This topic is about experiences adapting to other cultures.
When we think about the process of getting used to other cultures, it is helpful to think of common patterns that people experience. The simplest model of intercultural adaptation is the "U" model. When people first encounters another culture, they are very positive about the experience. As time passes, they experience culture shock, or feel down. With more time, they get used to things, and can enjoy the experience of living in the other culture again. Their moods will become more stable and positive over time.
A more complex model is the "Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity" (DMIS) of Milton and Janet Bennett. According to this model, people move from ethnocentric to ethnorelative stages the more they experience cultural differences. In other words, they stop judging everything by their own standards and customs (ethnocentric) and become comfortable adapting their actions and judgements according to many standards and customs (ethnorelative). According to the DMIS, there are three ethnocentric stages and three ethnorelative stages.
ETHNOCENTRIC STAGES
DENIAL of difference. People in this stage are unable to recognize cultural differences. When they do think about other cultures, it is only in broad categories such as "foreigner" or "Africans." People in this stage are often isolated from other cultures, and stereotype other cultures based on one or two things they know about the other culture.
DEFENSE against difference. People in this stage are able to recognize cultural differences, but evaluate those differences negatively. When cultural differences challenge their stable worldview, they defend their own ways of thinking by criticizing the other. However, some people have a reverse form of defense, where people criticize their own culture and idealize the other culture.
MINIMIZATION of difference. "Minimization" means to make things smaller. People in this stage recognize differences and have begun to see others in a more positive way. However, they focus only on superficial ("objective") cultural differences. In other words, they believe that deep down, everyone is really the same, and the only differences are minor ones.
ETHNORELATIVE STAGES
ACCEPTANCE of difference. People in this stage recognize cultural differences at a deeper level, and enjoy thinking about those differences. They respect other cultures, and know that there is not just one way of looking at things. This doesn't mean that they agree with the other culture's point of view, though they can respect it.
ADAPTATION to difference. People in this stage have learned to shift their cultural "frame of reference." They are able to not only see things from the other person's point of view (like the acceptance stage), but can also adapt their behavior according to the situation.
INTEGRATION of differences. People in this stage have internalized cultural differences--their own identity is not connected with just one culture or nationality, but is a complex construction of different cultural frames of reference. Since they don't identify with just one culture, people in this stage may feel like outsiders--culturally marginal--to any one culture.
As I have taught students the above model, I find that it is easy to understand the idea that people generally become less ethnocentric and more ethnorelative with time and experience. It can be difficult to understand the differences between each stage, though.
Please share your own experiences adapting to other cultures, or share your observations of how other people react to cultural differences. If you want, you can use theories such as the U-model or DMIS to help explain those experiences. Theories can help us evaluate actual situations, and at the same time, actual situations can help us improve our understanding of the theory.
When we think about the process of getting used to other cultures, it is helpful to think of common patterns that people experience. The simplest model of intercultural adaptation is the "U" model. When people first encounters another culture, they are very positive about the experience. As time passes, they experience culture shock, or feel down. With more time, they get used to things, and can enjoy the experience of living in the other culture again. Their moods will become more stable and positive over time.
A more complex model is the "Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity" (DMIS) of Milton and Janet Bennett. According to this model, people move from ethnocentric to ethnorelative stages the more they experience cultural differences. In other words, they stop judging everything by their own standards and customs (ethnocentric) and become comfortable adapting their actions and judgements according to many standards and customs (ethnorelative). According to the DMIS, there are three ethnocentric stages and three ethnorelative stages.
ETHNOCENTRIC STAGES
DENIAL of difference. People in this stage are unable to recognize cultural differences. When they do think about other cultures, it is only in broad categories such as "foreigner" or "Africans." People in this stage are often isolated from other cultures, and stereotype other cultures based on one or two things they know about the other culture.
DEFENSE against difference. People in this stage are able to recognize cultural differences, but evaluate those differences negatively. When cultural differences challenge their stable worldview, they defend their own ways of thinking by criticizing the other. However, some people have a reverse form of defense, where people criticize their own culture and idealize the other culture.
