How Do We Understand Our Own Culture

Summary

The video script explores the concept of culture as defined by Dutch anthropologist Geert Hofsteder, describing it as a collective programming of the mind that shapes our psychological thinking and influences behavior. Culture is likened to an invisible backpack, often unnoticed until one is exposed to a different cultural context. The script delves into the learning and deconstruction of cultural norms, using an anecdote about eating with hands in Malaysia to illustrate cultural learning. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing both the individuality within cultures and the potential for misunderstandings when cultural values and norms are not properly understood.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Hofstadter's Definition: Culture is defined as the collective programming of the mind by Dutch anthropologist Geert Hofstadter.
• 🔍 Cultural Lens: Culture acts as a lens through which we perceive the world, often going unnoticed within our own cultural context.
• 🎒 Invisible Backpack: Culture is likened to an invisible backpack that we carry, containing our learned behaviors and values.
• 🐟 Fish in Water: The analogy of a fish not knowing it's in water is used to describe how we may not recognize our own culture until exposed to another.
• 🤔 Tacit Knowledge: Culture is often tacit, meaning it's not explicitly taught but rather absorbed through our environment.
• 🧠 Shaping Psychology: Culture shapes our psychological thinking, which in turn influences our behavior.
• 🔑 Deconstructing Culture: Understanding culture involves deconstructing it to see the shared commonalities and learned behaviors among people.
• 🍽️ Learned Behaviors: Examples of learned cultural behaviors include eating habits, such as using hands or utensils to eat.
• 🌏 Subcultures Exist: There are subcultures within larger cultures, with differences even within the same city or region.
• 👥 Individuality Amidst Culture: Despite cultural influences, each person is unique with their own experiences and perspectives.
• 🌈 Cultural Diversity: Recognizing and understanding cultural diversity is crucial for interpreting behaviors and avoiding misunderstandings.

Q & A

Who conducted the largest study on culture mentioned in the transcript?

The largest study on culture was conducted by a Dutch anthropologist named Geert Hofstede in the late 60s and early 70s.

How does Hofstede define culture according to the transcript?

Hofsteder defined culture as the collective programming of the mind.

What is the analogy used in the script to describe culture?

The analogy used to describe culture is that of an invisible backpack that we carry with us, similar to a fish in water that doesn't realize it's in water until it's taken out.

Why is culture important according to the speaker?

Culture is important because it shapes our psychological thinking, which in turn influences our behavior.

What is the relationship between culture and behavior as described in the script?

The relationship is that most people behave in ways that are consistent with the way they think, and culture shapes that thinking.

What is the bottom end of the triangle in the script referring to?

The bottom end of the triangle refers to the commonalities shared by all human beings, such as the need for food, sleep, shelter, clothing, and family.

What is an example of learned culture mentioned in the script?

An example of learned culture is how to eat food with one's hands, which the speaker learned growing up in Malaysia of Indian heritage.

What issue did the speaker's wife face when trying to demonstrate cultural sensitivity by eating with her hands?

The speaker's wife faced the issue of the curry and yogurt running down her hands, something she was not accustomed to as she was not brought up eating with her hands.

What are some of the things we learn in our culture according to the script?

According to the script, we learn how to deal with members of the opposite gender, how to handle conflict, how to deal with hierarchy, and what constitutes good teamwork and leadership in our culture.

What does the speaker say about subcultures within a larger culture?

The speaker says that there are subcultures within a larger culture, and these can vary depending on the location, such as differences between Melbourne and Sydney in Australia.

Why is it important to understand our own culture when interacting with people from different cultures?

It's important to understand our own culture because we view the behaviors of different cultures through our own cultural values, norms, and biases. Without understanding the other culture's values, we may misinterpret their behavior and lead to issues or problems.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 Understanding Culture as a Collective Mindset

The first paragraph introduces the concept of culture as defined by Dutch anthropologist Geert Hofsteder, emphasizing its intangibility and subconscious influence on our behavior and thought processes. Culture is likened to an 'invisible backpack' that shapes our psychological outlook and interactions with the world. The speaker uses personal anecdotes to illustrate how cultural practices, such as eating with hands in Malaysia, are learned and internalized from an early age. The paragraph also touches on the diversity within cultures, debunking the myth of homogeneity and highlighting the existence of subcultures and individual uniqueness.

