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.