Theories of macro cultural differences

Week 16

Comparative Sociology

Last week

• Different forms of capitalism– Anglo-American– Germanic

• Briefly considered how these could be linked to culture

• This week consider macro cultural differences, rather than micro work of cultural studies

Outline

• What is culture?

• Hofstede’s studies

• Inglehart’s theory

of values

• Cultural change?

Cultural Differences?

Awkward conversations may be one sign of cultural differences in small talk

What

conversations

can you have

with strangers?

What is culture?

• Symbolic and learned aspects of human societies (‘mental programming’)– Language– Custom– Convention

• Set of belief systems- often taken-for-granted

• Not fixed, it changes over time

Layer’s of culture

• National level

• Regional/ethnic/religious/linguistic level

• Gender

• Generational

• Social Class

• Organizational/corporate level

Internalisation of the ‘rules’

• How to interact with people?

• Why in Europe does opera have a higher status than soaps?

• Is it acceptable to belch at the dinner table?

Cultural expectations in the classroom

• Discuss with the people sitting next to you cultural norms during lectures.

Hofstede’s studies

• Studies of organisational culture

• National cultural differences between

– Power distance– Collectivism vs individualism– Femininity vs masculinity– Uncertainty avoidance

Power distance

• The extent to which inequality is accepted by those at the bottom– Large power differences

– Children expected to respect/obey elders

– Hierarchical Workplaces- lots of supervisory levels

– Subordinates should be told what to do

– Powerful have rightful privileges

– High countries: Malaysia, Mexico, Arab states– Low countries : Austria, Israel, Denmark,

Costa Rica, UK

Collectivism vs individualism

• Collectivism– from birth people integrated into strong

cohesive groups• Guatemala, Pakistan, Costa Rica

• Individualism • Ties between people are loose, individuals look

after themselves and immediate family • USA, UK, New Zealand

Key elements

• Collectivist

– Extended family

– Identity based in social

– Harmony to be maintained

– Shame (on group)

• Individualist

– Care of self/immediate family

– Identity based in individual

– Honest people speak their minds

– Guilt (individual)

Masculinity/Femininity

• Masculine societies• Dominant values are material success and

progress• Men/Women distinct roles and emotions• Stress on competition between peers • Winning through conflict

• Masculine countries: Japan, Italy, UK, USA

• Feminine countries: Sweden, Costa Rica Thailand

Uncertainty avoidance

• Weak– Uncertainty is normal – Aggression/emotions

should be hidden– Comfortable with

ambiguous situations and unfamiliar risks

– Lenient rules for children on taboos

– Motivation by achievement

• UK, Singapore, Jamaica

• Strong– Uncertainty is a threat– Aggression/emotions can

be vented– Fear of ambiguous

situations and unfamiliar risks

– Tight rules for children on taboos

– Motivation by security

• Greece, Uruguay, Japan

The UK

• According to Hofstede:• Low power distance• Individualism• Masculine country• Weak uncertainty avoidance

• Discuss with your neighbours if you think

this is right

Inglehart’s theory of values

• Culture legitimates social order

• Culture integrates societies

• Values change as societies change– Modernization– Postmodernization

• Predicable shift in culture

Inglehart Insecurity Security

• Politics– Need for strong leaders– Order– Xenophobia

• Economics– Economic growth– Achievement/motivation

• Sexuality/Family norm – 2 parent heterosexual

family

• Politics– De-emphasis on political

authority– Self-expression– Exotic/new are stimulating

• Economics– Quality of life– Subjective well-being

• Sexuality/Family norm– Individual sexual

gratification– Self-expression

Move to postmodern values

• Countries vary as to where they sit between these two positions

• But– Rich and secure countries more likely to have

postmodern values– Within societies wealthy/elites more likely to have

postmodern values– Fluctuations can be caused by war/ economic

downturn/ civil disorder etc– Socialisation means that values are likely to be

generational (younger more postmodern)

Critiques of Inglehart

• Over-simplification of complex issues• Unlikely to be a direct relationship between

economic development (modern to postmodern) and cultural shifts

• Values are related to the context within which they become relevant

• ‘Equality’ was upheld in Ancient Greece but did not include many (women, slaves etc)

Inglehart’s theory

• Discuss with the people sitting next to you how far you think changes in values are predicable in the way that Inglehart has argued

Summary

• There is agreement that national cultures are different

• But what those differences are and how they relate to other factors in each society is debated

• Hofstede - 4 major divides

• Inglehart – Values changing over time

Next week

• Continue our look at cultures by looking at these concepts in particular:

– Cultural imperialism– New world order– Clash of cultures