The Definition of Culture in Different and Distinctive Ways - Assignment Example

?REFLECTIVE DIARY Introduction Over years, scholars from various professional and cultural backgrounds have defined culture in different and distinctive ways. However, scholars have universally agreed that, culture is a collective programming of children’s and community members mind in order to distinguish them from others groups in the society. Although it can be linked with different collectives, culture is a communal state of affairs that explains role and responsibilities of everyone in the society, has well-defined norms and values as well as well as effective and flexible guiding rules and regulations. To a great extent, culture defines the manner in which people behave and react to different and emerging issues in the society. Cultural behaviours varies from one individual and community to another depending on the existing rules and regulations as well as the manner in which community members value their beliefs. Cultural believes are as well the main parameter that is used to define gender roles and responsibilities. Despite being influenced by the existing rules and regulation in a society, culture content is also defined and determined by geographical background, main occupation in the society, social practices, religious believes, the manner in which a society socialises its children as well as the size and the demographic shape of a society (Hofstede, Neuijen, Ohayv & Sanders, 2011, p. 287). Dimensionalizing Cultures The manner in which some of the basic concepts that defines culture is described in Dimensionalizing Cultures aspects have demonstration the actual and real state of affairs in modern society. After studying the concept Dimensionalizing Cultures in classroom setting, I concur with the founders of the concept that, culture is the main pillars in social existence. Both conventional and modern societies are to a great extent shaped and defined by the existing cultural believes and values. Although other emerging factors such as civilisation and technological development have significantly transformed modern culture, traditional believes and practices have a considerable role in defining the manner in which people in modern society behave in political, social, and economic context. Scholars who participated in designing and defining Dimensionalizing Cultures as well ought to be recommended and acknowledged for effectively linking this concept with modern development and transformation. According to founders of the concept, Dimensionalizing Cultures, cultural believes and practices are consistently affected by emerging social and economic development. Moreover, based on the available statistics, there are considerable behavioural differences between people who live in economically developed society and those who live in less developed society. For instance, in conventional social settings, women were restricted from engaging in any economic and social activities. They were supposed to stay at home and perform domestic activities and chores. However, modern civilization has significantly transformed the way in which women are valued and treated in the society. Women in modern society are actively involved in modern economic development. In addition, women in a good number of modern societies have assumed leadership and management position in the society. This therefore means that, cultural believes and ideologies are highly influenced and shaped by emerging politic, social, and economic transformations. However, based on my own observation, I to some extent do not agree with the founder of the concept Dimensionalizing Cultures in some aspects. This is due to the fact that, despite emerging changes in modern society, there are some society that are still focused on their conventional cultural believes and values. In most society especially in less developed and developing society, community members highly value their culture and believes as opposed to emerging technological development. This therefore means that, it is under very rear circumstances are culture influenced or shaped by emerging changes in the society. Instead, culture is the one that shape the way people operate in the society. At present, some people and society still do value the role of women in the society. This is despite consistent public campaigns in global society on the importance of valuing women in economic and political modern society. Despite offering a comprehensive description of the concept, Dimensionalizing Cultures, the authors of different articles that expound on Dimensionalizing Cultures have failed to provide real and realistic examples that can help the reader to link the concept with real life situation. As a result, Dimensionalizing Cultures is presumed to be scientific terminology that bears no meaning in modern society. The authors have as well failed to offer variety of definitions that can be used to describe Dimensionalizing Cultures. Many scholars have used almost similar wording in the definition and description of the concept Dimensionalizing Cultures. Dimensionalizing Cultures have significant implications on national culture. In ordinary cases, national culture is shaped and defined by dominant culture in the society. Dominant culture in any country determines national policies and ideologies as well as rules and regulations. Despite influencing social issues in the society, dominant culture in a society determines economic and political activities in a society. Economic roles and responsibilities in national levels are based on gender roles as defined by the existing culture. Acting contrary to the existing culture in national level is therefore presumed to be an act of deviating from the existing norms. The manner in which culture is shaped in the national level is significant influenced by cultural politic. For instance, in most society, men are popularly known for dominating national politics. Leaders who hold national