A Cross-cultural Contrastive Analysis of Views on Friendship in Chinese and English Proverbs

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 1037
Author(s):  
Wenjun Zhong

By applying a contrastive analysis, this paper aims at presenting the differences of the views on friendship between China and Americans reflected in proverbs about friendship and friends under the guidance of Cultural Dimensions Theory. Differences are found in the acceptance of the hierarchy in human relations, expectations of loyalty and long-term commitments from friends, and inclination of independence. Power distance dimension, individualism versus collectivism dimension and long-term versus short-term orientation dimension are exploited to account for the differences.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elham Alidadi Shamsabadi ◽  
Mitra Savabi-Esfahani ◽  
Ali Hashemianfar

Abstract Background Proper nutrition is essential for infant growth and health. Exclusive breastfeeding is the best pattern for feeding infants in the first 6 months of life. On the other hand, lactation patterns may be influenced by cultural factors. The present study aimed to determine relationships of cultural dimensions and lactation patterns.Methods The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 452 mothers with 6-month and younger infants. Hofstede's cultural dimensions, Power Distance, Individualism vs. collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Uncertainty Avoidance, Long-Term vs. Short-Term Orientation, and Indulgence vs. Restraint were assessed using a self-administered structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using descriptive and analytical tests (independent t-test, Eta, phi and Cramer coefficients) and SPSS 18 at a significance level of less than 0.05.Results In the masculinity-femininity dimension, the mean score of exclusive breastfeeding pattern was higher than the non-exclusive breastfeeding (3± 0.48, 2.48±0.50) and there were statistical significant differences between groups (P = 0.03). However, despite different mean scores of power distance, individualism-collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, long term- short term orientation, indulgence- restraint in different breastfeeding patterns, the differences were not statistically significant.Conclusions Masculinity-femininity as a cultural dimension was associated with lactation patterns, so that mothers with greater orientation towards masculinity had higher focus on gender roles of a woman such as breastfeeding and they had greater exclusive breastfeeding. Therefore, some cultural dimensions should be taken into consideration in training and counseling for maternal breastfeeding.


2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S503-S504 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. AlAnezi ◽  
B. Alansari

IntroductionHofstede's model of cultural dimensions has become the most widely accepted and most frequently cited model for cross-cultural research. His cultural dimensions included power distance index (PDI), individualism vs. collectivism (IDV), masculinity vs. femininity (MAS), uncertainty avoidance index (UAI), and long-term vs. short-term orientation (LTO).ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to explore gender related differences in the Hofstede's five dimensions of national culture for work-related values among a sample from Kuwait.MethodsThe participants were 540 first year secondary school Kuwaiti teachers (270 males: mean age = 28.95 ± 2.47; 270 females: mean age = 28.20 ± 2.04). The Arabic version of the Values Survey Module, VSM 08 was administered to participants. Data analysis include independent sample t-test was used to examine gender differences in Hofstede's five dimensions of national culture.ResultsInternal consistency was satisfactory for the Power Distance, Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Uncertainty Avoidance, and Long-term vs. Short-term Orientation subscales respectively (Cronbach's alpha = 0.82, 0.84, 0.90, 0.74, 0.87) for males and (Cronbach's alpha = 0.77, 0.90, 0.83, 0.80, 0.88) for females. The results revealed significant gender differences where the males obtained a higher score than females on individualism (t = 2.95, P < 0.002), and masculinity (t = 2.77, P < 0.005), while females obtained a higher score than males on power distance (t = 4.48, P < 0.000), and long-term orientation (t = 4.13, P < 0.000).ConclusionThese findings suggest that the gender differences exist for cultural dimensions, and provide insight on leadership characteristics.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1595
Author(s):  
Sha Zhu

Humor plays an important role in daily life and also quite useful in interpersonal communication. Nowadays, the cross-cultural communication between the English-speaking countries and China becomes more and more frequent while some humor is difficult to appreciate with diverse cultural backgrounds. Therefore, this paper aims at analyzing the Chinese and English humor from their similarities, like the use of ambiguity and figure of speech, as well as differences, especially in functions, topics and ways of expression. Related causes are further discussed the differences. Hopefully, the findings will help to reduce the obstacles in understanding humor in different culture and promote transcultural communication in a delightful manner.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Aaron Z. Johnson

Extra-Lethal Violence, a form of physical aggression that goes beyond the necessity to kill someone, presents a conundrum: it is inefficient and dangerous to produce, especially during warfare. Extra-Lethal Violence, particularly when it manifests in warfare, does not contribute to the immediate survival of individuals; the time, effort, and lack of awareness of surroundings or other attack suggests that Extra-Lethal Violence could be maladaptive at the individual level or in the short term. Yet this individually risky behavior that seems to have no direct benefit to the aggressor is both common and persistent across time and space. We utilized the electronic Human Relations Area Files (HRAF) to conduct a cross cultural analysis of the prevalence and potential predictors of Extra-Lethal Violence. Our research indicates that Extra-Lethal Violence is present across all populated regions of the world, for the entire timespan of the ethnographic record up to the ethnographic present, across subsistence, marriage, and social complexity levels. Our research suggests that Costly Signaling Theory (CST) is currently the best explanation for this behavior. Extra-Lethal Violence can be characterized as a difficult to fake, clear indicator of martial skill and physical fitness that has a high broadcast efficiency, both within and between groups. Rather than allowing behaviors such as Extra-Lethal Violence to be labeled as 'abhorrent' or 'disgusting,' we must view Extra-Lethal Violence in the same light as the cavalry, the ironclads, or nuclear weapons: societies seeking a decisive advantage over their enemies, utilizing available resources, be they material or behavioral.


