Cultural Differences In Perception Research Articles

Is the attribution of cultural differences to minorities an expression of racial prejudice?

The social psychological literature considers two main perspectives on the study of perceived cultural differences between majorities and minorities: one proposes that perception of cultural differences is an antecedent of prejudice and another states that the attribution of cultural differences to minorities is already a hidden expression of racial prejudice. This paper offers further support to this latter perspective. One hundred and ninety-four participants answered a questionnaire measuring (1) general racist belief; (2) cultural differences attributed to Black people (hetero-ethnicization); (3) the asymmetric attribution of secondary and primary emotions to the in-group and to Black people (infra-humanization); (4) the asymmetric attribution of natural and cultural traits to in-group members and to Black people (ontologization); and (5) negative evaluation of this social category. The general racist belief scale was not anchored in a specific group and measured the belief in the inferiority of certain social groups or peoples based on biological or cultural factors. Relationships between the scales were analysed through a set of Structural Equation Models. According to the predictions, results showed that the attribution of cultural differences is a dimension of prejudice. Results also showed that attribution of cultural differences, negative evaluation of Black people, ontologization, and infra-humanization were different dimensions of a common latent factor that can be identified as racial prejudice; and that prejudice was predicted by general racist belief. Results are discussed in the light of the study of the impact of perceived cultural differences on intergroup relations and in the light of the "new racism" approaches.

Perceptions of cultural differences and the management of culture in international joint ventures

This paper investigates the relative importance of both national culture and corporate culture differences in a sample of international joint ventures with parent firms from Europe, North America and Australia. The findings of the study are, first, corporate culture differences are a more important factor contributing to different views on the management of JVs compared with national culture differences. Second, the perception of culture difference is reduced in firms adopting culture management policies. Third, the greater the culture differences perceived by the parent firms then the greater the impact of cultural differences on JV performance. Fourth, the greater the cultural differences contributing to different views on JV management then the less satisfied the parent firms are with JV performance. Lastly, corporate culture differences contributing to differing views on JV management were more significantly correlated with autonomy granted than were national culture differences.

Perceptions of cultural differences and the management of culture in international joint ventures

Perceptions of cultural differences and the management of culture in international joint ventures

Looking into the past: Cultural differences in perception and representation of past information.

The authors investigated cultural differences in the way people perceive and represent temporal information. It was hypothesized that Chinese would attend to the past information more than would Canadians. In Studies 1 and 2, Canadian and Chinese participants read a description of a theft along with a list of behaviors that occurred in the past or present. Chinese participants rated behaviors that had taken place in the remote and recent past as more relevant to solving the case than did Canadians. Study 3 showed that Chinese participants recalled greater detail about past events than did Canadians. Studies 4A and 4B showed that Chinese perceived past events as being closer to the present than did Canadians, suggesting that Chinese had a greater awareness of the past. Overall, Chinese attended to a greater range of past information than did Canadians, which has significant theoretical and practical implications.

Cultural differences in the perception of a social‐constructivist e‐learning environment

This article presents a research study into cultural differences in student perceptions of a social-constructivist electronic-learning environment in China and Flanders. Specifically, student attitudes about issues such as critical thinking, problem solving, peer teaching, group discussions, and their perception of an ideal learning environment are considered. The study examined 165 Chinese and 217 Flemish university freshmen at Beijing Normal University in China and Ghent University in Belgium, respectively.

