Sociocultural Panorama of the Angloshpere

Lecture 1

Angloshpere Countries

Angloshpere Definition

Angloshpere Commonalities:

English Language; Civic state (civil society);Common Law based legal

framework;Free market economy;

Parliamentary political system;Private property;

Equality before courts;Democracy...

What is Culture?

“Culture is the collective programming of the human mind that distinguishes the members of one human group from those of another. Culture in this sense is a system of collectively held values.”

Geert Hofstede“Culture is the deeper level of basic assumptions and beliefs that are shared by members of an organization, that operate unconsciously and define in a basic ‘taken for granted’ fashion an organization's view of its self and its environment.”

Edgar Schein

Culture is "that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society."

Edward B. Tylor

Culture is the characteristics of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts

Characteristics of Culture Culture is an adaptive mechanism.

Culture is cumulative.

Culture is learned and accepted.

Culture is non-instinctive.

Cultural ValuesThe commonly held standards of what is acceptable or unacceptable, important or unimportant, right or wrong, workable or unworkable, etc., in a community or society.

These patterns, traits, and products considered as the expression of a particular community, period, class, or population.

The totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought.

Hofstede Dimensions of National Culture

Power Distance.

Masculinity vs. Femininity.

Individualism vs. Collectivism.

Uncertainty Avoidance.

*Long-Term Orientation.(added later by Michael Bond and colleagues )

Anglosphere Countries Compared

PDI IDV MAS UAI LTO0

102030405060708090

100

36

90

6151

3139

80

52 48

23

35

89

66

3525

40

91

62

46

2928

70 68

3543

22

79

5849

30

Australia Canada United Kingdom United States IrelandNew Zealand

Sociocultural Panorama of the United States

Lecture 2

10 Commandments of American Culture

You can't argue with success.

You are only young once.

Live and let live.

Time is money.

Time flies when you're having fun. Shop till you drop.

Just do it.

Enough is enough. Rules are made to be

broken. Work hard.

US Cultural ValuesIndividualism / Individuality.Time.

Directness/Openness/Assertiveness.Social Mobility.

Equality/Informality.

Competition/Achievement.

Privacy.

American IdentityDiversity.

Weekends.

Social/Cultural.

Legal Status.

Dress / Apparel.

Impression of Other Countries.

United States Is the World.

Basic Etiquette in the USACourtesy.

Personal Space.

Alcohol and Smoking.Greetings and Good-byes.

Social Invitations.

Dining.Practicing Your Religion.

Friendship and Dating.

Taboos in the USACover your mouth when you yawn, sneeze or cough.Americans are offended by strong

odors.

Do not pick your teeth or nose in public.

Do not stare at someone you are talking to.

Do not belch loudly in public.Do not spit.

Do not whistle at women.

Sociocultural Panorama of the United Kingdom

Lecture 3