T0087 Information Collection and Exchange
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Culture Matters The Peace Corps Cross-Cultural Workbook Peace Corps Information Collection and Exchange Publication No. T0087 Information Collection and Exchange The Peace Corps Information Collection and Exchange (ICE), a unit of the Office of Overseas Programming and Training Support (OPATS), 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 works with Peace Corps technical and training specialists to identify and develop information of all kinds to support Volunteers and overseas staff. ICE also collects and disseminates 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. This publication was produced by Peace Corps OPATS. It is distributed through the ICE unit. For further information about ICE materials, or for additional copies of this manual, please contact ICE and refer to the ICE Publication Number. Peace Corps Office of Overseas Programming and Training Support Information Collection and Exchange 1111 20th Street, NW, Sixth Floor Washington, DC 20526 [email protected] Tel: 202.692.2640 Fax: 202.692.2641 Abridged Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) Number: 303.48 Share your experience! Add your experience to the ICE Resource Center. Send your materials to us so we can share them with other development workers. Your technical insights serve as the basis for the generation of ICE materials, reprints, and training materials. They also ensure that ICE is providing the most up-to-date innovative problem-solving techniques and information available to you and your fellow development workers. Culture Matters The Peace Corps Cross-Cultural Workbook c Peace Corps Information Collection and Exchange Publication No. T0087 Reprinted August 2012 ISBN 0-9644472-3-1 T0087_Culture_Matters.indb 1 8/20/12 2:15 PM Acknowledgements Culture Matters, The Peace Corps first extensive cross-cultural work- book for the volunteers, represents a major effort forward in cross-cul- tural 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. T0087_Culture_Matters.indb 2 8/20/12 2:15 PM 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 .......17 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 T0087_Culture_Matters.indb 1 8/20/12 2:15 PM 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 T0087_Culture_Matters.indb 2 8/20/12 2:15 PM 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