Cultural Diversity in Perception Alternative Views of...

CHAPTER FOUR CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN PERCEPTION: ALTERNATIVE VIEWS OF REALITY UNDERSTANDING PERCEPTION The physical mechanism of perception is pretty much the same in all people: sensory organs such as the eyes, ears, and nose permit us to sense our environment, and the sensations received by them are routed to our brains, where they are interpreted and accorded meaning in a two-stage sequence. The first stage is recognition or identification, in which a configuration of light or sound waves is identified. At the second stage, the interpretation and evaluation of that which has been identified take place. The result of this process is not the same for all people, however, because the process is learned and therefore influenced†¦show more content†¦DIVERSE CULTURAL PATTERNS Hofstede’s Value Dimensions Geert Hofstede has identified four value dimensions that have significant impact on behavior in all cultures. These are the following: 1. Individualism-Collectivism Individual is the single most important unit in any social setting, regardless of the size of that unit, and the uniqueness of each individual is of paramount value. In individualism, an â€Å"I† consciousness prevails: competition rather than cooperation is encouraged; personal goals take precedent over group goals; people tend not to be emotionally dependent on organizations and institutions and every individual has the right to his or her private property, thoughts and opinions. In collectivism, a â€Å"We† consciousness prevails: identity is based on the social system; the individual is emotionally dependent on organizations and institutions; the culture emphasizes belonging to organizations; organizations invade private life and clans to which individuals belong; and individuals trust group decisions. 2. Uncertainty Avoidance At the core of uncertainty avoidance is the inescapable truism that the future is unknown. Uncertainty and avoidance indicate the extent to which a culture feels threatened by uncertain and ambiguous situations. 3. Power Distance It refers to the extent to which a societyShow MoreRelatedEmpirical Research For Treatment Of Intercultural Marriage856 Words   |  4 PagesMarriage According to Hsu (2001), intercultural marriage is â€Å"marriage formed by partners with relatively diverse cultural backgrounds† (p.225). This is prominently seen through the film, in which Toula, a Grecian-American marries Ian Miller, a Caucasian- American. This film depicts the conflict that surrounds this union prior to marriage, such as planning the wedding, navigating the cultural differences and gaining parental approval for the union. Although it is understandable that intercultural marriageRead MoreCulturally Sensitive Environment730 Words   |  3 PagesSome ways to build a culturally sensitive environment within healthcare It is evident that cultures shape up human’s perception and build the baseline upon which the right and the wrong are judged. For healthcare providers, service should be offered according to patients’ culture and background in order to provide them with the care they deserve in the most efficient and adequate way. Undoubtedly, that does not require full knowledge of all other cultures but rather the awareness, respect and appreciationRead MoreTalking about Cultural Intelligence1887 Words   |  7 PagesWhen talking about cultural intelligence the first thing that comes to mind is the ability of culture, either individually or collectively, to interact with other cultures. Cultural intelligence does not refer to nationality, but rather to culture itself. And when talking about culture we are talking about values, attitudes, and beliefs shared by a group of people, when we talk about culture we also refer to organizational cultures, and other professionals that identify us with the groups they belongRead MoreClass Lecture On Diversity : The Fundamental Understanding Of Race, Class, And Gender Essay1564 Words   |  7 PagesOur class lecture on diversity was overall very informative and shared a lot of the values that I hold myself. The lecture went over the fundamental understanding of race, class, and gender as well as social interactions. Understanding differences in one another helps us all to recognize and appreciate the intercultural dynamics. Understanding that we have similar interests or beliefs can encourage cooperation and cohesion. Diversity can be defined as people coming together from different races,Read MoreCognitive Behavior Therapy : The Traditional Form Of Behavior1166 Words   |  5 Pagesprocedures to follow in replacing irrational views with rational beliefs. To wrap this all up with a little bow, rational rearranging to modify a patient’s dysfunctional personality consists of the following: (1) acknowledgement of ou r responsibility for creating emotional problems; (2) acceptance of the concept that we can change them significantly; (3) recognition that our emotional issues branch from irrational beliefs; (4) finding a clear perception of those beliefs; (5) discovering the valueRead MoreThe Cultural Practices Of Buddhism1460 Words   |  6 Pagespracticing Buddhists. In healthcare, where there is a wide cross section of individuals, the need for cultural awareness exists even more. This paper will discuss some of the cultural practices of Buddhists, as it relates to their beliefs, and the impact they have on the wellness and illness or Buddhists. It will also show how the ignorance of cultural differences in Buddhism can be remedied by cultural competency which would be expressed in the form of encourage therapeutic care. In Buddhism, the lawRead MoreDevelopment Of The Recovery Model1518 Words   |  7 PagesMany of the postmodern theories state that truth is subjective and will never be fully known because reality is based upon each individual’s perception. Thus objectivity isn’t possible. Many of the social constructivist foundations however are considered to be solution focused and collaborative. Both of these theories focuses on the relationships that have been built to create the perceived reality and the meaning that the client has given to their life. Both of these theories also focus on the impactRead MoreTelevision Is A Popular Form Of Media Essay1613 Words   |  7 Pages Television is a popular form of media that permeates the lives of many. It is a staple form of popular culture, enjoyed as a form of escape and distraction from reality. Unlike other forms of media, television is significantly tied to its economic model. Television’s primary purpose is to sell audienc es to advertisers, meaning that the purpose of creating a program is to make a large audience who will be forced to watch advertisements during commercial breaks. Without such advertisements, stationsRead MoreStrengths Based Social Work Assessment : Transforming The Dominant Paradigm1443 Words   |  6 Pagesfails to recognize the impact of this worldview on an individual’s view about all human behavior, and human inability to designate behavior in various contexts. According to the article, Graybeal (2001) argues that this approach is commonplace in social services, where people’s perception about behavior influences how services are provided, which in turn limits access to services. The worldview also considerably affects the perceptions of customers and practitioners in the world (Graybeal, 2001). GraybealRead MoreThe Journey of India Through History in The Argumentative Indian by Dr. Amartya Sen886 Words   |  4 Pagesbetween the proponent and the opponents view; a vivaad i.e. an argument seeking to push ones point of view over that held by the other; and lastly, a vitandavaad, which solely seeks to raze the opposing views, while offering them no other alternative system. In that sense, the book, â€Å"The Argumentative Indian† written by Dr. Amartya Sen, the Nobel laureate has been very appropriately titled and that through this he has unwittingly revealed his own views. The way the book moves ahead, are thoughts