Each place in the world is unlike any other location out there, hence the differences in everything from language to eating habits, and even traffic-related matters. And while some things are not that drastically different, others can seem difficult to comprehend to those unfamiliar with them.
Below you will find not only the images butBored Panda’sinterview with Social Psychology Area Head and Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University,Michael E. W. Varnum, PhD, who was kind enough to answer some of our questions regarding cultural differences.
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Whilecultural differencescan cause all sorts of situations, from confusion to resistance, even, and beyond, they can also show just how diverse and beautiful our world is. It’s no secret that getting acquainted with different cultures is one of the main reasons people travel to places previously unexplored or read books and watch movies seeking to learn more about them.“Given the fact that we tend to live in more diverse and globally interconnected settings, it strikes me that it’s very useful to know about how cultural groups vary in their ways of thinking and patterns of behavior,” Dr. Michael E. W. Varnum told Bored Panda.
Whilecultural differencescan cause all sorts of situations, from confusion to resistance, even, and beyond, they can also show just how diverse and beautiful our world is. It’s no secret that getting acquainted with different cultures is one of the main reasons people travel to places previously unexplored or read books and watch movies seeking to learn more about them.
“Given the fact that we tend to live in more diverse and globally interconnected settings, it strikes me that it’s very useful to know about how cultural groups vary in their ways of thinking and patterns of behavior,” Dr. Michael E. W. Varnum told Bored Panda.
According to Dr. Varnum, people’s open-mindedness in regards to different cultures depends on numerous factors, one of which is the extent to which they are used to certain things or actions done in a certain way.“If we are thinking about the personality trait of openness to experience, then this might likely play a role,” he told Bored Panda. “Some people prefer the familiar and hew closely to tradition. Others seek out and relish trying new and different things. To the extent one is more open, one might expect greater curiosity, tolerance, and acceptance of people who may have different cultures than oneself. And indeed, a recent meta-analysis finds evidence for this relationship.”
According to Dr. Varnum, people’s open-mindedness in regards to different cultures depends on numerous factors, one of which is the extent to which they are used to certain things or actions done in a certain way.
“If we are thinking about the personality trait of openness to experience, then this might likely play a role,” he told Bored Panda. “Some people prefer the familiar and hew closely to tradition. Others seek out and relish trying new and different things. To the extent one is more open, one might expect greater curiosity, tolerance, and acceptance of people who may have different cultures than oneself. And indeed, a recent meta-analysis finds evidence for this relationship.”
“There are numerous theories about where cultural differences come from,” Dr. Varnum pointed out, discussing the main factors leading to said differences. “Some emphasize the role of institutions, like the Catholic or Protestant Churches, others focus on how mode of subsistence—the way people make a living or what types of crops they grow—may shape cultural norms and values. Yet other accounts posit that such variation is basically the product of historical accidents.”
“These basic features of the environment like climate, levels of infectious disease, and population density have important implications for our evolutionary fitness in terms of survival and reproduction. And it turns out they explain a sizable amount of the variation in culture that we observe around the world. Interestingly, research also suggests that we often see some parallels in terms of links between these features of the environment and patterns of behavior among non-human animals as well.”
The expert pointed out that nowadays, human groups vary in many important ways. “How likely are people to copy others' behavior? How much personal space do we prefer? What values do we think are important? The list of ways in which cultures vary is quite long indeed,” he suggested.“We live in a world that is increasingly interconnected and in societies that are increasingly diverse. Knowing not only what makes us similar but also how we are different is key to fostering understanding and cooperation.”
The expert pointed out that nowadays, human groups vary in many important ways. “How likely are people to copy others' behavior? How much personal space do we prefer? What values do we think are important? The list of ways in which cultures vary is quite long indeed,” he suggested.
“We live in a world that is increasingly interconnected and in societies that are increasingly diverse. Knowing not only what makes us similar but also how we are different is key to fostering understanding and cooperation.”
While some things on this list might not be something people in the US are familiar with, they seem to put effort into getting to know other cultures, when traveling, at least.A surveyof over 2000 Americans found that more than half of them believed that it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with new cultures and gain perspective on new ways of life when traveling.The survey also revealed that after visiting a foreign country and meeting the locals, four-in-ten viewed them differently than before; roughly half of the respondents said they felt a great affection for locals, and close to 40% believed they shared many social values with them.
While some things on this list might not be something people in the US are familiar with, they seem to put effort into getting to know other cultures, when traveling, at least.A surveyof over 2000 Americans found that more than half of them believed that it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with new cultures and gain perspective on new ways of life when traveling.
The survey also revealed that after visiting a foreign country and meeting the locals, four-in-ten viewed them differently than before; roughly half of the respondents said they felt a great affection for locals, and close to 40% believed they shared many social values with them.
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