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Anthropology
Hofstede
UK
Power Distance 35
This dimension deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not equal - it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities amongst us. Power Distance is defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organisations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.
At 35 Britain sits in the lower rankings of PDI – i.e. a society that believes that inequalities amongst people should be minimized. Interestingly is that research shows PD index lower amongst the higher class in Britain than amongst the working classes. The PDI score at first seems incongruent with the well established and historical British class system and its exposes one of the inherent tensions in the British culture – between the importance of birth rank on the one hand and a deep seated belief that where you are born should not limit how far you can travel in life. A sense of fair play drives a belief that people should be treated in some way as equals.
Individualism 76
The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do with whether people's self-image is defined in terms of "I" or "We". In Individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves and their direct family only. In Collectivist societies people belong to 'in groups' that take care of them in exchange for loyalty.
At a score of 76 the UK is an Individualist society. The British are highly Individualist and private people. Children are taught from an early age to think for themselves and to find out what their unique purpose in life is and how they uniquely can contribute to society. The route to happiness is through personal fulfillment. As the affluence of Britain has increased throughout the last decade, with wealth also ‘spreading North’, a much-discussed phenomenon is a rise of what has been seen as rampant consumerism and a strengthening of the ‘ME’ culture.
Motivation towards Achievement and Success 66
A high score (Decisive) on this dimension indicates that the society will be driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being defined by the winner / best in field - a value system that starts in school and continues throughout organisational life. A low score (Consensus-oriented) on the dimension means that the dominant values in society are caring for others and quality of life. A Consensus-oriented society is one where quality of life is the sign of success and standing out from the crowd is not admirable. The fundamental issue here is what motivates people, wanting to be the best (Decisive) or liking what you do (Consensus-oriented).
At 66, Britain is a Decisive society – highly success oriented and driven. A key point of confusion for the foreigner lies in the apparent contradiction between the British culture of modesty and understatement, which is at odds with the underlying success driven value system in the culture. Critical to understanding the British is being able to ‘’read between the lines’’ What is said is not always what is meant. In comparison to Consensus cultures, such as the Scandinavian countries, people in the UK live in order to work and have a clear performance ambition.
Uncertainty Avoidance - 35
The dimension Uncertainty Avoidance has to do with the way that a society deals with the fact that the future can never be known: should we try to control the future or just let it happen? This ambiguity brings with it anxiety and different cultures have learnt to deal with this anxiety in different ways. The extent to which the members of a culture feel threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations and have created beliefs and institutions that try to avoid these is reflected in the score on Uncertainty Avoidance.
At 35 the UK has a low score on Uncertainty Avoidance which means that as a nation they are quite happy to wake up not knowing what the day brings and they are happy to ‘make it up as they go along’ changing plans as new information comes to light. As a low UAI country the British are comfortable in ambiguous situations – the term ‘muddling through’ is a very British way of expressing this. There are generally not too many rules in British society, but those that are there are adhered to (the most famous of which of of course the British love of queuing which has also to do with the values of fair play).
In work terms this results in planning that is not detail oriented – the end goal will be clear (due to high MAS) but the detail of how we get there will be light and the actual process fluid and flexible to emerging and changing environment. Planning horizons will also be shorter. Most importantly the combination of a highly Individualist and curious nation is a high level of creativity and strong need for innovation. What is different is attractive! This emerges throughout the society in both its humour, heavy consumerism for new and innovative products and the fast highly creative industries it thrives in – advertising, marketing, financial engineering.
Long Term Orientation - 60
This dimension describes how every society has to maintain some links with its own past while dealing with the challenges of the present and future, and societies prioritise these two existential goals differently. Normative societies. which score low on this dimension, for example, prefer to maintain time-honoured traditions and norms while viewing societal change with suspicion. Those with a culture which scores high, on the other hand, take a more pragmatic approach: they encourage thrift and efforts in modern education as a way to prepare for the future.