Sociodemographic Groups at Risk: Race/Ethnicity

Typically, when the term “health disparity” is used, disparities in health related to or associated with race and/or ethnicity are what is meant. Disparities related to race and ethnicity are indeed the topic of this discussion, but there are many other types of health disparities that are often tightly linked to race/ethnic disparities, such as those related to sex, socioeconomic status, and region (such as the Stroke Belt), that should not be overlooked. Why do health disparities in race/ethnic minority groups occur? There are many potential explanations, including genetic factors and common environmental exposures. There are also likely many potential important cultural differences in perceptions of health and the healthcare system that shape the behavior of inhabitants of their culture, including but not limited to social support structure, mistrust/varying expectations of the medical system, dietary differences, physical activity norms, medical compliance, fear and/or denial, and fatalism. There are many “access to care” issues for race/ethnic minorities that could potentially interfere with health, such as poverty, health literacy and numeracy, language barriers, access to transportation, and child care. Finally, the intrinsic structure of the healthcare system lends itself to health disparities. Previously, it has been shown that the majority of care for race/ethnic minorities is provided by very few providers, who are then overwhelmed and unable to provide the highest quality of care.1 Also, medical professional stereotyping or discrimination and cultural biases are likely prevalent in some areas. Overall, the Institute of Medicine report regarding racial disparity in 2003 showed that even when access to care issues were controlled for, the overall quality of care was poorer for race/ethnic minorities.2 A thorough review of all racial disparities in stroke is not possible within the focus of this short review. Therefore, this review will focus mostly on racial disparities regarding …

Folk Wisdom About the Effects of Relationship Conflict

AbstractThree experiments examined cultural differences and similarities in folk wisdom about the effects of perceived conflict. In Study 1, Americans exhibited an optimistic bias relative to East Asians in their beliefs about perceived relationship conflict, but not conflict in general. Study 2 suggests that these findings cannot be accounted for by cultural differences in perceptions about the distinction, or lack thereof, between relationship and task‐focused forms of conflict. Furthermore, the results demonstrated an interaction effect such that both groups prefer to address and resolve perceived task conflict proactively, whereas only European Americans perceive that it is relatively unnecessary to address relationship conflict to achieve task performance. Study 3 suggests that these cultural patterns have behavioral implications, such that Americans were more likely than East Asians to join a talented group likely to experience relationship conflict. Together, these results suggest novel implications for intragroup dynamics in intercultural contexts.

Cultural Differences in Perception: Observations from a Remote Culture

AbstractPerceptual similarity was examined in a remote culture (Himba) and compared to that of Western observers. Similarity was assessed in a relative size judgement task and in an odd-one-out detection task. Thus, we examined the effects of culture on what might be considered low-level visual abilities. For both tasks, we found that performance was affected by stimuli that were culturally relevant to the tasks. In Experiment 1, we showed that the use of cow stimuli instead of the standard circles increased illusory strength for the Himba. In Experiment 2, only the Himba showed more accurate detection based on category differences in the displays. It is argued that that Categorical Perception in Experiment 2, based on its presumed Whorfian origins, was the more reliable procedure for examining the effects of culture on perception.

Perceptions and (re)presentations of familiarity and foreignness: The cultural politics of translation in the subtitling of Japanese animation by fans

This paper studies the leisure activity of anime fansubbing, where fans of Japanese animation subtitle these shows for distribution to other fans in their own native languages. This activity is studied within the framework of cultural politics whereby it will be shown that fansubbers, as “lead‐producers,” hold perceptions of cultural differences and how these differences should be (re)presented. Illustrated empirically using the themes of male/female, fictive kinship and human emotive discourse, fansubbers understand and promote the dichotomy of East/West by conceptualizing “Other” cultures as “Another,” in that they imply that “Other” cultures are “different” but must be accommodated in order for consumption to take place. In this regard, fansubbers actively engage in a constant negotiation of “familiarity” and “foreignness” within an imaginary and normative framework.

Beneath the Surface of the 'Ripple Effect': Understanding the Underlying Nature of Cultural Differences in Perceptions of Event Consequences

The refers to a robust cultural difference in how individuals make social judgments regarding the consequence of events, with East Asian individuals perceiving a greater distal impact of events than Western individuals (Maddux & Yuki, 2006). The present research offers the first investigation into the underlying psychological nature of this phenomenon, following stringent methodological requirements for establishing cultural mediation of a cognitive phenomenon. Study 1 demonstrated that the notion of distal causation is more widely circulated in the mass media in the East than in the West, whereas Study 2 provided evidence that the ripple effect reflects a culturally determined inferential bias and does not result from veridical perceptions. Studies 3-4 demonstrated the causal role of culture: Compared to bi-cultural individuals primed with American or Western cultural icons, bi-cultural individuals primed with Chinese or East Asian icons demonstrated an enhanced focus on downstream consequences. Finally, Studies 5 and 6 provided direct evidence that analytic versus holistic worldviews are an explanatory mechanism of cultural differences in such social judgments. Implications for our understanding of social perception and social judgment across cultures are discussed.