MINIMIZATION of difference. "Minimization" means to make things smaller. People in this stage recognize differences and have begun to see others in a more positive way. However, they focus only on superficial ("objective") cultural differences. In other words, they believe that deep down, everyone is really the same, and the only differences are minor ones.
ETHNORELATIVE STAGES
ACCEPTANCE of difference. People in this stage recognize cultural differences at a deeper level, and enjoy thinking about those differences. They respect other cultures, and know that there is not just one way of looking at things. This doesn't mean that they agree with the other culture's point of view, though they can respect it.
ADAPTATION to difference. People in this stage have learned to shift their cultural "frame of reference." They are able to not only see things from the other person's point of view (like the acceptance stage), but can also adapt their behavior according to the situation.
INTEGRATION of differences. People in this stage have internalized cultural differences--their own identity is not connected with just one culture or nationality, but is a complex construction of different cultural frames of reference. Since they don't identify with just one culture, people in this stage may feel like outsiders--culturally marginal--to any one culture.
As I have taught students the above model, I find that it is easy to understand the idea that people generally become less ethnocentric and more ethnorelative with time and experience. It can be difficult to understand the differences between each stage, though.
Please share your own experiences adapting to other cultures, or share your observations of how other people react to cultural differences. If you want, you can use theories such as the U-model or DMIS to help explain those experiences. Theories can help us evaluate actual situations, and at the same time, actual situations can help us improve our understanding of the theory.
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コメント(16)
I first came to Japan as an exchange student as a member of the Japan-U.S. Senate Scholarship Exchange Program. Part of our schedule was to meet the Tokyo governor. I was very excited to meet such an important person, but when we arrived, we found that the governor was busy, and we met someone he worked with instead. It was an informal meeting, and a few people, including the government official, gave short speeches.
I only remember one part of the officials speech. He spoke in Japanese, and someone else translated into English. I listened carefully to the translator, who said that Americans and Japanese have much in common. Of course, Americans use forks and Japanese use bridges, but otherwise, we are basically the same. At this point, the Japanese offical corrected the translator, and we realized the mistake. Since "hashi" can mean either bridge or chopsticks in Japanese, the translator had mistakenly translated the word "bridge." We all had a good laugh.
Of course, the official's speech was a good one. It's good to focus on our similarities, while recognizing that differences often aren't so important. However, if one's understanding of cultural differences ends here, then this is a superficial understanding.
I've experienced many misunderstandings and much stress because of differences between America and Japan. If adapting to Japanese culture only meant simple things like learning to use chopsticks, then I shouldn't have had these misunderstandings. But actually, cultural differences are deeper than just objective cultural differences like chopsticks.
This way of looking at cultures is an example of the "minimization" stage. People in this stage try to explain differences between cultures as being very minor. They are move developed than the "defense" stage, because they see cultural differences more positively. Still, unlike those in the "acceptance" stage, they are not able to appreciate that different cultures have differences at deeper levels.
I only remember one part of the officials speech. He spoke in Japanese, and someone else translated into English. I listened carefully to the translator, who said that Americans and Japanese have much in common. Of course, Americans use forks and Japanese use bridges, but otherwise, we are basically the same. At this point, the Japanese offical corrected the translator, and we realized the mistake. Since "hashi" can mean either bridge or chopsticks in Japanese, the translator had mistakenly translated the word "bridge." We all had a good laugh.
Of course, the official's speech was a good one. It's good to focus on our similarities, while recognizing that differences often aren't so important. However, if one's understanding of cultural differences ends here, then this is a superficial understanding.
I've experienced many misunderstandings and much stress because of differences between America and Japan. If adapting to Japanese culture only meant simple things like learning to use chopsticks, then I shouldn't have had these misunderstandings. But actually, cultural differences are deeper than just objective cultural differences like chopsticks.
This way of looking at cultures is an example of the "minimization" stage. People in this stage try to explain differences between cultures as being very minor. They are move developed than the "defense" stage, because they see cultural differences more positively. Still, unlike those in the "acceptance" stage, they are not able to appreciate that different cultures have differences at deeper levels.