With a score of 60 in this dimension, making Britain a pragmatic culture. In societies with a pragmatic orientation, people believe that truth depends very much on situation, context, and time. They show an ability to adapt traditions easily to changed conditions, and a strong propensity to save and invest. thriftiness and perseverance in achieving results.
Indulgence 69
One challenge that confronts humanity, now and in the past, is the degree to which small children are socialized. Without socialization we do not become "human". This dimension is defined as the extent to which people try to control their desires and impulses, based on the way they were raised. Relatively weak control is called "Indulgence" and relatively strong control is called "Restraint". Cultures can, therefore, be described as Indulgent or Restrained.
A high score of 69 indicates that the British culture is one that is classified as Indulgent. People in societies classified by a high score in Indulgence generally exhibit a willingness to realise their impulses and desires with regard to enjoying life and having fun. They possess a positive attitude and have a tendency towards optimism. In addition, they place a higher degree of importance on leisure time, act as they please and spend money as they wish.
USA
Power Distance40
This dimension deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not equal - it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities amongst us. Power Distance is defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organisations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.
The United States score low on this dimension (40) which underscores the American premise of “liberty and justice for all.” This is also evidenced by the focus on equal rights in all aspects of American society and government. Within American organizations, hierarchy is established for convenience, superiors are always accessible and managers rely on individual employees and teams for their expertise. Both managers and employees expect to be consulted and information is shared frequently. At the same time, communication is informal, direct and participative.
Individualism60
The fundamental issue addressed by this dimension is the degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members. It has to do with whether people's self-image is defined in terms of "I" or "We". In Individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves and their direct family only. In Collectivist societies people belong to 'in groups' that take care of them in exchange for loyalty.
A score of 60 indicates that the US is an individualistic culture. It reflects itself in the American premise of “liberty and justice for all”, which is evidenced by an explicit emphasis on equal rights in all aspects of American society and government. Within American organizations, superiors are accessible, and managers rely on individual employees and teams for their expertise. Both managers and employees expect to be consulted, and information is shared frequently. At the same time, communication is informal, direct, and participative to a degree. The society is loosely knit in which the expectation is that people look after themselves and their immediate families only and should not rely (too much) on authorities for support. There is also a high degree of geographical mobility in the United States. Americans are the best joiners in the world; however, it is often difficult to develop deep friendships. Americans are accustomed to doing business or interacting with people they don’t know well. Consequently, Americans are not shy about approaching their prospective counterparts to obtain or seek information. In the business world, employees are expected to be self-reliant and display initiative. Also, within the exchange-based world of work, we see that hiring, promotion, and decisions are based on merit or evidence of what one has done or can do.
It is noteworthy that American culture is the melting pot of different cultures, with Caucasians scoring than other ethnic groups.
Motivation towards Achievement and Success62
A high score (Decisive) on this dimension indicates that the society will be driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being defined by the winner / best in field - a value system that starts in school and continues throughout organisational life. A low score (Consensus-oriented) on the dimension means that the dominant values in society are caring for others and quality of life. A Consensus-oriented society is one where quality of life is the sign of success and standing out from the crowd is not admirable. The fundamental issue here is what motivates people, wanting to be the best (Decisive) or liking what you do (Consensus-oriented).
The score of the US on Motivation for Achievement and Success is high at 62, and this can be seen in the typical American behavioural patterns. This can be explained by the combination with Individualism. In other words, Americans, so to speak, all show their Motivation for Achievement and Success individually. The British, however, have the same culture in this respect. The question, therefore, should be: is the same drive not normally to be seen on the surface? This difference is a reflection of the higher score of the US on Uncertainty Avoidance than of the UK. In other words, in both societies, we find the same drive, but Americans show it up-front, whereas the British will take you by surprise.
