY AMERICAN)
Not threatened by cultural differences
Ethnocentrism Defense
Associated with Conscious Incompetence
Recognize differences and not happy about it
Threatened by cultural differences & convinced of their own
superiority
Dont try to impose values but instead prefer to avoid contact
Ethnocentrism Minimization
Associated with Conscious Incompetence
Still believe new culture is inferior, but minimizes differences
W e may be different on the surface, but deep down we are the
 Cultural Awareness

Unconscious Incompetence
Conscious Incompetence
Conscious Competence
Recognize differences
Conscious effort to adjust behaviors
Objectivity key to figuring these
people out
Unconscious Competence
Culturally sensitive
New behaviors second nature
 Ethnocentrism vs. Cultural
relativism
Cultural Relativism Acceptance
Associated with Conscious Incompetence
Recognize and accept cultural differences
without judgment
Live and let live
Cultural Relativism Adaptation &
Integration
Conscious and Unconscious Competence
Behavior and attitude change
Bicultural or Multicultural
Does not mean original culture is abandoned
 Values & Beliefs
To understand why people behave the way they
do learn about values & beliefs
Universal refers to ways in which all people in all
groups are the same
Cultural refers to what a particular group of
people have in common with each other and how
they are different from every other group
Personal describes the ways in which each one
of us is different from everyone else, including
those in our group
 Cultural Universals
Cultural universals - values, norms, or
other cultural traits that are found
everywhere.
Although there are universal human
activities, there is no universally accepted
way of doing any of them.
Humans have no biological imperative
that results in one particular form of
behavior throughout the world.
 Values and Beliefs
Culture allows social organization
Values and Beliefs keep individuals in line
Belief Systems are religions
Opium of the masses-Karl Marx
Values differentiate between right and wrong
and good and evil
Values and beliefs explain the purpose of it all
(Philosophical Worldview)
Culture of Conflict in America, Asia, Africa
 Values, Norms,
& Sanctions
Values - ideas of what is desirable in life.
Values are the standards by which people
define good and bad.
Norms - describe rules of behavior that
develop out of a groups values.
Sanctions - positive or negative reactions
to the ways in which people follow norms.
 Folkways, Mores,
and Taboos
Folkways - norms
that are not strictly Mores - norms that
enforced. are considered
If someone does not essential to our core
follow a folkway, we values.
may stare or shrug Taboos - norms so
our shoulders. strongly ingrained that
even the thought of its
violation is greeted
with revulsion.
 Individualist or Collectivist
Individualist
Identity primarily with self
Self-sufficiency=group well
being
Independence & self-
reliance
Psychological & emotional
distance
One may choose to join
groups, but
group membership not
essential to ones identity or
success.
Individualist characteristics
are often associated with
men and people in urban
settings.
Collectivist
Identity within group important
Success of group=individual
survival
Looking out for others in your
own interest
Harmony & interdependence
stressed & valued.
Psychological & emotional
closeness
distance toward nonmembers
Collectivist characteristics are
often associated with women
and people in rural settings.
 Universalism vs.
Particularism
Universalism Particularism
Some absolutes across Circumstances determine
the board action
Fairness for all, no Family first, world can
exceptions fend for itself
Objectivity The group will protect you
Life is not fair, be we can There are no absolutes
be Exceptions made for
certain people
 Cultural Context
In the eye of the beholder
Any behavior observed across the cultural
divide, therefore, has to be interpreted in
two ways:
the meaning given to it by the person who
does the action, and
the meaning given to it by the person who
observes the action
 Behavior and Context
Marijuana in USA vs
Holland
Hunting in New York
vs Alaska
THE BOOK OF
EMBRACES by
Eduardo Galleano
 Kiss and Context
Four Kisses
Parental
Social
Ceremonial
Erotic
Kiss out of Context-
Consequences
Folkway ?
Taboo ?
 Cultural Theory of Relativity

House
USA
Africa
Rain
Positive ?
Negative ?