When I think about myself, I couldn't decide which intercultual sensitivity I have easily. However, I think my intercultural sensitivity is acceptance or adaptation.
While I was in Australia, water problem was really serious and my hostmom was very sensitive about it. (Actually it's still a big problem there.)
I knew that before I went there so I had my hair cut in Japan to save time and water of shower in Australia. (I thought it better but some of my friends were surprised at the reason why I had my hair cut. :p)
In fact, my hostmom asked me to take a shower quicly to save water.
I'm Japanese and using water a lot is very natural in Japan so it was a little bit inconvenient for me. However, I could get used to it day by day! In addition, I could get used to transportation there as well. Although buses and trams don't come on time, I didn't feel so much stress day by day. :D From these reasons, I think I'm a person who has acceptance or adaptation!!!
(I'm sorry if I wrote the story that isn't suitable here.)
While I was in Australia, water problem was really serious and my hostmom was very sensitive about it. (Actually it's still a big problem there.)
I knew that before I went there so I had my hair cut in Japan to save time and water of shower in Australia. (I thought it better but some of my friends were surprised at the reason why I had my hair cut. :p)
In fact, my hostmom asked me to take a shower quicly to save water.
I'm Japanese and using water a lot is very natural in Japan so it was a little bit inconvenient for me. However, I could get used to it day by day! In addition, I could get used to transportation there as well. Although buses and trams don't come on time, I didn't feel so much stress day by day. :D From these reasons, I think I'm a person who has acceptance or adaptation!!!
(I'm sorry if I wrote the story that isn't suitable here.)
It was the most impressive things for me that a western student and a Chinese family have a conflict over food. We discussed which person should accept other culture, and there were many thought. After several classes, I think that both should accept other culture, because globalization is rapidly spending. Now we need to understand each other. Therefore, I think accepting other culture is one of the important things and it is also a things we cannot avoid.
Mad mutsuko
Mad mutsuko
Sbject: A little good story about Ms. Sachi Parker(actress)
Ms. Sachi Parker, actress, who took a role in the movie of "Witch in the west died",is daughter of famouse american movie star Sharly MacLen.
Her real name is "Sachiko(幸子）”that has sorroful episode.
His father Mr. Parker has experience of spendig time in Japan as a soldier.
One day he met a sknniy girl in around 2 years old on the street in town.
Her name was Sachioko(幸子）who approached to him, there were no parents
seen around her. Mr. Parker ran and looked for her parents but her both parents were died already by atomic bomb in HIroshima.
Mr. Parker felt emotion like family between two while statred to live together.
Goverment allowed him adopt her as a step daughter.
Unfortunately she became badly shick to die.
Mr. Parker had been deeply sad for a while.
So. when he had a new baby he named it "Sachiko" without hesitation.
Sachiko Parker spent time in Tokyo since 2 to 12 years old because
father's business was in Tokyo.
After she has grown up, married and had two boys, 9yers and 11 years old.
One day Sachi coocked and prepared "Sushi bentou" for their lunch in school.
Class mates looked at "Sushi" luch as strange thing and they said "What is it?"
with courious eyes.
Sachi Parker went diretly to kids school, stood on the stage and explaned
Japanese culture delivering Japanse foods.
School teachers and students got interested in her lecture.
Her experience in the childhood helps her attitude to intercutural world.
It relays to her boys children.
Her father Mr. Parker wished Sachi Parker succeed the young girl Sachiko
wo died at young.
Everyone, above is hiden unpublic but real story that Ms. Sachi Parker experi-
enced in her life.
What DMIS stage is she in , ACCEPTANCE, ADAPTATION?
Without thoughts of grading, Sachiko Parker's mix culture gives world wide
intercutural activities.
I hope you all enjoy above.
Eddie
Ms. Sachi Parker, actress, who took a role in the movie of "Witch in the west died",is daughter of famouse american movie star Sharly MacLen.
Her real name is "Sachiko(幸子）”that has sorroful episode.
His father Mr. Parker has experience of spendig time in Japan as a soldier.
