Throughout this semester, I have read and researched a lot about the cultural differences and similarities that make us unique. Through this research I have come to the conclusion that as Americans, we are mostly unaware of our freedom and individuality until we are informed otherwise. This lack of awareness is a key issue facing effective intercultural communication between cultures with varying interdependence levels.
How does one overcome this lack of awareness? As stated above, people are only unaware until someone or something informs them otherwise. Once you are aware of your privilege, it cannot be ‘unknown’. To bridge the gap between American culture and cultures that are centered around collectivism, it is critical that we educate not only children, but all of American society of our individualistic nature and how it differs from that of others.
We need to understand our differences in nature to better communicate, but also why we should care in the first place. Our human biology naturally fears and guards against that of the unknown, different, or unpredictable (Carleton). Though, in reality, the differences we fear do not make the said person good, evil, or neutral. Still, we fear those who differ from our own person due to the fact that humans are unpredictable. This unwarranted fear inhibits the flow of effective communication and understanding and only narrows our individual perspective, leaving us culturally divided over our differences that do not affect reality until we label them as something to fear.
Individualism, as defined by Hofstede Insights, is “the degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members.” Why does this matter? In American society, for example, the individualistic culture has made it difficult for the United States government to slow the spread of coronavirus. A study conducted by Jingjing Li, Ting Xu, Natasha Zhang Foutz, and Bo Bian found that localities averaging higher in levels of individualism were facing compliance levels of 41%, under half of local populations (courtesy of UVA Today).
“We were astounded by the large magnitude of those numbers, because they suggest that variations in individualism could account for almost half of a policy’s effectiveness,” said researcher Li. These variations in individualism may be holding America back from slowing the spread of COVID-19, however, that is not the case for most Asian countries. Malaysia, for example, dealt with the fast surge of outbreaks just like the rest of the world, but managed to lower their daily caseloads to between 10-20 cases since June, according to VOA News.
When asked why he felt Asian countries were handling the pandemic better, Alan Chong, associate professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, stated that he felt cultural differences played a role. “People here are still collectivist in orientation of thought, meaning even if a certain government is despised, they will still listen to instructions especially if they are reasonable,” he said. “The idea of stay at home, people will obey because the collective good is explained to them in a self-evident way.”
During my studies this semester, I was asked to watch a TEDx Talk by Israeli-born storyteller, Noa Baum. She talked about the importance of storytelling and how through being in the same space and time together sharing stories, two people can form a bond or human connection. This bond affects the brains cognitive function in a way that allows two people to suspend their disbelief to view the world through another person’s eyes. This method of communication allows for both parties to share their feelings without their identities being threatened, which provides the perfect conditions for open, honest, effective communication.
Do I believe every problem could be solved through storytelling? No, I do not. However, I do believe that storytelling provides a safe platform for open communication that leads to better understanding of cultural differences. Storytelling not only builds familiarity and trust, but is also a great tool for all learners, meaning learning is not limited to one culture, but open to all, according to psychologist Vanessa Boris (HarvardBusiness.org).
I have learned a lot from my studies this semester. Most importantly, that my perspective is mine and mine alone, and extremely limited at that. I now know that there are many cultural differences that separate us from one another, but that they are not to be afraid of. I have learned about the many benefits of storytelling, and come to the conclusion that through storytelling, we are able to unite and understand one another in ways not possible before. I’ve become aware of my lack of awareness and continue to seek to expand my perspective, one story at a time.