1. Intercultural Relationships:The Social Science ApproachDifferences in Notions of Friendship What are the characteristics of a friend? How do ideas of friendship vary across cultures?Those two questions will be answered differently in every culture.Friendships are seen in many different ways across the world. Forexample, in most Western cultures, these relationships are seen asmostly voluntary and spontaneous, in contrast to family or workrelationships (Martin & Nakayama, 2010).Glenda Cecil

2. Cultural differences in notions about friendships are related to ideasabout identity and values, and every cultures value system isdifferent. In western societies that value individualism andinterdependence, they view friendships as voluntary. On the otherhand, people in China who view the self always in relation toothers, collectivists, believe that friendship is long-term, and involvesobligations. Friendship in China offered assurances and an intimacy that wehave abandoned in America; it gave the Chinese psychic as well asmaterial rewards that we have lost. We ourselves did feel close tothe Wangs [their Chinese friends], but as Westerners, the constantgift giving and obligations left us uneasy (Martin &Nakayama, 2010). The Social Science approach makes a unique contribution to ourunderstanding of how different cultures define relationships. In other words, whether it be through dealing with cross-culturalemployees, co-workers, relatives, or friends, knowing this information Glenda Cecilabout how each culture defines relationships differently is essential inorder to create and sustain those relationships.