This American combination reflects itself in the following:
Behavior in school, work, and play are based on the shared values that people should “strive to be the best they can be” and that “the winner takes all”. As a result, Americans will tend to display and talk freely about their “successes” and achievements in life. Being successful per se is not a great motivator in American society, but being able to show one’s success. Many American assessment systems are based on precise target setting, by which American employees can show how well a job they did. There exists a “can-do” mentality which creates a lot of dynamism in the society, as it is believed that there is always the possibility to do things in a better way. Typically, Americans “live to work” so that they can obtain monetary rewards and, as a consequence, attain higher status based on how good one can be. Many white collar workers will move to a more fancy neighbourhood after each and every substantial promotion. It is believed that a certain degree of conflict will bring out the best in people, as it is the goal to be “the winner”. As a consequence, we see a lot of polarization and court cases. This mentality nowadays undermines the American premise of “liberty and justice for all.” Rising inequality is endangering democracy, because a widening gap among the classes may slowly push Power Distance up and Individualism down.
Uncertainty Avoidance46
The dimension Uncertainty Avoidance has to do with the way that a society deals with the fact that the future can never be known: should we try to control the future or just let it happen? This ambiguity brings with it anxiety and different cultures have learnt to deal with this anxiety in different ways. The extent to which the members of a culture feel threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations and have created beliefs and institutions that try to avoid these is reflected in the score on Uncertainty Avoidance.
The US scores below average, with a low score of 46, on the Uncertainty Avoidance dimension. . As a consequence, the perceived context in which Americans find themselves will impact their behaviour more than if the culture would have either scored higher or lower. Thus, this cultural pattern reflects itself as follows:
There is a fair degree of acceptance for new ideas, innovative products and a willingness to try something new or different, whether it pertains to technology, business practices or food. Americans tend to be more tolerant of ideas or opinions from anyone and allow the freedom of expression. At the same time, Americans do not require a lot of rules and are less emotionally expressive than higher-scoring cultures. At the same time, 9/11 has created a lot of fear in the American society culminating in the efforts of government to monitor everybody through the NSA and other security organisations
Long Term Orientation50
This dimension describes how every society has to maintain some links with its own past while dealing with the challenges of the present and future, and societies prioritise these two existential goals differently. Normative societies. which score low on this dimension, for example, prefer to maintain time-honoured traditions and norms while viewing societal change with suspicion. Those with a culture which scores high, on the other hand, take a more pragmatic approach: they encourage thrift and efforts in modern education as a way to prepare for the future.
The United States scores 50 on this dimension, which shows that there is no dominant preference.
On the one hand, Americans are prone to analyse new information to check whether it is true. This should not be confused with the fact that Americans are very practical, reflected by the “can-do” mentality. American businesses measure their performance on a short-term basis, with profit and loss statements being issued every quarter, driving individuals to strive for quick results within the workplace.
Indulgence68
One challenge that confronts humanity, now and in the past, is the degree to which small children are socialized. Without socialization we do not become "human". This dimension is defined as the extent to which people try to control their desires and impulses, based on the way they were raised. Relatively weak control is called "Indulgence" and relatively strong control is called "Restraint". Cultures can, therefore, be described as Indulgent or Restrained.
The United States scores as an Indulgent (68) society on the sixth dimension. This, in combination with a normative score, is reflected by the following contradictory attitudes and behaviour:
Work hard and play hard. The States has waged a war against drugs and is still very busy in doing so, yet drug addiction in the States is higher than in many other wealthy countries. It is a prudish society yet even some well-known televangelists appear to be immoral.
Worldview, thinking and its inflence on language - chatGPT
2. Power Distance
Both countries exhibit low power distance, which means there is an informal interaction across different levels of society.
3. Uncertainty Avoidance
The UK has a moderate score, while the USA has a lower score, indicating a higher tolerance for ambiguity and innovation.
4. Masculinity vs. Femininity
Both are considered more masculine, where success and competition are valued.
6. Indulgence vs. Restraint
The USA scores high on indulgence, meaning there is a greater emphasis on enjoying life and having fun. The UK scores lower, indicating more restraint.