Cultural Differences in Perception and Coping with Emotional Labour: A Comparative Study of Hotel Employees in the Netherlands and Former East Germany

Cultural Differences in Perception and Coping with Emotional Labour: A Comparative Study of Hotel Employees in the Netherlands and Former East Germany

Cultural Differences in Distributive and Procedural Justice

The purpose of this study was to examine cultural differences in perceptions of distributive and procedural justice. Four different structural equation models of the relationship between distributive and procedural justice and their impact on systemic and individual outcome variables were tested. The models are similar to those tested by Sweeney and McFarlin, who found support for a two-factor model in a sample of employees from the United States. The models in the current study were tested on a sample of full-time employees working in Hong Kong. Support for cultural differences was found, as the two-factor model did not fit for Hong Kong employees. The distributive-halo model was the most appropriate and showed that distributive justice impacted perceptions of both fairness outcomes and procedural justice. In addition, gender did not significantly impact outcomes.

The cultural differences in time and time management: A socio-demographic approach

Purpose/Objectives: The aim of this article is to investigate perceived cultural differences in the perceptions of time and time management, and the implications regarding productivity amongst socio-demographic groups in Gauteng. This study indicates that socio-demographic variables such as home language, gender, education, age and income are related to various factors of time perception.Design/Methodology/Approach: The questionnaire consisted of 35 questions to be rated on a five-point Likert scale. Six dimensions of time were measured, namely, the sense of purpose, effective organisation, structured routine, present orientation, persistence and a global time perception. A multi-cultural non-probability convenience sample (n=804) was drawn from residents in the Gauteng region. Respondents were selected from upper- middle- and lowerincome groups residing in various suburban areas and townships in the region. Students of the North-West University carried out the fieldwork.Findings/Implications: The research study found that the dimensions sense of purpose and persistence of time obtained the highest mean factor scores: 4.05 and 3.95 respectively on the 1 (negative) to 5 (positive) scale, with 87, 4% and 83.8% of the respondents obtaining high scores (above 3.40) respectively. This implies that most respondents felt that they spent their time usefully and meaningfully, while at the same time, would not give up until the task was completed. The dimension present orientation of time produced the lowest mean factor score of 3.09, with 29.4% of respondents obtaining scores below 2.60, indicating a lack of focusing on completing a task at a designated point in time. The study also found that organisations have to increase productivity and reduce costs. The consequences of this for many employees included increased workloads, longer working hours and greater time pressure.Originality/Value: The findings of this study are original and innovative. The results suggest that instructors should be sensitive to cultural differences in time perception when introducing time-management programs. The five time dimensions identified in this study may further serve as guidelines for key focus areas in time-management programs. The impact relating to training means it is important to identify efficient and effective ways to measure learning transfer, particularly in those areas traditionally regarded as "soft" and impossible to measure.

Folk Wisdom About the Effects of Relationship Conflict

Three experiments examined cultural differences and similarities in folk wisdom about the effects of perceived conflict. In Study 1, Americans exhibited an optimistic bias relative to East Asians in their beliefs about perceived relationship conflict, but not conflict in general. Study 2 suggests that these findings cannot be alternatively accounted for by cultural differences in perceptions about the distinction, or lack thereof, between relationship and task-focused forms of conflict. Furthermore, the results demonstrated an interaction effect such that both groups prefer to proactively address and resolve perceived task conflict, whereas only European Americans perceive that it is relatively unnecessary to address relationship conflict to achieve task performance. Study 3 suggests that these cultural patterns have behavioral implications, such that Americans were more likely than East Asians to join a talented group likely to experience relationship conflict. Together, these results suggest novel implications for intra-group dynamics in intercultural contexts.