positions such as presidents are mostly men as defined in numerous cultural settings. Moreover, culture believes have a noticeable influence in national parenting and childbearing. In most instances, parenting styles that are adopted in national level and in local levels is determined by the existing cultural believes. The number of children that parents are socially expected to have borrow heavily from community cultural believes. Therefore, in determining parenting policies in national levels, central government or federal government is compelled to consider the community cultural believes and the value that is attached to children by the society. In conventional social settings, community members in much society prefer having many children. These cultures have so far not changed in many societies. Therefore, civic training is very essential in informing members of the community that values children on the importance of having fewer children. Due to emerging social and economic constraints, a good number of modern national governments are advocating for few children among their citizens. However, this initiative have faced consistent resistance from community members especially from those community that value children in the society. Consistent resistance on policies that advocate for small families is therefore an indication of the impacts of community and cultural believes in shaping modern development. Researchers have also confirmed that, some societies especially societies in developed countries do not value traditional beliefs that defined parenting. Society in developed countries prefers having a sustainable and small family as opposed to conventional and unsustainable big families. Conventional cultural believes have a noticeable role in shaping the role and responsibility of every parent in childbearing. Some community believes that, it is the responsibility of women to bring up children in a family. In this situation, men do not have any responsibility in parenting. This idea is presumed by other societies to be conventional and uncivilised idea. In modern civilised society, it is the responsibility of both parents to bring up children in the family. In general, therefore, the understanding of the Dimensionalizing Cultures among students is very essential in interpreting modern policies and practices. Culture shock As defined, cultural shock is encountering cultural practices that are contrary to one’s expectation and believe. Different community have dissimilar cultural believes and practices that are contrary to other societies. Therefore, if an individual visits a community that have unique cultural believes, a chance of cultural shock is likely to be high. Cultural practices in many societies is determined and influenced by the existing geographical, political, social and political activities. Therefore, societies that live in different geographical settings are likely to have different cultural practices. As a result, knowledge on practices, believes, and values of different cultures are very essential and necessary. Cultural shock also affects people who migrate from one country to other (Ralston 2011, p. 31). Cultural shock is as well likely to destabilise one personal believes and activities. Despite having some universally acceptable behaviour in global society, there existing very distinctive cultural believes in different societies in terms of parenting and childbearing practices. An individual who migrate from European countries is likely to encounter cultural shock after visiting some African countries. This is due to the fact that, according to cultural believes in European countries, a good number of European societies believe that both parent have a role of bring up children. However, in most African society, it is purely the responsibility of women to bring up children in the society. On the other hand, people who believe with small and sustainable families are likely to encounter cultural shock if they visit society that value large families. Therefore, to minimise the impacts of cultural shock on individual psychological structure, learning about believes of different cultures is very essential and critical. People from different culture have different ways of practicing family planning. The methods that are adopted by different society’s ranges from modern technologies to conventional means of family planning. Different methods that are adopted by diverse societies may be a cause of culture shock. Moreover, the methods adopted by different society to discipline and punish children can as well be a major source of culture shock. Conventional society holds the perceptions that, corporal punishment and other severe ways of punishing children are the most effective ways of instilling disciplines on children. In modern society, corporal punishments are presumed to be the cause of children abuse as well as violation of children basic rights. In some cases, children are assumed to be the source of labour for the family. An individual who visit society that value children labour may encounter culture shock since according to modern societies it is total violation of children rights to overwork children. Therefore, as described in the accessible literatures, cultural shock is brought about in the situation where an individual encounter cultural believes and practices that are contrary different to their understanding (Minkov 2010, p. 23). The study to identify characteristic and traits of different societies is also very essential. However, many learning institution, do not offer training on the cultural traits in small communities in the societies. It is the responsibility of all learning institutions to ensure that, they offers cultural training on various cultures without considering size and impact of the community to global development. Moreover, researchers focus their attention to big and popularly known communities and underrate small and less popularly known communities. These creates deficit