 Concept of Time
Lining up and not lining up are culturally determined behaviors

Two poles of Time:

Monochromic
Time is the given
People are variables
The needs of people adjusted to suit demands of time
(schedules & deadlines)
Time is money
One thing at a time
Interruptions are an inconvenience
Polychromic
Time is tool of people
Time is flexible
More is available, not less
Man~ana
Several things done at once
Interruptions are a part of life
 Concept of Power Distance
Attitude towards Inequality
Different levels of status & access to power
Most evident in workplace relations
Two poles of Power
High Power Distance
Inequality is natural & accepted
Those with power emphasize it (elites)
No delegation & lack of initiative
Low Power Distance
Power & status are artificial
Deemphasized to minimize differences
Delegation and initiative encouraged
 Attitude towards Status
Similar to Power Distance & Individualism / Collectivism
Two poles of Status
Achieved Status (doing)
People respected for personal accomplishments
Status is earned
Less impressed by titles
Using Education is important
Status is not permanent (lack of productivity = low status)
Ascribed Status (being)
Status automatic & difficult to lose
Can be determined by birth or school attended
Acquiring Education important
Stickler for titles
Status & Face defended fiercely
 Attitude towards Fate
Fate the inherent uncertainty in life
Creates anxiety in all cultures
Different responses
US response = technology
Others = religion
Two poles of Fate
High Uncertainty Avoidance
Group paranoia, the unknown is frightening
More laws, regulations, policies & procedures
Strong tendency toward conformity
Low Uncertainty Avoidance
More tolerance for differences
More curious than frightened of the unknown
Life is interesting
Risk taking
 Attitude towards Fate
People from different cultures may see their ability
to influence external events very differently.
Which of the following two statements do you
most agree with?
A. What happens to me is my own doing.
B. Sometimes I feel I dont have control over the
direction my life is taking.
Percentage of Americans who chose A = 89%
Percentage of Chinese who chose A = 35%
Attitude towards the Universe
The Locus of Control
Cultures differ greatly upon a persons place in
the world
Two poles of Control
Internal
W ithin the individual
No limits on what I can do
The skys the limit
Life is what I do
External
Predetermination
There are boundaries that cannot be crossed
Life happens to me
 Culture & Symbols
Symbolic culture - Gestures - involve
nonmaterial culture using ones body to
whose central communicate.
components are Language - a system
symbols. of symbols that can be
A symbol - something strung together in an
to which people attach infinite number of
meaning and which
they use to
ways for the purpose
communicate. of communicating.
 Communication
Integral part of culture
More complicated in cross-cultural context
Did you mean what you said?
Was what you said received as you meant?
Misunderstandings and
miscommunications most common
frustrations in CCC
Examine American communication styles
and compare
 What Language Does
All human groups have a language.
Language allows for experiences to be
passed from one generation to the next
Language allows culture by freeing
people to move beyond their immediate
experiences
Language provides us a past and a
future, as well as shared understandings.
 Sapir Whorf Hypothesis
Language has embedded within it ways of
looking at the world
No Arabic word for privacy, word for
loneliness comes closest
Chinese word for four also means death
Thinking and perception are shaped by
language
Indirect/High vs. Direct/Low
Indirect / High Context Direct / Low Context
Unconscious understanding Heterogeneous &
required individualist
Common in homogenous & North America, Europe
collectivist societies
Asia, Middle East, Africa Less is assumed
People know & understand More independence &
each other emotional distance
Less reliance on words I mean what I say
More reliance on non-verbal Less reliance on non-
communication verbal
Manipulation of context used
to convey message Getting or giving info
What is said is not necessarily more important
what is meant
Reading between the lines
Maintaining harmony & saving
 Practicing Indirectness
I dont think thats such a
good idea.
Do you think thats a good
idea?
Are there any other ideas?
I like most parts of that
idea.
Thats not the point.
Thats an interesting point.
Thats another good point
I think we should....
I have a possible
suggestion.
What do you think about
this idea?
I dont agree.
What do you think of this
idea?
May I make a suggestion?
W hat do you think, Mr. Cato?
(Calling on people sometimes
embarrasses them. How can
you find out what Mr. Cato
thinks without directly asking
him?)
Does anyone else have any
suggestions?
Have we heard all opinions?
Those figures are not accurate.
I have some other figures here.
Those figures may be slightly
old.
Youre doing that wrong.
I would do that like this.
Have you tried doing it this way?
 Decoding Indirectness
That is a very interesting
viewpoint.
I dont agree.
We need to talk more about
this.
Youre wrong.
This proposal deserves
further consideration.
We dont like it.
It needs work.
Propose something else.
I know very little about this,
but....
Im something of an expert
on this but am too polite to
say so.
What I think we should do
is...
W e understand your proposal
very well.
Do you have another one?
We dont like it.
W e will try our best.
Dont expect much to happen.
I heard another story about
that project.
I dont agree with what you
said about that project.
Can we move on to the next
topic?
We dont want to talk about
this now.
We need to consult with
people not in the room before
we can decide.