One day he met a sknniy girl in around 2 years old on the street in town.
Her name was Sachioko(幸子）who approached to him, there were no parents
seen around her. Mr. Parker ran and looked for her parents but her both parents were died already by atomic bomb in HIroshima.
Mr. Parker felt emotion like family between two while statred to live together.
Goverment allowed him adopt her as a step daughter.
Unfortunately she became badly shick to die.
Mr. Parker had been deeply sad for a while.
So. when he had a new baby he named it "Sachiko" without hesitation.
Sachiko Parker spent time in Tokyo since 2 to 12 years old because
father's business was in Tokyo.
After she has grown up, married and had two boys, 9yers and 11 years old.
One day Sachi coocked and prepared "Sushi bentou" for their lunch in school.
Class mates looked at "Sushi" luch as strange thing and they said "What is it?"
with courious eyes.
Sachi Parker went diretly to kids school, stood on the stage and explaned
Japanese culture delivering Japanse foods.
School teachers and students got interested in her lecture.
Her experience in the childhood helps her attitude to intercutural world.
It relays to her boys children.
Her father Mr. Parker wished Sachi Parker succeed the young girl Sachiko
wo died at young.
Everyone, above is hiden unpublic but real story that Ms. Sachi Parker experi-
enced in her life.
What DMIS stage is she in , ACCEPTANCE, ADAPTATION?
Without thoughts of grading, Sachiko Parker's mix culture gives world wide
intercutural activities.
I hope you all enjoy above.
Eddie
One of my friend is in Australia now, and he wrote a dialy on mixi. Here is the one he werote. One day, he needed to find a place to live, so he went to a real estate agent. Then, he found a good apartment. It has a pool, a gym and so on. So he decided to live there soon, and he paid acvance payment at that time to keep the contract. Few days later, he left his host famyly's house and headed the new apartment. However, the real estate agent took a mistake and he contracted the apartment with others. therefore, my friend lost to live. It's a joke but he had to change an apartment at that time.
When I read the dialy, I thougth that it never happens in Japan! How rude Australians are!!
So when you go to Aus, please take care of that!
Kiddy Kyohei
When I read the dialy, I thougth that it never happens in Japan! How rude Australians are!!
So when you go to Aus, please take care of that!
Kiddy Kyohei
>LOREN sensei ;>
Thank you for summerizing the points for tomorrow's test :) but I'm still not sure some of the blanks on the paper which are given to us the last class and have so much fear about the test (sniff sniff ;<
>"cultural differences are deeper than just objective cultural differences"
Yes! but i guess objective cultural differences tend to be enjoyable more while subjective diffferences tend to be more stressful things... (of course, the opposite cases happen though)
>Eddie san
wow! it's interesting story! but why do u know the "HIDEN unpublic" story???
Thank you for summerizing the points for tomorrow's test :) but I'm still not sure some of the blanks on the paper which are given to us the last class and have so much fear about the test (sniff sniff ;<
>"cultural differences are deeper than just objective cultural differences"
Yes! but i guess objective cultural differences tend to be enjoyable more while subjective diffferences tend to be more stressful things... (of course, the opposite cases happen though)
>Eddie san
wow! it's interesting story! but why do u know the "HIDEN unpublic" story???
My experience adapting to other cultures
When I came back from Italy after living there for about one year, I had so many difficulties to adapt to the Japanese life!
For example, I felt so much stress about I can not have enough time like 1hour or 2hours to have lunch or dinner X<(In Italy, we take so many hours and hours to cook and eat!even after eating we sit on the seat and chatting for a while)
It made me cry sometimes riding on train since the train is always full of people even though it comes nealy every 10mins...(while in Italy, train for one direction comes about 5 or 6 times a day and always we can find the seat easily...you know how different?)
I didn't recognize but i suppose I was on Intergration Stage on these points. And actually I tend to minimize the differences consciously! cuz I believe myself we are all humanbeings... so maybe basically, i might be on Minimization stage.
Melancholic Mai
When I came back from Italy after living there for about one year, I had so many difficulties to adapt to the Japanese life!
