Name : Friska Amelia
NIM : F1021191014
Subject/Class : Cross Cultural Understanding/A1+
Summary Presentation
Group 1: American Concept of Time
Promptness
Important in American business, academic, and social settings
Time is money
People who keep appointments are considered dependable
Respecting deadlines – Respecting deadlines is also important in academic and
professional circles. It is expected that deadlines for class assignments or business reports
will be met. Students who hand in assignments late may be surprised to find that the
professor will lower their grades or even refuse to grade their work.
Division of Time
Time is tangible – In America, one can “gain time”, “spend time”, “waste time”, “save
time”, or even “kill time”. The treatment of time as a possession influences the way time
is carefully divided.
Do one thing at a time – Americans are taught to do one thing at a time and may be
uncomfortable when an activity is interrupted.
Scheduling time and the separation of activities carefully – in businesses the careful
scheduling of time and the separation of activities are common practices.
There is a time and place for everything extends to American social life.
Time orientation
Past orientation
Present orientation
Future orientation
American culture follows future orientation
Monochromic - The monochromic individual believes in finishing one task at a time.
Based on time schedule.
Specific into small things.
Well organized.
Chronemics
Monochromic
Polychromic
Variably monochromic
Cultural Notes of Time
Doctor’s and Dentists Appointment
It is important to call 24 to 48 hours before a scheduled appointment if you have to
cancel.
Hotel Reservation
It is a good idea to ask, “by what time do I have to arrive?” Call in advance to notify the
hotel.
Making Appointment
You may have to wait up to several weeks to schedule an appointment.
Time saving
It is the devices and methods that are very popular in the United States.
Group 3: Cultural Conflict
Cultural conflict is a conflict between one culture and another culture caused by a dislike,
hostility, or struggle between communities who have different philosophies and ways of
living, resulting in contradictory aspirations and behaviours.
What is ethnocentrism?
This ethnocentrism assumption can result in negative judgments about other cultures.
Another manifestation of ethnocentric attitudes is that people become critical of
individuals from different cultures.
What makes ethnocentrism occurs?
The belief in the inherent superiority of one's own group or culture.
Occur because feeling disgusted with other people who are not in their group.
Viewing our own culture as superior and other foreign cultures as "wrong cultures"
What is prejudice?
Prejudice is an assumption or an opinion about someone simply based on that person’s
membership to a particular group. For example people can be prejudiced against someone
else of a different ethnicity, gender, or religion. Also, it can be misperception of different
people.
Part of prejudice: Stereotypes and Discrimination
It happens because of a tendency to categorize and classify new or unique something and
relying on shortcuts in inaccurate mental reasoning which rely on faulty memory
processes.
Cultural conflict happens because there are differences, mismatches in the
implementation of norms, values, and social interests, and difficulty in adjusting between
one culture with other cultures.
Group 4: Cultural Adjustment
Cultural adjustment is a process in which the newcomers try to adapt to a new
environment and culture that is strange to them. The trigger for this process is related to
the feelings of confusion, disorientation, and stress of someone that occurs when entering
an unfamiliar place and culture or what is known as culture shock.
The Stages of Adjustment Process
Honeymoon Period
The phase when newcomers feel excited to enter a new environment and experience new
things.
Culture Shock
The phase where the feelings of confusion, stress and disorientation will occur while
newcomers entering an unfamiliar culture.
Initial Adjustment
The phase where newcomers begin to get used to the everyday activities
Mental Isolation
The phase where newcomers that have been far away from their family will feel lonely. It
often leads them to frustration.
Acceptance and Integration
The phase when the newcomers are recovering from culture shock and has accepted the
habits of the new culture.
The Importance of cultural Adjustment
Building self-confidence
Discovering new things
Increasing cultural sensitivity
Expanding social networks
Group 5 (American Concept of Time)
There are the important points regarding to the American of Time;
1. Promptness
This is the important of punctuality in American culture whether in business, academic,
and social contexts. In promptness, the American concept of time is characterized by
promptness. Promptness is an important in American business, academic, and social
settings. If people are late to job interviews, appointments, or classes, they are often
viewed as unreliable and irresponsible. There is rule for late arrivals in social and
business, such as calling on the telephone if one is going to be more than a few minutes
late for scheduled appointments. Moreover, respecting deadlines is also important in
academic and professional circles. It is expected that deadlines for class assignments or
business reports will be met.