 Nonverbal Communication
Verbal & nonverbal
Nonverbal accounts for majority of
Communication
Nonverbal communication is subconscious
Four subcategories of nonverbal communication
Gestures
Eye Contact
Facial Expression
Personal Space & Touching
 Gestures
Gestures help identify the context of the conversation (i.e.
friendly, confrontational, leader-follower)
Observe
Hands (open or closed, together or apart)
Arms (folded or open)
Fingers (curled or strait, pointing?)
W hole body (slouching, good posture)
Watch for
Amount of gesturing
Gestures that accompany interruptions (talk to the hand)
Gestures that indicate conversation is over (waving)
Disagreement (shaking of finger)
Displeasure (folded arms)
Pattern of eye contact (dominance, intimacy)
 Eye Contact
Observe the degree and nature of eye contact in as many
of the following situations as possible:
Between two men of the same age:
Between two women of the same age:
Between an elderly person and a younger person:
Between a man and woman:
Between a husband and a wife:
Between a boss and an employee:
Between a student and a teacher:
Between a parent and a child:
Between strangers passing on the street:
What are the implications of more or less eye contact?
 Facial Expressions
Observe what people do with their head,
eyes, eyebrows, mouth, nose, chin, or
actions taken with the head and the
hands.
Frowns
Smiles
Wrinkling
Nostril Flaring
 Personal Space & Touching
Observe how close various kinds of people stand to each
other and how much and in which parts of the body the
following people touch each other: in various settings:
In normal conversation, at work, or on the street
In line at the post office, bank, cinema, etc.
In an elevator, crowded or uncrowded
Two men
Two women
Two children
An older and younger person
Parent and child
A man and woman
Husband and wife
What are the implications of more or less personal space
and touching?
 Cycles of Adjustment
Initial Enthusiasm (the Honeymoon)
Time Frame: First week or two in country
Characteristics:
Excitement & enthusiasm
Initial Culture Shock
Time Frame: First few weeks in country
Characteristics
Frustration
Vulnerability & Dependence
Homesickness
Lack of routine
Close bonds formed with other Americans
Initial Adjustment
Time Frame: 3 6 months in country
Characteristics
Routines established
Climate change accomplished
Increased confidence
 Culture Shock
The disorientation that people experience
when they come into contact with a different
culture.
Common symptoms of Culture Shock:
Homesickness Excessive cleanliness
Boredom Marital stress
Withdrawal Family tension and conflict
Excessive sleep Chauvinistic excesses
Compulsive eating Stereotyping of host nationals
Compulsive drinking Loss of ability to work effectively
Irritability Unexplained fits of weeping
Physical ailments (psychosomatic illnesses)
 Coping Strategies
Learn new ways of doing things;
Learn to do things youve never done before;
Stop doing things you can no longer do;
Adjust to an entirely new set of people;
Learn to live and work in an environment where
you speak a foreign language;
Get used to various new and unusual
phenomena;
Learn to live without all kinds of familiar
phenomena.
 Coping Strategies
Things I can do with other people
Invite people over
Go and visit someone
Telephone someone
Go to a movie, cafe, etc. with someone
Play a game with someone
Participate in a team sport
Volunteer my services to a needy cause
 Coping Strategies
Things I can do on my own
Read
Play cards
Listen to music
Cook a meal
Take a walk
Meditate
Go to a movie
W rite in my journal
Go to a restaurant or caf
Go shopping
Exercise
Listen to the radio
Garden
Take some pictures
 Coping Strategies
Things I can do on my own
Call home
Look at photos
W rite letters
Make a tape to send home
Play an instrument
Take a ride
Solve puzzles
W atch birds
Practice a craft
Take a trip
W atch television
W atch people
Study language
Deep breathing
 Coping Strategies
Things I can remind myself of
This will pass.
Its not the end of the world.
I came here to experience a challenge.
Ive been through worse than this.
Its natural to feel down from time to time.
No pain; no gain.
Its not just me.
Things didnt always go well back home either.
I have taken on a lot; I should expect to feel
overwhelmed from time to time.
 Coping Strategies
Ways I can improve my language skills
Talk to children
Talk to older people (who have more time and patience!)
Go to a cafe and eavesdrop
Listen to the radio or TV
Join a club or sports team
Participate in some other kind of group activity
Study a language textbook
Do exercises in a language textbook
Listen to language tapes
Ask a host country informant to tape record key language
phrases that I can practice
 Sources
Richard Hooker, What is Culture?,
Washington State University
www.wsu.edu/gened/learn-
modules/top_culture/culture-definition.html
Webofculture.com
Cornell University
Rosaldo Consulting
Peace Corps
Culture Matters
 Questions ?
The classification of this
presentation was UNCLASSIFIED