Models for Understanding CultureModels for Understanding CultureMichael K. Wilson, February 2012Michael K. Wilson, February 2012

Symbols: words, gestures, pictures, or objects that carry a particular meaning recognized by those who share a particular culture.

Heroes: persons, past or present, real or imagined, who possess traits highly prized in a culture and serve as models for behaviour.

Symbols, heroes and rituals are observable practices, though their cultural meaning requires interpretation.

Practices

Symbols

Heroes

Rituals

ValuesValues

HOFSTEDE’S MODEL

Values: deepest level; broad feelings about good vs bad, clean vs dirty, beautiful vs ugly, rational vs irrational, normal vs abnormal, natural vs paradoxical, decent vs indecent.

Rituals: collective activities that are technically superfluous but, within a particular culture, socially essential, e.g. greetings, how respect shown.

WO2C

Institutions Social – Family, Language, Medicine, Education, AthleticsPolitical – Community Organisation, Government, Law, Mythology, Penal SanctionsEconomic – Cooperative Labour, Housing, Inheritance Rights, Property Rights, Trade

WO2C

Hesselgrave’s Three Dimensional Model

Technological Includes artifacts and activities designed to manipulate the material world.

Sociological Includes patterns of relationship and behaviour that govern interaction between individuals and groups.

Ideological Includes the knowledge, beliefs, worldview and values of a people.

Turner’s Three Levels Model

• 1. Individual Personal Level

• 2. Public Social (Surface Level)

• 3. Deeper Culture (Deep) Level

(Deal with sole converts and small groups)

(Address social systems and structures)

(Address basic culture: language, worldview)

• 1. Individual Idiosyncracies

• 2. Cultural Particulars

• 3. Human Universals

Moreau’s Three Levels Model

(Dimensions/elements found in every human society, eg. Language, institutions, values. sociability)

(The means by which a particular culture meets its universal human needs; all aspects of life are touched and altered by culture)

(Each member of a culture accepts or rejects elements, with varying skills in applying those elements)

Lingenfelter’s Six Ways of Life

BureaucraticAuthoritarian

+GRID Corporate

Hierarchist- GROUP GROUP +

IndividualIndividualist

GRID-

Collective Egalitarian

HermitAutonomy

PilgrimTransformedSubmission

Layers ofCulture

Peter socialised as a Jew

since birth(Gal 2:15)

Peter’s Way of Life Before Antioch

Peter’s Way of Life Before Antioch

Peter socialised as a Jew

since birth(Gal 2:15)

Peter believesJewish customsare essential(Acts 10:14)

Peter the socialised

Jew

BelievesJewish customs

essential

Values obedience

to Jewish customs

Peter’s Way of Life Before Antioch

Peter’s Way of Life Before Antioch

Socialised Jew

Believescustomsessential

Values obedience

to Jewish customs

Peter’s Way of Life Before Antioch

Socialised Jew

Believescustomsessential

Values obedience

to Jewish customs

One Slice of Aussie Culture

Worldview Free to do what you want

Social Influences Parents, school, community, etc. confirm worldview

Values Treat people as equals

Behaviour Call boss by first name

Social Setting Authority relationships

In Good Taste?In Good Taste?

A businessman from Hong Kong was making his first trip to Sydney. He was staying at an

exclusive international hotel. He had a large number of non-Chinese business contacts he was eager to develop. He decided to put on a banquet for them. However, instead of inviting them to a Chinese restaurant he arranged with the hotel to do the catering for the banquet. His

guests included one of the managers of the hotel where he was staying. When his guests were assembled the businessman made his introductions. However, the manager was

stunned and offended when the businessman said, “I am very sorry that this food and drink is

not very good.”

Chinese Businessman’s CultureWorldview All people have defined social

roles

Social Influences Parents, school, community, etc. confirm worldview

Values Places great value on hospitality; hosts must honour guests

Behaviour Says, “I am sorry the food and drink is not very good”

Social Setting A hospitality setting in exclusive hotel – a business function.

Joy Luck Club Dinner Scene

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t82eWkb_tM&feature=related

What Australians value about What Australians value about their culture and don’t want their culture and don’t want

to loseto lose• Australian identity ….. its Australian identity ….. its

heritage/ history / traditions / heritage/ history / traditions / heroes/ heroes/

• Pride in Australian culturePride in Australian culture• Laid back attitude Laid back attitude • Freedom to choose… to be Freedom to choose… to be

yourself/ to express your own yourself/ to express your own opinion/ not to be bound by opinion/ not to be bound by traditions and culturaltraditions and cultural

• Holistic approach to life Holistic approach to life balancing study/ sport/ balancing study/ sport/ recreation etc….recreation etc….

• Quality of life > health Quality of life > health system/ social welfaresystem/ social welfare

• Christian values as the basis Christian values as the basis of Australian valuesof Australian values

• Australia’s environmentAustralia’s environment• Education that is not just Education that is not just

stuffing in information but stuffing in information but emphasises student learning emphasises student learning and growth > lifelong and growth > lifelong learninglearning

• Success? As a multicultural Success? As a multicultural nationnation

• Eating Chinese foodEating Chinese food• Being reserved and Being reserved and

modest as a virtue which modest as a virtue which doesn’t mean we are doesn’t mean we are unfriendlyunfriendly

• Showing respect for elders Showing respect for elders > filial piety > using > filial piety > using ‘Uncle’ and not first names‘Uncle’ and not first names

• High value placed on High value placed on family and family honourfamily and family honour

• High value placed on High value placed on academic achievementacademic achievement

• The importance of Chinese The importance of Chinese festivals and their festivals and their meaningmeaning

• Chinese history Chinese history • Etiquette and mannersEtiquette and manners• Not doing something that Not doing something that

will make another person will make another person feel bad > consideration feel bad > consideration for other peoplefor other people

• Saving faceSaving face• Use of Chinese language Use of Chinese language

What Chinese value about What Chinese value about their culture and don’t their culture and don’t

want to losewant to lose