The Relationship Between Cultural Identity and Interpersonal Relationship - Research Paper Example

The Relationship Between Cultural Identity and Interpersonal Relationship A modern definition of culture is “the shared ways in which groups of people understand and interpret the world (Fons & Charles 1997, p.3-4). A diversity in the interpretation and understanding as defined by Fons & Charles is being experienced in the sociological scenarios and is very common in almost all communities. However the identity in relation with the respective culture is an important determinant in the interpersonal relationships in such societies. An understanding on the relationship between cultural identity and interpersonal relationship is quite vital because in the modern scenario, the possibilities of culturally diverse societies are much higher. This is mainly due to the resultants of globalization namely in- sourcing and out-sourcing. Moreover the policies on exchange of manpower among different nationalities promoted by the shortage of skilled manpower in many countries have led people to migrate culturally diverse environments resultantly forming culturally diverse societies. International educational opportunities are also increasing the possibility of multi-cultural societies. The objective of this essay is to critically analyze the relationship between cultural identity and interpersonal relationship. The modern day societies are found to have complex natures and much diversity in their inter-personal relationship attitudes. Although this may vary from person to person, the range of the diversity is much high with reference to the multi cultural societies which includes people from different countries and cultural backgrounds. Christopher & Diana (1996, p75) have mentioned seven cultural identities pertaining to concerning to the human relationships including time, space, odors, frankness, intimacy of relationships, values and expression of emotions. Time When a person or a group from a particular culture would insist on punctuality, others from different part of the globe would not pay much importance for time. To meet the deadlines and to use time most effectively would be high priority for people from some specific cultural groups. On the other side time is taken into consideration in a more relaxed way in some other cultures. The complexity would occur when it comes to the linkage and relationship between people from these cultural groups. For example, if two people from different cultures decide an appointment for a meeting and if when one of them considers adhering with the timings previously fixed, the other comes for meeting few minutes late; this can lead to severe confusions in the relationship. Though the later would not have taken the timings as serious issue, this would hurt the feelings of the former. Space Space is also viewed differently by different people belonging to different cultures. This factor becomes of much relevance when it counts to both professional and personal relationship among people. While referring to space it means both physical space and mental space. When some need to be close to their colleagues and friends some others would prefer to keep a distance. It is the cultural attributes and identities with which the people are born and brought up which would determine the choice for space. However, it is also possible that people from the same cultural group also can have different perspectives in relation with space. A specific example for this is the difference between the views on space between North Americans and South American. While the North Americans prefer to have at least two feet distance from each other while speaking, the South Americans prefer to be closer. A breach of this unwritten law can cause confusions and really affect the interpersonal relationships. Odors The difference in the attitude to odors can be identified to an extent through the usage of deodorants and other body odor hiding elements. While Americans do their best to hide their body odors, some of the Asian cultural groups consider body odors to be a factor of personal identity. When people with such diverse cultural identities interact there can be serious miscommunications which can devaluate the ideal process of cultural exchange and assimilation. Frankness Frankness is another factor which can bring in diversity in inter-personal relationships among different cultural groups. High-context cultures are more frank than low-context cultures. (Lesikar R & Flatley M 2002,p.442). While North Americans tend to be frank and explicit in relationships, Asians tend to be reticent or implicit. This can cause serious problems in inter personal relationships. When this Asian cultural identity would be considered as evasive, roundabout and indecisive to North Americans, on the other side the Americans may appear rude, impolite and aggressive to the people with Asian kind of cultural identity. This can make communication and interaction much complex and difficult among different culturally groups. Thus it becomes evident that the management of this cultural identity would determining the quality of inter personal relationship in that particular society. This cultural identity in relation with frankness can even reflect in telephonic conversations. While the American and the European cultures assert the importance of telephonic customs, it can be often found that in the Asian culture a telephonic conversation would be much more informal. Intimacy in relationships Intimacy among the people is also evidently different in different cultural groups. This thus becomes a strong cultural factor which determines the interpersonal relationships. This cultural identity is quite vital in the foundation of a society or any group because in accordance with this identity some may limit themselves to strict social and some times economic classes whereas others would like to interact without restrictions. In most of the cultures, sociological classifications would exist, and there would be a general trend to restrain within these boundaries. However, the extent of this limitation would differ among different cultural groups. This would create clashes between the expectations and the realistic relationships. Some cultures would be expressive in terms of intimacy where as on the other side the expressions of intimacy would be depressive. Resultantly if not properly understood upon the cultural identities, a person from a particular cultural group may feel like not receiving the expected intimacy from his or her counterpart from a different cultural background. In the case of a multicultural work group, the intimacy towards each other and even the superior-subordinate relationship can depend on this cultural identity. While the Latin American work culture can be identified through it strict and dominant bosses, a very democratic approach in the work environment among superiors and subordinates can be evidently found in the Japanese culture. The role of women is also critically different in varied cultures. When the American and European cultures ensure equality for women in almost every sphere of the society, the Arabian culture reflects a male dominant nature. Values This is one of the critically relevant cultural identities. The values determine the way in which one evaluates critical matters in life. Various cultures emphasize on different values in varied levels. The American culture basically emphasize on hard work based vales which involve planning, work efficacy and maximization of productivity. This basically can be identified through the secondary importance given to pleasure and the priority value given for work and success that follows. On the other side many other cultures’ identity is in giving prime concern for spiritual and ethical values and all the other would follow. A clear understanding on the cultural values of each other is a necessity in maintaining the fluency in interpersonal relationships. There are even incidents in which the clash of values had made discrepancies in intercontinental business linkages. Expression of emotions The social behavior of every human is very much dependent on the culture he or she belongs to and the peculiar cultural identities that it represents. The emotional representations also depend very much on the cultures. Relationships development is mutually acceptable give and take process. In this act there should be proper understanding and respect to the emotions of each other. To explain this further, an incident which would make you cry in a particular cultural context would not be of much concern in another cultural context. Thus for any interpersonal relationship to develop and sustain, there must be mutual understanding on the emotional expressions of each other. My personal experience My entry into the teacher’s degree in a highly multicultural environment exposed me to many scenarios which saw the clash of cultural identities. There had been many instances in which the view points on different cultural identities clashed each other within the class mates. The attitude towards time was the first factor which surprised me. When deadlines were to be kept strictly, I thought the authorities to be cruel on me and my classmates. This started leading to situations affecting the personal relationships with my friends and the authorities. However, with time I could realize the cultural identity in the place I was in, in relation with the time factor. The feelings gradually meted off and I taught myself to be assimilated to the host culture. Another experience which found devaluation in the interpersonal relationship was when I phoned one of my American friends early in the start of the course. I thought I had a friendly conversation with my friend but for my surprise, I found him the next day very angry mood. He was of the point that I put an end to the conversation abruptly and that was not good manners. Fortunately, I could convince him on the difference in the cultural identities and as this was conveyed properly, the differences nullified. References Fons T & Charles H 1997, Writing the waves of culture, 2nd ed, Nicholas Brealey, London, pp.3-4 Christopher E & Diana R 1996, International excellence: Seven Breakthrough Strategies for personal and professional success, Kodansha International, New York p.75 Read More