Culture Matters: the Peace Corps Cross-Cultural Workbook
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Culture Matters The Peace Corps Cross-Cultural Workbook c Peace Corps Information Collection and Exchange T0087 ISBN 0-9644472-3-1 For sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328 (202) 512-1800 Culture Matters, The Peace Corps first extensive cross-cultural workbook for the volunteers, represents a major effort forward in cross-cultural training. As community involvement is always important, there were many people who have contributed to this work. The Peace Corps acknowledges the following people in the intercultural field who kindly responded to our request for activities: Robert Kohls, Geert Hofstede, Ned Seelye, LaRay Barna, Michael Paige, Margaret Pusch, Diane Hofner Saphiere, Ann Wederspahn, Neal Goodman, Noel Kreicker, and Pierre Corbeil, and to Intercultural Press for their permission to include published material. The Peace Corps would like to thank the following people who contributed, enhanced and reviewed the workbook: Raquel Aronhime, Judee Blohm, Brenda Bowman, Joe Byrnes, John Coyne, Doug Gilzow, Diego Hay, Lani Havens, Duane Karlen, Lee Lacy, Mary Jo Larsen, Anne Latimer, Bill Perry, Kathy Rulon, Jim Russell, and Patrick Triano; Judy Benjamin for editorial assistance and efforts; Steve Jacobs for design and layout; Craig Storti, for reseach and writing in collaboration with Laurette Bennhold-Samaan, Cross-Cultural Specialist. This workbook is dedicated to Peace Corps trainees and Volunteers. We hope as you read this you will hear your own voices, and read and write your own cross-cultural stories. The Center's Information Collection and Exchange (ICE) makes available the strategies and technologies developed by Peace Corps Volunteers, their co-workers, and their counterparts to development organizations and workers who might find them useful. ICE collects and reviews training guides, curricula, lesson plans, project reports, manuals, and other Peace Corps- generated materials developed in the field. Some materials are reprinted "as is"; others provide a source of field-based information for the production of manuals or for research in particular program areas. Materials that you submit to ICE become part of the Peace Corps' larger contribution to development. Information about ICE publications and services is available through Table of Contents Contents , Introduction ............................................................................. 1 Chapter One—Understanding Culture......................... 5 1.1—Introducing Jan ............................................................................... 6 1.2—Between the Lines .......................................................................... 8 1.3—What Is Culture?........................................................................... 10 1.4—A Tough Moment.......................................................................... 12 1.5—Linking Values to Behavior......................................................... 13 1.6—Universal, Cultural or Personal ................................................. 15 Observation Activity ................................................................... 17 1.7—Universal, Cultural, or Personal—Making Observations ...... 18 1.8—The Process of Cultural Conditioning ...................................... 18 1.9—In the Mind of the Beholder ....................................................... 20 1.10—Defining Culture ........................................................................ 25 Introducing Jan—An Analysis ............................................................ 26 Fundamentals of Culture—Introduction................. 29 Fundamentals of Culture I— The Concept of the Self ...................................................... 30 I.1—Sharing the Rewards .................................................................... 30 I.2—The Concept of Self—Individualism & Collectivism .............. 31 I.3—Score Yourself—Individualist or Collectivist ........................... 34 I.4—Pleased to Meet You...................................................................... 36 Chapter Two— American Culture and American Diversity .............. 37 2.1—Dear Todd ...................................................................................... 38 2.2—The Things We Say—Culture in Casual Expressions ............. 41 Informant Activity ....................................................................... 43 Culture Matters 3 The Peace Corps Cross-Cultural Workbook i Table of Contents 2.3—Thirteen Cultural Categories— American and Host Country Views Compared Informant Activity ....................................................................... 44 2.4—Thinking About My Job............................................................... 51 2.5—Sources of American Culture...................................................... 54 2.6—How Non-Americans See Americans ....................................... 56 Informant Activity ....................................................................... 57 2.7—Learning About America............................................................. 58 2.8—Now What? Diversity Critical Incidents .................................. 59 2.9—On Being Different ....................................................................... 62 2.10—Parting Advice ............................................................................ 63 Dear Todd—An Analysis ..................................................................... 65 Fundamentals of Culture II— Personal vs. Societal Obligations ................................ 67 II.1—An Accident .................................................................................. 67 II.2—Personal and Societal Obligations— Universalism & Particularism ................................................. 68 II.3—Score Yourself— Universalist or Particularist ..................................................... 71 II.4—Thinking it Through .................................................................... 73 Chapter Three—Styles of Communication ................. 75 3.1—Dear Gavin .................................................................................... 76 3.2—Styles of Communication—Indirect and Direct ...................... 78 3.3—Clash of Styles? ............................................................................. 80 3.4—Culture & Communication Styles— American and Host Country Views Compared ................... 81 3.5—Nonverbal Communication— Gestures, Eye Contact & Conversational Style Observation Activity ................................................................... 84 3.6—Dialogues ....................................................................................... 88 3.7—Nonverbal Communication— Facial Expressions, Personal Space & Touching Observation Activity ................................................................... 91 3.8—Practicing Indirectness ................................................................ 96 3.9—Decoding Indirectness ................................................................. 97 ii Table of Contents 3.10—Harmony and Saving Face........................................................ 99 Dear Gavin—An Analysis ................................................................. 101 Fundamentals of Culture III— The Concept of Time ............................................................. 103 III.1—Service With a Smile ................................................................ 103 III.2—Concept of Time— Monochronic and Polychronic .............................................. 104 III.3—Score Yourself— Monochronic & Polychronic .................................................. 107 III.4—Indications ................................................................................. 108 Chapter Four—Culture in the Workplace .............. 109 4.1—From Jan’s Journal.......................................................................110 4.2—Concept of Power—High & Low Power Distance .................112 4.3—Trust ...............................................................................................114 4.4—Dialogues ......................................................................................115 4.5—Attitude Toward Uncertainty & The Unknown— High & Low Uncertainty Avoidance .....................................118 4.6—Dialogues ..................................................................................... 120 4.7—No Legs ........................................................................................ 122 4.8—The Source of Status—Achieved or Ascribed ........................ 123 4.9—Workplace Values and Norms— Comparing American and Host Country Views ................ 127 4.10—Observing the Workplace Observation Activity ................................................................. 131 4.11—You Americans .......................................................................... 134 4.12—Pacing ......................................................................................... 136 4.13—Turning the Tables .................................................................... 137 From Jan’s Journal—An Analysis ..................................................... 140 Fundamentals of Culture IV— The Locus of Control ......................................................... 143 IV.1—Who’s In Charge Here? ............................................................ 143 IV.2—The Locus of Control—Internal & External ......................... 144 Culture Matters