For example, I felt so much stress about I can not have enough time like 1hour or 2hours to have lunch or dinner X<(In Italy, we take so many hours and hours to cook and eat!even after eating we sit on the seat and chatting for a while)
It made me cry sometimes riding on train since the train is always full of people even though it comes nealy every 10mins...(while in Italy, train for one direction comes about 5 or 6 times a day and always we can find the seat easily...you know how different?)
I didn't recognize but i suppose I was on Intergration Stage on these points. And actually I tend to minimize the differences consciously! cuz I believe myself we are all humanbeings... so maybe basically, i might be on Minimization stage.
Melancholic Mai
I'm agree with Saori. I had same experience when I went to Australia.
I went to Australia when I was 2nd grade of high school. Before flight, class teacher told us “Australians are really care about water, so girls who has long hair should cut your hair. In addition, you shouldn’t take too much time about shower.” At that time, I had long hair, so I had my hair cut about 20cm.
Furthermore, Australia’s buses don’t arrive on time. I was really surprised at that.
I was not feel pressure or stress when I take shower in a short time, however, transportation isn’t come on time was stressful for me. I couldn’t believe time schedule so I was worried about school. I don’t want to be late to go school.
I can understand and accept some points but sometimes I can't accept difference.Therefore, I'm in acceptance stage!!
Yell Yumi
I went to Australia when I was 2nd grade of high school. Before flight, class teacher told us “Australians are really care about water, so girls who has long hair should cut your hair. In addition, you shouldn’t take too much time about shower.” At that time, I had long hair, so I had my hair cut about 20cm.
Furthermore, Australia’s buses don’t arrive on time. I was really surprised at that.
I was not feel pressure or stress when I take shower in a short time, however, transportation isn’t come on time was stressful for me. I couldn’t believe time schedule so I was worried about school. I don’t want to be late to go school.
I can understand and accept some points but sometimes I can't accept difference.Therefore, I'm in acceptance stage!!
Yell Yumi
When I went to Australia, I had Korean friends but when I first met them, I worried about historical background between Japan and Korea so I wondered if I say something, I could make friends angry. Then I could not say initially. I did not know anything about Korean and I’d never talked with Korean. I thought the relationship with Asian people was little different than with another people because Japanese did bad things for Asian people in WW?U. There was no meaning to worry about that, after a few talks, I noticed that my image about Asian people was like stereotype. I could talk with them as if we were same nationalism. I stayed at Australia just for a month. It was very short. I regretted not to be more flexible to Korean friends.
Takao
Takao
hi i'm yippee yuki.
i think this story doesnt fit to this topic but i couldnt find any suitable topics so i put it here, sorry.
ppassive/active culture
i recently met these cultures at where i work. i work at the restaurant near kanda uni. foreign customers often come to my restaurant.
one day, three foreign customers from an english speaking country came and i took their order. i said “may i take your order?” in japanese because that restaurant was in japan and they and me were in japan, i mean i just followed my usual way. but they said their order in english with no doubt. ←they spoke very fast!
so i changed my way and took their order in english. i didn't care about it because i thought it might help my english skills. but i thought they definitely changed the environment and i'm sure that they were active culture.
the other day, another foreign customers from an english speaking country came. i thought “another active culture people came.”. but they were totally different. i followed my usual way again and they tried to speak japanese. well, their japanese were pretty good. anyway, i was happy. their challenge of speaking japanese made me feel a bit familiar with them:) i thought they were passive culture.
my image of english speaking countries people were all active culture but actually it was wrong that i found out through these experiences.
i think this story doesnt fit to this topic but i couldnt find any suitable topics so i put it here, sorry.
ppassive/active culture
i recently met these cultures at where i work. i work at the restaurant near kanda uni. foreign customers often come to my restaurant.
one day, three foreign customers from an english speaking country came and i took their order. i said “may i take your order?” in japanese because that restaurant was in japan and they and me were in japan, i mean i just followed my usual way. but they said their order in english with no doubt. ←they spoke very fast!
so i changed my way and took their order in english. i didn't care about it because i thought it might help my english skills. but i thought they definitely changed the environment and i'm sure that they were active culture.
the other day, another foreign customers from an english speaking country came. i thought “another active culture people came.”. but they were totally different. i followed my usual way again and they tried to speak japanese. well, their japanese were pretty good. anyway, i was happy. their challenge of speaking japanese made me feel a bit familiar with them:) i thought they were passive culture.
my image of english speaking countries people were all active culture but actually it was wrong that i found out through these experiences.
