A recent homework assignment asked the student to rate her native culture on a scale between contrasting behavior traits. To be honest I couldn't make sense of all of the terms that the textbook gave.
One pair related to time perception. Is your culture "monochronic" or "synchronic"? What did that mean? I offered an approximate definition, but promised to find out more. A search yielded the table you can see below (after the jump).
I can think of a few situations with roommates and such where these differences were obvious. For example, a Russian friend would notice something dirty (shoes, the stovetop) and stop immediately to clean it, whereas I would put it on my to-do list to take care of when I could work it into my schedule. However, I also switch back and forth between planned activities. Uh oh! click to see table/-
Monochronic People | Polychronic People |
Do one thing at a time | Do many things at once |
Concentrate on the job | Highly distractible and subject to interruptions |
Take time commitments seriously (deadlines, schedules) | Consider time commitments an objective to be achieved only if possible |
Low-context and need information | High-context and already have information |
Committed to the job | Committed to people |
Adhere religiously to plans | Change plans often and easily |
Concerned about not disturbing others; Follow rules of privacy and consideration | More concerned with relations (family, friends, close business associates) than with privacy |
Show great respect for private property, seldom borrow or lend | Borrow and lend things often and easily |
Emphasize promptness | Base promptness on the relationship |
Accustomed to short-term relationships | Strong tendency to build lifetime relationships |
Source: Hall & Hall (1989)
I guess I am pretty darned polychronic! One of those criterion reminded me of the little conversations always going on about facebook.... Fear that they have and/or will post this information or that information.... I'm always thinking "Why would anyone care?" I have almost no interest in privacy. I always put it down to being excessively trusting, though - now it appears it may be tied to this polychronistic trait as well.
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ReplyDeleteHa, the funny thing was when I read monochronic vs. synchronic, I was pretty sure I could guess what it meant. Virtually every Latin American culture is exceedingly polychronic compared to the US. I used to get invited to Brasilian weddings, show up 15 minutes after the time on the invite, and be the first one at the church!
ReplyDeleteI love reading your observations on Russian culture, Liz.
- Philip
http://godblessthefreaks.org
Ты и Юля, конечно, классический образец для сопоставления :)
ReplyDeleteОднако, Лиза, ты ведь не все делаешь по правилам левой колонки в таблице! ;)
Например, читаешь сразу несколько книжек.
Jan, where'd your comment go?
ReplyDeleteI definitely like to do a lot of different things at once (недочитанные книги), but as per the left column I'm fairly "religious" about plans and time-frames, and often choose a certain task over a personal relationship if I feel strongly that I must keep my word. I don't answer the phone if I'm working, things like that.
My student pointed out that with globalization, Russians at least have taken on more European rules for conducting business, but retain particular cultural traits on their own territory or in daily life. So it depends on the context.
And of course there are many other factors...