on cultural information of small and less popular in the accessible literatures (Aycan 2008, p. 91). Moreover, based on the available information, it is clear that, multicultural setting has unique cultural believes compared to other cultures. As defined, a multicultural culture is a social setting that incorporates people from different cultural setting. A multicultural culture is common in urban settings such as cities and towns. Cultural practices from different cultural background are blended together to bring about a very unique culture. In multicultural settings, people adopt a common language that is contrary different from native language. This culture is mostly governed and controlled by national policies and regulations. There are no common rules and regulations in multicultural settings. Moreover, contrary to other cultural settings, members of multicultural settings have essential contacts as opposed to communal interaction that is common in community based cultural settings. Members of a multicultural settings adopt their own cultural practices and believes that coincides with their native believes. New members in a multicultural settings are likely to encounter cultural shock due to the emergence of very unique cultural believe in multicultural settings (Smith 2003, p. 91). In a mixed team, I concur with the existing literature that, people who existing in a mixed team have common ways of doing things. In numerous mixed groups, group members adopt similar ways of interaction and communication. A group member lays out a unique guideline that defines their behaviours within the group. There are also rules and regulations that define sanctions that will be subjected to individuals who violate the existing rule and regulation. Members of any mixed groups have a common goal that they intent to achieve. Therefore, every member has a specific role to play in order to achieve the set objectives. Moreover, members of this form of groups have very strict rules and regulations that define their behaviours inside and outside the group. However, despite having specific rules that define the course of action outside the group, very few mixed group members abides by the set regulations. There is also consistent conflict in a mixed group. These conflicts are mostly brought about by existing conflict of interests as well as differences in cultural believes and practices. Therefore, based on the available information and statistical facts, it is clear that, a member of a mixed group exhibits unique behaviours and culture. Teamwork To facilitate an effective team in modern society, individuals interpersonal skills is very vital and necessary. A persuasive skill is incredibly essential in facilitating any effective teams. Teams members should have skills of persuading people to act in accordance to their beliefs and ideologies. An individual should develop the ability to listen to other people view and perception. An effective communication skill is very essential in facilitating effective teamwork. Communication helps in solving emerging issues in a group. Moreover, interaction skill can also serve a very essential role in enhancing interaction in a group. A group activity entails interaction between people from different cultural and social backgrounds. Members of any group should also have the ability of accommodating people from different cultural settings. A skill of accommodating other people views is also very critical in enhancing in facilitating and effective team in contemporary society (Huang 2008, p. 59). Conclusion In the light of the above reflection, it is factual to state that, cultural have a very critical role in shaping modern social, economic, and political development in modern society. Although conventional, cultural believes and practices are to some extent influenced by modern technological development, cultures have over years shaped people behaviours and interactions. Parenting and childbearing styles that are adopted by modern society have considerable level of conventional believes and value. Based on the available information, different people have different cultural believes. Differences in cultural beehives are brought about by economic activities, social activities as well as geographical location. In addition, a cultural shock is generated by the existing different in cultural practices among different society in the world. The adoption of an effective interpersonal skill is also very essential in facilitating effective teamwork. Modern groups are also managed and controlled by a well agreed upon rules and regulations. Therefore, based on the above analysis, it is clear that, culture have a very critical role in shaping modern development. Training on cultural believes and principles are therefore very essential in modern education system. References Aycan, Z., 2008, “Cross-cultural approaches to leadership. In P. B. Smith, M. F. Peterson, & D.C. Thomas (Eds.).The handbook of cross-cultural management research (pp. 35-58)” Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Hofstede, G., Neuijen, B., Ohayv,D. D., & Sanders, G., 2011, “Measuring organizational cultures: A qualitative and quantitative study across twenty cases” Administrative Science Quarterly, 35 (2) , 286-316. Huang, X., 2008, “Motivation and job satisfaction across nations: How much do we really know. In P. B. Smith, M. F. Peterson, & D. C. Thomas (Eds.).The handbook of cross-cultural management research (pp. 35- 58)” Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Minkov, M., 2010, “Cultural differences in a globalizing world”, Bingley, UK: Emerald Ralston, D. A. et al., 2011, “A twenty-first century assessment of values across the global workforce”, Journal of Business Ethics, 104 (1), 1-31. Smith, T. B., 2003, “Developing comparable questions in cross-national surveys. In J. Harkness, F. J. R. van de Vijver, & P. P. Mohler (Eds.),Cross-cultural survey methods (pp. 69-92)”, Hoboken, N. J.: Wiley-Interscience. Read More