Application to IELTS:
Tips:
Tips for Adapting to Native English Cultural Contexts:
Speaking and Thinking on Ambiguous Themes
Strategy:
For Task 1, focus on summarizing information accurately and clearly. For Task 2, develop your arguments thoroughly with a balance of personal opinion and evidence.
Adjusting to discussing ambiguous themes, especially coming from a culture that traditionally avoids uncertainty, requires building comfort with open-ended discussions and enhancing your critical thinking skills. Here are specific exercises and resources designed to help you develop these abilities rapidly, useful for improving performance in contexts like the IELTS exam, where such skills are essential.
### Exercises to Enhance Comfort with Ambiguity
1. **Debate Practice**
- Engage in informal debates on topics where there is no clear right or wrong answer. Topics could range from moral dilemmas to hypothetical scenarios ("What if...?" questions). This practice can help you formulate arguments on the spot and see multiple sides of an issue.
2. **Scenario Analysis**
- Create or find scenarios that involve uncertain outcomes and discuss possible solutions or impacts. This could be done through case studies or situation analysis exercises found in business courses or critical thinking workshops.
3. **Role-Playing**
- Participate in role-playing games or simulations that require decision-making in ambiguous situations. This can be particularly effective in business settings or crisis management scenarios.
### Resources for Building Argumentation and Critical Thinking
1. **Online Courses**
- **Coursera** and **edX** offer courses like "Think Again: How to Reason and Argue" or "Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving." These courses are designed to improve logical reasoning and critical analysis skills.
- **FutureLearn** offers a course titled "Logical and Critical Thinking," which is helpful for structuring thoughts and arguments efficiently.
2. **Books**
- "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman provides insights into different modes of thought and decision-making under uncertainty.
- "The Elements of Thinking in Systems" by Albert Rutherford helps in understanding how to approach complex problems where there are no clear solutions.
3. **Daily Critical Thinking Practices**
- Use apps like **Lumosity** or **Peak** that offer brain training exercises designed to improve problem-solving skills and cognitive flexibility.
- Daily puzzles like Sudoku, crosswords, or logic puzzles can also enhance your analytical skills.
### Fast-Track Learning Strategies
1. **Focused Practice Sessions**
- Schedule short, intense periods of study specifically focused on argumentation and handling ambiguous information. For example, spend 30 minutes each day analyzing editorials or opinion pieces from newspapers and formulating your counterarguments.
2. **Feedback Loops**
- Engage with a mentor or peer group where you can practice speaking or writing about uncertain or open-ended topics and receive constructive feedback. Fast improvements often come from understanding what aspects of your argumentation need refinement.
3. **Mind Mapping**
- Use mind mapping tools to visually organize thoughts on ambiguous topics. Tools like **MindMeister** or **XMind** allow you to explore various aspects of a topic and how they connect, which can clarify your thinking process and improve your ability to discuss these topics.
4. **Journaling Reflections**
- After each practice session, write a brief reflection on what was challenging about the exercise, what you learned, and how you can apply this learning in the future. This reflective practice can accelerate your learning by solidifying gains and identifying areas for further improvement.
Incorporating these exercises and resources into a condensed learning schedule over several days can significantly boost your ability to handle discussions on ambiguous themes and enhance your overall critical thinking skills. The key is consistent practice and actively seeking feedback to refine your approach.
Scenario analysis is a technique used to explore and evaluate possible future events by considering alternative possible outcomes (scenarios) in a given situation. It's particularly useful for handling ambiguity and improving decision-making skills under uncertainty. Here's how you can understand and apply scenario analysis to enhance your ability to think and talk about ambiguous themes:
### How to Perform Scenario Analysis:
1. **Identify the Scenario:**
- Choose a current issue or topic where the outcome is uncertain. This could be something like the impact of climate change on global economies, or the future of remote work.
2. **Define Key Factors:**
- Identify the key factors and forces affecting the scenario. These might include economic conditions, technological advancements, regulatory changes, or social trends.
