The Geography of Thought by Richard Nisbett - Essay Example

? Comparing Eastern and Western Thinking Based on Richard Nisbett’s Book The Geography of Thought Word Count: 2,020 (8 pages) Richard Nisbett’s book “The Geography of Thought” is an intriguing piece which begs the question, “What is the difference between the way Asians and Westerners think?” In analyzing both Eastern and Western culture, we will look at: ways of child rearing and making a living; three experiments that the author performs for his book; and finally, how to analyze where it might be beneficial to think either as an Easterner or Westerner. Nisbett takes the first three chapters of his book to explain the particular histories of China and Greece, as well as how Western civilization evolved. Nisbett discusses how people worked in China, as well as Greece. He also talked about how these ways of working led people to see the world in different ways. He also realized how the way these two cultures organized society, as well as used language and raising children, affected how each of these peoples saw the world around them. The contrasts between Chinese and Greek society are many, and they will be analyzed herein. Westerners definitely focus on individualism, while Eastern culture tends to focus on the greater of the good for the whole instead of thinking about just one person. “The collective or interdependent nature of Asian society is consistent with Asians’ broad, contextual view of the world…[whereas] [t]he individualistic or independent nature of Western society seems consistent with…Western focus…”1 Westerners are known for placing particular emphasis on the ability of the individual to perform—whereas in Eastern culture, the main emphasis is on the success of a group to accomplish tasks and build relationships. Not only this, but the way that Westerners approach child rearing is different as well. Children in the West are focused upon in order to be able to succeed, to have mastery in their own domains. In the East, children are socialized in order to care for their elders and to focus upon relationships between people. This is especially because people in the East are very dependent upon one another to help each other out. “Westerners…are more inclined to see the world in terms of static objects…grouped into categories. Child-rearing practices…play a role…in producing…these visions. East Asian children have their attention directed towards relationships and Western children toward objects and the categories to which they belong.”2 Nisbett has also done considerable amounts of work in providing experimental research and actual evidence that demonstrates contemporary differences in the way Westerners and Easterners think about and perceive the world. These experimental results demonstrate how the similiarities and differences historical happenstances and geographical elements have created various elements of contemporary thoughts and perceptions. In one experiment, the perceptions were tested of both Westerners and Easterners. In terms of that experiment, both groups came back with differing conclusions of what they thought about a particular outcome. “The lesson of the qualitative differences for psychologists is that, had the experiments in question been done just with Westerners, they would have come up with [various] conclusions about perceptual and cognitive processes…”3 Not only that, but there was a second experiment done about advertisements, where Easterners and Westerners were required to look at advertisements. “When [one experiment was performed], showing people different kinds of advertisements, [it was] found that the individualist advertisements [attracted Westerners more].”4 Yet another experiment relied upon being able to test various elements that differed between one people of Asian descent versus the reactions of Americans. Nisbett “tested [various] notions in a series of experiments comparing Koreans and Americans.”5 There are several situations in which it might be advantageous to think like an Easterner; on the other hand, there might be several situations in which it might be advantageous to think like a Westerner. In order to have patience, one must think like an Easterner. People in East Asia have waited and waited for years under difficult oligarchies and monarchies which have not helped democracy come to fruition at all. In fact, it is so frustrating, that often people in the East have had to sublimate their desires and wishes for better lives in order to live for the moment. Westerners would do well to understand this fact. Many people in the West have such a need for immediate gratification, when they don’t realize how truly sublime and rewarding that it can be to wait for something wonderful to transpire. Another ethic that Westerners could learn from is Easterners’ different type of work ethic—they work hard, but they also work collectively. For example, even though in a typical Western country like the U.S. people average 60 hours a week working—Easterners work even harder in terms of educating their children, teaching their children good values, and helping each other out when others have difficulty. Americans and other Westerners would do well to learn these values from their Eastern counterparts. In terms of thinking like a Westerner, Easterners could possibly benefit from the entrepreneurial spirit of the people who live in the West. People in the West are not afraid of venturing into the realms of the relative unknown. They start their own businesses, they start their own charities; they are innovative, independent, not wanting to be put in a box or pigeonholed. People in the West want options; they want to be free. Ever since Women’s liberation and with the apex of the Civil Rights Movement, the United States became a flashpoint for change and libertarian ideals. Americans are well-known for their progressive liberalism. It was only because of the uprising of many individuals who were activists in order for the U.S. to be able to have its people rise above the encroachments upon their liberties. The East would do well to learn from sovereign nations of the West and their Readers. Sovereign nations are easy targets for terrorists and economically challenged countries. It is best not to invade a country unless it