05:02

🔍 Misinterpreting Behaviors Across Cultures

The second paragraph delves into the potential misunderstandings that can arise when interpreting behaviors from different cultural backgrounds through the lens of one's own cultural values. It underscores the importance of recognizing and understanding the cultural values of others to avoid misjudging their actions. The speaker warns that without this understanding, our biases may lead to problems in cross-cultural interactions, emphasizing the need for cultural awareness and sensitivity.

Keywords

💡culture

Culture, as defined by Hofstedter, is the 'collective programming of the mind.' It is the lens through which individuals perceive the world and is an intrinsic part of their identity. In the script, culture is likened to an 'invisible backpack' that we carry with us, often unnoticed until we encounter a different cultural environment. The concept is central to understanding how people's psychological thinking and behaviors are shaped by their cultural upbringing.

💡tacit knowledge

Tacit knowledge refers to the understanding and know-how that is so ingrained that it is often taken for granted. In the context of the video, the speaker uses the analogy of a fish in water to describe how people may not be aware of their culture, which is tacit, until they are exposed to a different cultural setting. This concept is key to understanding the unconscious influence of culture on behavior.

💡psychological thinking

Psychological thinking encompasses the mental processes and cognitive frameworks that guide an individual's behavior and decision-making. The script suggests that culture shapes this psychological thinking, thereby influencing how people act in various situations. It is an important concept because it highlights the internal, cognitive aspect of culture.

💡behavior

Behavior in this script is presented as a direct reflection of one's psychological thinking, which is, in turn, influenced by culture. The speaker discusses how cultural norms and values can dictate what is considered acceptable or normal behavior, using the example of eating with hands in Indian culture versus using utensils in Western cultures.

💡learned culture

Learned culture refers to the cultural norms, values, and practices that individuals acquire through upbringing and socialization. The script emphasizes that culture is not innate but is learned from parents, grandparents, teachers, and the environment. An example given is the speaker's wife learning to eat with her hands to demonstrate cultural sensitivity during a visit to Malaysia.

💡cultural context

Cultural context is the backdrop of shared meanings, practices, and values within which behaviors and interactions take place. The script discusses how certain foods may be appreciated in one culture but not in another, illustrating the importance of understanding cultural context to avoid misinterpretation.

💡subcultures

Subcultures are smaller cultural groups within a larger culture, each with its own distinct norms and values. The script mentions that even within a single country like Australia, there are subcultures that differ between cities and even neighborhoods, emphasizing the diversity and complexity within a single cultural landscape.

💡individuality

Individuality refers to the unique qualities and characteristics of a person, which set them apart from others. The script acknowledges that while culture provides a general framework for understanding people, each person is unique with their own experiences and perspectives, making individuality an important aspect of cultural understanding.

💡cultural values

Cultural values are the core beliefs and ideals that guide behavior and decision-making within a culture. The script discusses how understanding one's own cultural values is crucial for interpreting the behaviors of others, as these values shape our perceptions and biases.

💡cultural norms

Cultural norms are the unwritten rules and expectations that govern behavior in a society. The script uses the example of eating with hands in Indian culture to illustrate how cultural norms can vary greatly and how they are an integral part of one's cultural identity.

💡cultural bias

Cultural bias refers to the preconceived notions and preferences that stem from one's cultural background. The script warns that without understanding the cultural values of others, we may misinterpret their behaviors based on our own cultural biases, potentially leading to misunderstandings or conflicts.

Highlights

Culture defined as the collective programming of the mind by Dutch anthropologist Geert Hofstadter.

Culture is like an invisible backpack that we carry with us, shaping our worldview.

Culture is tacit, often not recognized until we are out of our own culture, similar to a fish in water.

Culture shapes our psychological thinking and influences behavior.

Understanding culture helps deconstruct how we perceive the world and interpret behaviors.

Humans share commonalities, but cultural differences can make the same food have varying value across cultures.

Culture is learned from parents, grandparents, teachers, and upbringing.

Example of learned culture: eating with hands in Indian culture.

Cultural practices like eating with hands have an art and science behind them.

Culture teaches us social norms, conflict resolution, hierarchy, teamwork, and leadership.

