Culture Clash
Culture Clash
After a month in Cleveland, Vu Nguyen began to feel comfortable going to business meetings where he knew few if any people. Originally from Hanoi, Vu had accepted an assignment to develop American markets for a factory that produced textiles with high quality detailed patterns. At one meeting he met Dan Barry, an executive with an interior design company. Dan told Vu he was happy to meet him and he looked forward to future interactions. About three weeks later, Vu happened to see Dan during intermission at a concert both were attending. Vu greeted Dan, but Dan did not seem to recognize him. Vu thought to himself, "Superficial American, just as I had been warned!" Friendliness can
leave an impression
of superficialityThe complaint that Americans are superficial in their interactions with international visitors is common. On college campuses, teachers of English as a Second Language comment that "superficial" is one of the first four-syllable words that students from Asia use in their everyday conversations.
The complaint stems from a cultural difference.
In Asia, most people are members of a collective that has a strong influence in their lives. This collective is often the extended family, and it can also include the company for which one works. There are benefits to collective membership such as social support in times of crisis, but there are also extensive obligations to help other members. Given these benefits and obligations, joining a collective as an adult is a major commitment.
In the United States, people are socialized to view themselves as individuals rather than as members of a permanent group with lifetime obligations. They move in and out of interactions as a way of achieving their goals. This leads to the development of certain social skills, such as meeting people quickly in a cheery and pleasant manner, putting them at their ease, and using remarks such as, "I hope we talk again soon!" When people from collective cultures hear such remarks, they take them very seriously and feel that a close relationship has been offered. When they find out the Americans were not offering friendship, they become disappointed.
Visitors from collectivist countries should view initial meetings with Americans as offering the possibility but not the certainty of continued interactions. Americans should realize that these interactions are taken seriously. They should make attempts to remember names and faces and to appreciate the signals their behavior sends.
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