Experience of Taiwanese Women Living with Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy

Two common symptoms of pregnancy are nausea and vomiting, which, for some women, cause great discomfort and profoundly impact daily life. A descriptive phenomenological method was used to understand how Taiwanese women deal with nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. A purposive sample of 10 expectant mothers participated in the study. A transcription of each informant's verbal description of her nausea and vomiting experience was made and analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological methodology. Four themes emerged from the interview data after inductively analyzing the narrative content concerning nausea and vomiting: 1) understanding nausea and vomiting, 2) finding coping strategies, 3) psychosocial adaptation, and 4) needing support. The results also indicated the importance of social support to pregnant women's health, including instrumental and emotional forms of support. Health professionals, however, were not mentioned in the mothers' narratives as a source of support. The issues of social support, language translation, and western and eastern perspectives on nausea and vomiting and cultural differences in perceptions of their severity are discussed.

The “Ripple Effect”: Cultural Differences in Perceptions of the Consequences of Events

Previous research has demonstrated that people from East Asian cultural backgrounds make broader, more complex causal attributions than do people from Western cultural backgrounds. In the current research, the authors hypothesized that East Asians also would be aware of a broader, more complex distribution of consequences of events. Four studies assessed cultural differences in perceptions of the consequences of (a) a shot in a game of pool, (b) an area being converted into a national park, (c) a chief executive officer firing employees, and (d) a car accident. Across all four studies, compared to participants from Western cultural backgrounds, participants from East Asian cultural backgrounds were more aware of the indirect, distal consequences of events. This pattern occurred on a variety of measures, including spontaneously generated consequences, estimations of an event's impact on subsequent events, perceived responsibility, and predicted affective reactions. Implications for our understanding of cross-cultural psychology and social perception are discussed.

Research note: Promoting intercultural education through art education

Taking UNESCO’s proposal ‘learning how to live together’ as a starting point, we examined to what extent visual education can be used as a tool to promote the aims of intercultural education. We analyzed the power of using artistic images from different cultures to change students’ perception of cultural differences, thereby facilitating the development of attitudes of respect towards different ethnic/cultural groups. We also investigated to what extent this strategy could contribute to the integration of minority peers into a majority group. Students were assigned to either an experimental or a control group. The experimental treatment consisted of exposing students to several art object images associated with different cultures. Our measurement instrument was based on an adapted version of the ‘Draw‐A‐Person‐Test’, which we have called the ‘Draw‐Two‐Persons‐Test’. We also used a questionnaire to examine attitudes among subjects

Visual Communication for a Diverse Audience: A Cross-Cultural Study of Differences in Cultural Perceptions between Indians and Americans

Visual Communication for a Diverse Audience: A Cross-Cultural Study of Differences in Cultural Perceptions between Indians and Americans

Psychosocial and cultural factors affecting the perceived risk of genetically modified food: an overview of the literature

The rapid globalization of the world economy has increased the need for an astute understanding of cultural differences in perceptions, values, and ways of thinking about new food technologies. In this paper, we describe how socio-psychological and cultural factors may affect public perceptions of the risk of genetically modified (GM) food. We present psychological, sociological, and anthropological research on risk perception as a framework for understanding cross-national differences in reactions to GM food. Differences in the cultural values and circumstances of people in the US, European countries, and the developing world are examined. The implications of cultural theory for risk communication and decision making about GM food are discussed and directions for future research highlighted.

Cultural Differences in Adolescents' Perceptions of the Seriousness of Delinquent Behaviours

In the light of the debate in recent times on crime and ethnicity, this paper examines cultural differences in the perception of the seriousness of delinquent behaviours. A total of 907 adolescents attending high schools in metropolitan NSW participated in the study and rated the perceived seriousness of 26 behaviours. Based on self-reported cultural group membership, participants were classified as belonging to either a collectivist (Asian) or individualistic (Australian) cultural group. Comparisons between the two groups indicated cultural differences in the ratings of seriousness. There was a consensus between the groups regarding the relative seriousness of the most serious offences, but overall the adolescents categorised as collectivist tended to rate the delinquent behaviours more seriously than those categorised as individualistic. There were also notable differences on the ratings and ranking of some behaviours with acceptance of some behaviours decreasing with age in the collectivist group.