I have enjoyed reading everyone's comments above. Thanks! I learned a lot. I'd like to respond to some of them, since they made me think more.
> #8 Araki addicted ("Melancholic" Mai)
That's an interesting comment that we tend to enjoy objective cultural differences more, like food and art. On the other hand, subjective cultural differences, like value differences, tend to cause us more stress. Why is that??? This is definitely worth thinking about more.
>#13 Yippie Yuki
I enjoyed your story about experiences working in a restaurant. When we try to understand another culture (or another person, or anything), we tend to understand in a "dialectic" way. In other words, I receive some information, process the information, and reach one level of understanding. Later, I might get some more information, then I will revise my perspective and level of understanding. Your stories really helped me understand this process better.
> #8 Araki addicted ("Melancholic" Mai)
That's an interesting comment that we tend to enjoy objective cultural differences more, like food and art. On the other hand, subjective cultural differences, like value differences, tend to cause us more stress. Why is that??? This is definitely worth thinking about more.
>#13 Yippie Yuki
I enjoyed your story about experiences working in a restaurant. When we try to understand another culture (or another person, or anything), we tend to understand in a "dialectic" way. In other words, I receive some information, process the information, and reach one level of understanding. Later, I might get some more information, then I will revise my perspective and level of understanding. Your stories really helped me understand this process better.
to Loren
I suppose that the objective culture is easier to understand since we can see/touch/smell.Once we understand something, it is not so hard to accept (and enjoy) it. while the subjective culture is something to feel/think and it is hard to understand "WHY". so the things we cant understand are hard to accept and feel stresses.
For example, if you understand the reason why a person behave the way he/she does. You may accept it easily but if you have no idea the reason, u may be stressed. I think people can not enjoy the things which they can not understand.
This is just a one opinion... so not sure ;)
P.S. Wish the intercultural communication's class continued to 後期。 then, we could study about it deeper!
I suppose that the objective culture is easier to understand since we can see/touch/smell.Once we understand something, it is not so hard to accept (and enjoy) it. while the subjective culture is something to feel/think and it is hard to understand "WHY". so the things we cant understand are hard to accept and feel stresses.
For example, if you understand the reason why a person behave the way he/she does. You may accept it easily but if you have no idea the reason, u may be stressed. I think people can not enjoy the things which they can not understand.
This is just a one opinion... so not sure ;)
P.S. Wish the intercultural communication's class continued to 後期。 then, we could study about it deeper!
Hi, I'm easy-going eriko
[Active-Passive Cultures]
I've heard an interesting story from my friend. He said, when American tourists(maybe thay cannot speak japanese well) came to Japan, why do they ask how to go there “in English”? He insists that they should try to use Japanese. When we Japanese went to foreign countries, we absolutely use English. Although it depends on the person, I noticed that Americans are active culture, and they try to change the environment. That means in this case, they try to make person understand what American says in English. On the other hand, Japanese are passive cultures because they change themselves to fit into the environment. Therefore I think there is a few Japanese who asks questions in Japanese when they are in foreign countries.
[Active-Passive Cultures]
I've heard an interesting story from my friend. He said, when American tourists(maybe thay cannot speak japanese well) came to Japan, why do they ask how to go there “in English”? He insists that they should try to use Japanese. When we Japanese went to foreign countries, we absolutely use English. Although it depends on the person, I noticed that Americans are active culture, and they try to change the environment. That means in this case, they try to make person understand what American says in English. On the other hand, Japanese are passive cultures because they change themselves to fit into the environment. Therefore I think there is a few Japanese who asks questions in Japanese when they are in foreign countries.
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