2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina M. Kruger ◽  
Sarah Gilland ◽  
Jacquelyn B. Frank ◽  
Bridget C. Murphy ◽  
Courtney English ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 41-50
Author(s):  
Irma Gjana ◽  
Xhimi Hysa

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the changes that Albanian cultural dimensions’ scores have undergone over time. Hofstede’s Value Survey Module 2013 (VSM 2013) has been applied to examine the six dimensions of culture; power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, long term orientation and indulgence. The survey data (N=387) was collected in the two largest private hospitals in Albania. Globalization, technological developments, economical flourishing and crisis, war and peace, influence the shifting of national cultural dimensions’ scores toward negative or positive values [1]. In this study we aim to show the shifting of Albanian culture value scores in time, and compare the results with the ones predicted by the researchers of the field. The results obtained show a negative shift on Albanian culture dimension score of power distance, individualism, long term orientation and indulgence, and a positive shift on masculinity and uncertainty avoidance values. Implications for researchers of the field are discussed in the paper.


Author(s):  
Syed Danish Haider Naqvi ◽  
Danish Ahmed Siddiqui

Culture influence the entrepreneurial intentions, which make a contribution to entrepreneurial evolution. This study investigates that whether (Hofstede, Dimensionalizing Cultures: The Hofstede Model in Context, 2001) cultural dimensions has a moderating role in converting Personal Entrepreneurial Attributes into their Intention to Start a Business. To measure these attributes, we applied bounded multidimensional model of social entrepreneurship as proposed by (Weerawardena & Mort, 2006) and applied by (Richter, et al., 2016). The effect of three Entrepreneurial Attributes namely risk taking, innovativeness and pro-activeness along with other demographic variables were tested against entrepreneurial intensions (EI). Their effect was moderated by five cultural dimensions namely Masculinity, Power Distance, Long-Term Orientation, Collectivism, and Uncertainty Avoidance. Data of 272 respondents from Pakistan was collected using close ended questionnaire and was analysed using Confirmatory factor analysis and structured equation modelling by means of path model which specifies various constructs of this study. The results suggested that risk taking and pro-activeness had a positive and significant effect on EI, whereas innovativeness doesn’t seem to effect EI. This imply that risk takers and proactive individuals are more inclined towards entrepreneurship than innovators. With regards to cultural dimensions, Masculinity, Power Distance, and Collectivism seems to negatively affect EI, whereas Long-Term Orientation, and Uncertainty Avoidance seems to effect positively. Interestingly, Collectivism and Masculinity have positive and significant complementarities with innovativeness, whereas Uncertainty Avoidance have negative and significant effect. This means innovativeness does seem to effect EI in collective and masculine culture. This also suggested that innovators would be more inclined in converting their ideas into workable projects in collective decision making and hierarchical cultural settings. Conversely, Uncertainty Avoidance, seem to restrict Entrepreneurial aspirations in innovators. Cultural variable doesn’t seem to have a significant moderation effect with regards to risk taking, except of Long Term Orientation, that have significant negative complementarities. Surprisingly, Masculinity, and Collectivism had and significant negative moderating effect with pro-activeness and EI, whereas Long Term Orientation and Uncertainty Avoidance have a significant positive interaction. This suggested that hierarchical culture deter proactive people in fulfilling their EI, at the same time, encourage innovators. With regards to demographics, male seems to have more EI, whereas the coefficient of education and age found that advanced education and experienced individuals believes in development, increasingly slanted toward entrepreneurship. Frames of mind to completing the expectations are poor in entrepreneurship.


Author(s):  
Isaac Kofi Mensah ◽  
Guohua Zeng ◽  
Chuanyong Luo

This study integrated the cultural dimensions such as power distance, collectivism, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity, and long-term orientation into the UTAUT to examine the comparative impact of cultural dimensions on the adoption of cross-border e-commerce between the Chinese and Russian citizens. The data analysis was conducted with SPSS and Smart PLS 3.0. The results indicate that power distance, collectivism, and long-term orientation respectively were significant predictors of performance expectancy and effort expectancy of cross-border e-commerce for both Chinese and Russian citizens. Uncertainty avoidance and masculinity were also found to determine the performance expectancy of cross-border e-commerce. However, while uncertainty avoidance and masculinity were significant determinants of the effort expectancy of cross-border e-commerce in the context of the Russia sample, it was not so for the Chinese sample. In addition, performance expectancy and social influence were positive predictors of the intention to use cross-border e-commerce for both Chinese and Russia samples.


2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rakesh Mittal ◽  
Steven M. Elias

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how the exercise of power by leaders is impacted by cultural factors. The authors present a conceptual framework to examine the interaction of various cultural dimensions with harsh and soft power bases, thereby delineating the cross-cultural appropriateness of various power bases that may be tapped by organizational leaders. Design/methodology/approach – Compatibility of each cultural dimension with harsh of soft power bases is conceptually examined, in the context of Raven’s power interaction model of interpersonal influence. Findings – Soft power bases are more likely to be activated by managers in cultures that are collectivist, loose, long-term oriented, but low on power distance and uncertainty avoidance. Harsh power bases are expected to be chosen for influencing subordinates in cultures that are tight, short-term oriented, and high in power distance. Research limitations/implications – This is only an initial attempt to look at the exercise of social power in the context of societal culture. The framework can be extrapolated to a more fine-grained examination of the phenomenon. Practical implication – The conceptualization has potential implications for developing training programs aimed at improving managers’ cross-cultural competencies. Originality/value – Using a cross-cultural lens to examine how a leader exercises power contributes to a holistic view of power and culture. A cross-cultural extension of the power/interaction model, as suggested by the authors, adds value to the field of management development thinking and practice.


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