3. **Develop Different Outcomes:**
- Create several plausible futures based on different developments of the identified factors. For instance, one scenario could assume rapid technological innovation, while another might consider minimal technological progress.
4. **Analyze and Discuss:**
- For each scenario, discuss the possible outcomes and their implications. This helps in understanding how different approaches can lead to different results and prepares you to handle real-world ambiguity.
5. **Prepare Responses:**
- Based on the analysis, consider what strategies would be effective in each scenario. This step helps develop flexible thinking and adaptability.
### Applying Scenario Analysis in Everyday Learning:
- **Educational Use:** In a learning context, you can use scenario analysis to tackle essay topics or discussion points that involve complex, uncertain outcomes. It trains you to think critically and foresee multiple potential conclusions or consequences.
- **Group Discussions:** Use this approach in study groups to debate various scenarios related to a vague or complex topic. Each member could take a scenario to explore and present, which can lead to a richer, more comprehensive discussion.
- **Self-practice:** Regularly practicing scenario analysis on your own by writing out possible scenarios for current events or theoretical situations can improve your ability to quickly formulate ideas and arguments under uncertain conditions.
This method not only aids in thinking and speaking on ambiguous themes but also enhances your ability to engage critically with any subject matter, making it a valuable skill for tests like the IELTS and beyond.
Reposting my thoughts from refold.la community discord
—
not sure that this channel would be right for this, please direct me if I am wrong
I've learned, not today per se, but within a week about:
1. Differences in a worldview of native english-speakers, from UK and USA particularly and my own worldviews, and why I have difficulties in preparation to some tasks in IELTS so much
I've passed this test (https://www.idrlabs.com/cultural-dimensions/test.php) and then read and compared countries dimensions descriptions on this site (https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison-tool), and talked about it with ChatGPT and my difficulties with IELTS
— So apparently I'm not good in dealing with uncertainty and ambguity and that's why it's really hard for me to form well structured and agrumentative essays in Writing Task 2 and speak confidently on very complex questions in task 3 of Speaking part.
I'm just loosing my thoughts and can output only waterish bla-bla without clear opinion, powerful arguments and examples, or during oral speech I tend to use a lot of filler sounds like Um, Uh etc., and tend to have long pauses and slow pace of speech.
But native english-speakers value this argumentative style of speaking and writing on ambigious topics, they value discourse, debating, and critical thinking. So that helped me understand how I can improve.
2. For instance, to help me structure my thoughts in text or speech I have found these resources:
- YouTube video from Stanford professor (https://youtu.be/HAnw168huqA?feature=shared), he explains how to improve your spontaneous speaking
3. For improving my speech I have found
- Orai, iOS and Android app helps to improve general public speaking skills for english-speakers like presenting some topic at studies or at work — it has several courses with short bite-sized exercises on eliminating filler sounds, improving coscision, confidence and more
4. To learn from debates of others and their arguments and ideas on various topics:
- https://debatewise.org
- https://www.kialo-edu.com/debate-topics-and-argumentative-essay-topics
- https://www.kialo.com/
- https://opentodebate.org/
5. To improve critical thinking:
- Various exercises and online tools, short interactive courses that helps to improve rationality, critical thinking, reasoning and create good arguments
https://www.one-tab.com/page/bPdmcIjSSoO9pLxODN3Biw
6. To learn analyse arguments:
- argument mapping http://www.argunet.org/
- https://blog.kialo-edu.com/
7. Articles to learn paraphrasing, summarization, writing in inverted pyramid and other skils for better writing tasks 1 and 2 in ielts
- https://www.mindtools.com/czv3rfa/communication-skills/writing-skills
My Hofstede
You prefer: your views align mostly with Norway
• A low power distance.
• A balance between collectivism and individualism.
• Femininity over masculinity.
• A balance between high and low uncertainty avoidance. • A balance between short and long-term orientation.
• A balance between restraint and indulgence.
My Goals:
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