Culture Clash
Culture Clash
Identities adjust
to meet everyday goals'What a coincidence to meet in Sweden," Jane Chun said to Ron Kealoha after meeting by chance on a street in Stockholm.
Jane and Ron worked for different branches of the same large bank in Honolulu and would see each other two or three times a year. With their spouses, they vacationed in Europe and became enthusiastic about sharing reactions with others from their same hometown.
The four tourists had dinner together and shared a day of sightseeing. Jane and Ron promised to contact each other when they returned to Honolulu, but they never did. Even though each considered contacting the other, this intention did not lead to telephone calls.
One explanation for the enthusiastic interactions in Stockholm coupled with no contact back in Honolulu is that people have very flexible identities. Identities refer to people's views about themselves, and they can be measured by asking people to complete a series of self-statements all beginning with, "I am ..." People often make the mistake of thinking that identities are very consistent and stable from year to year.
In reality, people have very loose collections of self-statements that summarize flexible social identities. This flexibility is very useful as people work toward the accomplishment of various goals in various social situations.
In Stockholm, Jane and Ron would have the self-statements, "I am a tourist. With this aspect of their identities in the forefront, they would enjoy interacting with someone from their hometown. In another country, it is comfortable to use familiar language and to share reactions based on similar cultural experiences in their own lives.
Back in Honolulu, self-statements about being a tourist fade into the background. Other aspects of their identities take center stage, such as "I am in charge of a project at the bank." If Jane and Ron are not working on similar projects, there may be little reason for them to schedule a meeting or to have lunch together.
This incident and analysis developed from conversations with Karen Lee, University of Hawaii College of Business Administration.
Because of her father's career in international technical assistance, she grew up in New Zealand, Cameroon and the Philippines. People who know two or more cultures may be especially sensitive to the fact that social identities are flexible.
One year, Karen would say, "I am a student in Cameroon," and the next year there would be a change given that she had become a student in the Philippines.
There would be different goals, such as making friends and adjusting to new school curricula, to which she would attach various aspects of her flexible social identity.
The purpose of this column is to increase understanding of human behavior as it has an impact on the workplace. Special attention will be given to miscommunications caused by cultural differences. Each column will start with a short example of such confusion. Possible explanations will be offered to encourage thought about these issues.
Richard Brislin is a professor in the College of Business Administration,
University of Hawaii. He can be reached through the
College Relations Office: cro@cba.hawaii.edu