2. Division of time
The division of activities and the scheduling of time is a typical practice in American
culture. American treatment of time as a possession influences the way time is carefully
divided. In business, they careful scheduling of the time and the separation of activities
(interview may end in time for a brief before a meeting). Therefore, Americans make
business plans and social engagements several days or weeks in advance.
3. Future Time
- The time orientation of a culture influences how it values time.
- The American concept of time is characterized by a future orientation.
- Americans believe that the benefits of the future orientation will enable them to have
a high standard of living.
- Tradition plays a limited role in American culture.
For the American concept of time, it can be conceptualized in terms of how they regard time as
valuable as money and use it efficiently. Furthermore, the idea of scheduling of time and the
separation of activities has been extended to American social life and future orientation
encourages people to look to the future rather than to the past in order to achieve a high quality
of living.
Group 6 (American Concept of Space)
Architectural
Architectural is the manifestation and expression of culture
Architectural is the part of identity of each community and carries the message of culture
of that society.
The physical features of architectural practiced through the cultural system of society.
Architectural which created, leads to the purpose of a space (building), which divided
into public space and private space.
Public and Private Space
1. Public and social
- Public
Public spaces provide areas for assemblies, worship, classrooms, graduation
exercises, and all such communal/ritual events.
- Social
Social space may vary from a cozy four to seven feat for close workers in an office or
when attending a cocktail party or reception, to seven to twelve feat in somewhat
more formal gatherings or office arrangements in which a desired “professional”
distance is being maintained.
2. Personal and intimate
- Personal
Personal space begins around eighteen inches from another person and may extend
out to about four feet.
- Intimate
This is a space US-Americans reverse for their closest friends, lovers, and immediate
family members.
Group 7 (Cultural Conflict)
Cultural conflict is the differences between one culture and another that give rise to
contradictions and other conflicts.
Causative Factor
1). Communication and culture
Communication is the exchanging of the information and its meaning. It was affected by
the culture. Culture is a set behavior shared by a group of people. For example, the kid can be
whoever he/she wants, but some of their behavior may be born by imitating their parents
behavior. A person may be communicating as they want, but about how they’re communicate, it
could be affected by the culture around them. Cultures do not communicate, but individual does.
2). Stereotype and prejudice
Stereotypical beliefs prevent us from seeing people as individuals with unique characteristics.
Negative stereotypes lead to prejudice: suspicion intolerance, or hatred of other cultural groups.
Educating others is one way to try to correct misperceptions. At the same time, individuals need
to become fully aware of their own preconceptions.
3). Misinterpretations
Misinterpretation is very common when people from different cultural backgrounds
communicate with each other. But if this happens, sometimes it is only considered a personal
problem, not a cultural problem. Misinterpretation that often occurs is in terms of body language.
One example of body language and its meaning in various countries is firmness in shaking
hands.
Western culture: A Strong handshake as an expression of authority and confidence.
Eastern Culture: A strong handshake is considered an aggressive gesture.
Islamic State: Men are not allowed to shake hands with women who are not family.
4). Ethnocentrism
Ethnocentrism is a view that judges the good or bad of a foreign culture based on the cultural
understanding adopted. This view will make us unable to appreciate the uniqueness of these
foreign cultures.
An example of ethnocentrism is that most Indonesians judge western culture as a culture that
does not know manners. They think that eastern culture is the best because it puts the norm of
decency first.
Negative Impact
- Obstruction of social relations between various cultural groups
- Generating bad prejudice so that it causes conflict between cultural groups
- Inhabiting technological progress because it is difficult to accept new things
Positive Impact
- Cultivating an attitude of social solidarity
- Provide protection for weak group members
- Cultivate an attitude of nationalism and patriotism