is to stop genocide or respond to a threat against one’s own country or an ally. Feminism has come a long way since the days of Gloria Steinem and bra-burning. The Korean scene in international relations and politics has become very crucial for women lately. A few that come to mind who have made headlines talking about Korea are current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Sen. Hillary Clinton ran in the U.S. Presidential primaries for President against Sen. Barack Obama and lost. Fortunately, that is not the end of her story. She is now the Secretary of State. Her travels to over 100 foreign countries gave her an edge in international foreign relations that superceded her rival, Barack Obama. On the campaign trail, however, she misspoke about traveling to Bosnia under fire (there was actually no evidence of that). Ultimately, it may have hurt the campaign, as well as the fact that her campaign got rather nasty towards the end. Irregardless of that, however, Clinton has firmly maintained that Korea must give up its nuclear ambitions—or face economic sanction. Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright—who had been on a special program with four other former U.S. Secretaries of State to give their opinions to the next President—was in top form recently. She mentioned the importance of the next President to have diplomacy. Diplomacy is especially important in relations with Korea, with whom the U.S. has not had consistent talks. To get the United States back on track, Albright mentioned the importance of the President to regain the trust of the world, which is currently at low standings in most of Europe, Asia, and the rest of the globe, generally. Germany has a favorability rating of the U.S. of 31%; France at 42%; and Pakistan at 19%--not charitable numbers. Then, one has the interesting figure of Gov. Sarah Palin, the U.S. Republican and former Vice-Presidential nominee. She said what gave her credible international relations experience was the fact that she could see Russia from her Alaskan backyard. Since said comment, she’s met with more foreign leaders in order to give her some experience. However, during the campaign trail, Sarah Palin was relentless in repeating President George Bush’s comments about Korea being part of the axis of evil that threatened the U.S. Such a spotlight on Korea could not have been good for its economy, as Korea is trying to compete in an increasingly globalized world economy. Thus, one realizes that the liberal notions that have come from the West have come from some of the West’s greatest politicians. As mentioned before, the East would do well in order to learn from the West’s ideals of sovereignty. With regard to state sovereignty, countries such as Korea have the right to be governed by their own people with no interference from outside parties. There are a few exceptions to this general rule. If occupants of the country are committing genocide, there has been a threat made to a country, or a threat has been made to a neighboring country, there is adequate rationale to invade a sovereign nation. If it had been ruled by the UN that genocide had been being committed in Darfur in Sudan, there is no question that the area would have been a candidate for UN peacekeeping troops to be brought in to control the area. However, since it was not declared genocide, nothing was done. However, the UN does have the authority to override the sovereignty of a nation should it see genocide taking place. If the Korea were to be threatened by another country, competitively or otherwise, it would have every right to override the sovereignty of that nation and defend itself against its attacker, which would most certainly include going into the actual area of that nation. It is not advised that one make preemptive strikes at foreign sovereign nations. Also, it is of utmost singular importance to rely on the basics of the carefully-laid groundwork of good human intelligence which will inform the situation more adequately—whether they be economic situations or otherwise. If there was a threat made to a neighboring country that was an ally to Korea, or a threat made to a neighboring country of a friend of Korea that the United States had a vested interest in seeing protected, it is reasonable to say that the U.S. would also be within its rights to invade that sovereign nation as well—since it would be threatening an international ally. Allies must be protected and guarded, in all cases—economic and otherwise. Globalization is happening in the east at such an exponential rate that one cannot ignore it. In international relations, this is even more apparent. With the introduction of new technology every day—such as the Apple iPhone 3G, and Apple having made eight billion dollars in a quarter—how does this impact our world? Technology, labor, and production are all factors that play into the market economy in Asia when we speak of globalization, the process of trade being conducted on an international scale. Richard Nisbett’s book The Geography of Thought covers several important issues that contrast the thinking of the East versus the thinking of the West, highlighted by the following important facts: the difference between the way people work and raise their children; the difference between the way that people react to various stimuli, based upon their background; and finally, the differences between the way that the people in the East and the West see how their attitudes and politics influence policy. Basically, Eastern and Western values will always be in conflict. However, what is most important is that these different values can be reconciled with each other to the point that at least they can tolerate each other. Without a doubt, Eastern and Western values can be utilized by those people living in either or both cultures—depending upon the willingness of each of their peoples to compromise. It is certain that the peoples of the East and the West will definitely be able to put aside their differences and be able to, day by day, learn from each other in ways that will hopefully mutually benefit each other. WORKS CITED Nisbett, Richard E. The Geography of Thought: How Asians and Westerners Think Differently—And Why. US: Simon and Schuster, 2004. Pp. xvii, 66, 131, 162, 192. Read More