Subcultures exist within larger cultures, even within cities like Melbourne and Sydney.

Individuality is important, as each person is unique with their own experiences and perspectives.

Understanding our own culture is crucial for interpreting behaviors from different cultures.

Misinterpreting behaviors from other cultures can lead to issues and problems.

Cultural understanding helps to check assumptions and avoid misunderstandings.

Globalization increases the importance of cultural awareness, as people's backgrounds can be diverse.

Recognizing and respecting cultural differences is key to effective communication and collaboration.

Transcripts

the largest study on culture was done by

a Dutch anthropologist called good

Hofstadter in the late 60s early 70s and

he defined culture as the collective

programming of the mind I look at

culture as being the lens through which

we look out at the world so in other

words we carry our culture with us

regardless it's like an invisible

backpack you may not see your culture

when you are in your own culture because

culture is tacit so it's like a fish in

water a fish doesn't know it's in water

until you take it out so most times we

don't even think about our culture until

we are out of our own culture wise

culture important culture is important

because it shaped your psychological

thinking and that influences how we

behave so if you think that most

behavior people behave in ways that's

consistent to the way they think and

culture shapes that so how do we

actually understand this let's

deconstruct this a little so if you

think of the look at the bottom end of

the triangle there's something like

seven billion people on the planet all

human beings we share certain

commonalities we said oh we eat we sleep

we have shelter we wear clothes we have

families and of course the difference is

becoming in certain cultural contexts

some food that's delicious in one

culture may not be valued or appreciated

as much in a different culture so when

we talk about culture which is the

middle triangle culture is learned you

learn your culture and you learn it from

your parents your grandparents your

teachers your upbringing etc so let me

give you an example of learned culture

so I'm born and brought up in Malaysia

of Indian heritage I came out to

Australia as a student to many many many

years ago my wife is English so on one

of our first trips back to Malaysia to

visit my parents my wife said to me well

you know I asked an Indian we eat food

with our hands so my wife said to me

well when we go back to your parents

house I'm gonna eat food with my hands

with my fingers to demonstrate cultural

sensitivity and I said well that's a

good idea

five minutes into the meal my wife turns

round to me and says Tom I said

how do you stop the curry in the yogurt

from running down on your hands

twitch I replied actually I don't know

wasn't happening to me wasn't happening

to anybody else at the table but you

know until she asked me the question I

had never actually thought about it and

of course you know I knew how to dribble

aside learnt it as a child

and in a way and I've seen so obviously

read up about me there's a whole art and

science to how to eat your food with

your fingers right now how to mix the

curry how to mix the yogurt etc so you

know look we learn things like how to

eat our food in our culture it may be

even things about how to use a knife and

a fork that's just one aspect of culture

we one thing of what that we learn in

our culture what other things that we

learn in our culture you know well we

learn things like how to deal with

members of the opposite gender we learn

things like how to deal with conflict

how to deal with hierarchy what are the

things that constitutes good teamwork

what constitutes good leadership we

learn these things in a culture and we

learn this from our environment and the

people who are teaching us this teach

this because they want us to fit in

opposed to say everybody in the culture

is the same it's a myth there are

subcultures within culture some if you

look at Australia Melbourne is Sydney is

different to Sydney and those of you who

are from Melbourne you know within

Melbourne there subcultures depending on

where you live so there are only

subcultures it's only you you'll be able

to recognize the subcultures depending

on how well you know them so everyone at

the same time is an individual 7 billion

people on the planet no one has the same

finger princess you so you're unique

no one I said the same experience the

same background the same perspective as

you right now at this moment so culture

is a general kind of thing that we kind

of think about in terms of understanding

well how do we kind of look at some of

the core values where that person may be

coming from but you always need to check

that assumption because today just

because someone is from a

in part of the country you may be

dealing with somebody in China and they

may look Chinese but they studied in the

u.s. they worked in the UK and they're

married to someone from Spain okay and

that is happening more and more today so

therefore it's kind of really

understanding that now the importance of

actually understanding our own culture

is that when we look at behaviors of a

different culture we view it through our

own cultural values our norms our biases

because we interpret behavior in a

different culture based on our own

understanding of it and unless we

understand the values that the other

behavior is from we may actually mistake

that behavior and therefore that can

obviously lead to issues of problems