Introduction
China
and the United States are two completely different culture models. The biggest
cultural differences between the two countries are especially evident when
analyzing the family unit, classroom, tradition. On the one hand, the
differences between China and United States can be shown in the principle of
the power distance is a concept from intercultural communications that
highlights these differences. For cultural communication classes, individualism
and collectivism principles will help people to understand cultural
differences. And communication style is always influenced by different
cultures. On the other hand, the
differences between China and United States it is wedding ceremony can be fully
manifested in our lives.
What kind of differences between
China and the United States
When
I talked with my roommate Lisa about American and Chinese culture, the biggest
cultural differences between the two countries are especially evident when
analyzing the family unit. Power distance is a concept from intercultural
communications that highlights these differences. China and the United States
are big countries in the world. China has more than five thousand years of
history. I have been studying in America for almost one year, and the United
States has about two hundred years of history. I think China and the United States
have a lot of differences; not only economic differences, but also ethnic and
historical differences. All those big factors make their cultures different. I
think the United States’ ideas are open and new, but China is more traditional
and closed.
Communication Style
Communication
style is always influenced by different cultures. China and the United States
are big countries in the world. I come from China, and I have been influenced
by Chinese culture for 19 years. China has more than five thousand years of
history. I have been studying in America for almost one year, and the United
States has about two hundred years of history. I think China and the United
States have a lot of differences; not only economic differences, but also
ethnic and historical differences. All those big factors make their cultures
different. I think the United States’ ideas are open and new, but China is more
traditional and closed. The differences between China and United States can be
shown in the principle of intercultural communication: Individualism and
Collectivism.
The dimension of individualism and
collectivism
The
dimension of individualism-collectivism is a good way to show the cultural
effects in peer response groups.
Individualists want to take care of themselves; they use the group to
achieve their own goals and focus on the benefit to the individual writer. Collectivism people put the group’s peace
above personal goals; they don’t want to embarrass another writer (3). The article, “The Values Americans Live By,”
may help relate this information with two American values:
individualism/privacy and self-help (2), Americans like to think for
themselves. They are proud of themselves
because of their independence of thought and ability to get what they want. So in peer review groups, American students
show their individualism in the writing critique. They use the group to show their own ideas to
help others and get others’ help to move their own paper toward better writing
and a better grade. Most Asians are
collectivists; they like to get together to solve problems that they have. In
China, there is a proverb that says, “Depend on parents when at home, depend on
friends when outside.” The proverb means that Chinese people have very strong
relationships with each other and use those relationships to get help for
themselves when they need it. Related to
peer review groups, collectivists like the idea of working together and helping
each other. Peer groups should be a
natural forum for them; however, they put the group’s peace above personal
goals and don’t want to embarrass another writer, so it ends up that
collectivists in a group often stay silent, even though they would like to help
and to get help from others.
These matters also relate to the
concept of “face”
These
matters also relate to the concept of “face”.
From Nelson, we can understand that face is related to people’s feelings
of self-worth and position in society.
All people from different cultural backgrounds are involved in it to
different levels (1). Asians care very deeply about being treated with respect
and protecting their honor, their face.
However, for Americans, it is not very important. The stronger American value of directness may
cause trouble here. Kohls said, “If you
come from a country where saving face is important, be assured that Americans
are not trying to make you lose face with their directness” (2). For Americans, themselves, however, “not very
important” does not mean they do not care about face at all. We can see this in
another American value, competition.
Kohls said, “Americans believe that competition brings out the best in any
individual” (2). We can see that
Americans want to become the best they can be so that they can gain their
positions in society. This is, in fact, a kind of face. As in the collectivism/individualism section
above, the Americans’ goal of better individual grades for everyone (a way of
getting recognition and respect) can conflict with the Asians’ need to avoid
public criticism.
Individualism (Example: American
family)
“Individualism
promotes self-efficiency, individual responsibility, and personal autonomy”
(4). Individualism can be defined as
personal goals and benefits having a higher priority than group goals and
benefits. As I have lived in America for 1 year, I found that American people,
more than Chinese people, follow trends to be individualistic. For example,
Americans like to do everything by themselves; they are proud of themselves
because of their independence of thought and their ability to get whatever they
want. In American families, even nuclear families, they will not discuss very
much about their personal life. In America, parents will pay large sums of
money like tuition and medical fees but not the pocket money for their
children. The American children should earn it by themselves. More than that,
in some American families, when children grow up to be eighteen years old, they
should pay for everything by themselves. They should go to work for getting
money for school. And also Americans like to use their own way to deal with
their own problems. They don’t need to discuss those problems with other family
members or even their parents. They
would like to be independent in everything.
Collectivism (Example: Chinese
family)
“Collectivism
promotes relational interdependence, in-group harmony, and in-group
collaborative spirit” (4). Collectivism more strongly emphasizes on “we” rather
than “I”, and it refers to a teamwork mentality and focusing on a group as a
whole rather than individual work. Collectivism can be defined as group goals
and benefits having a higher priority than personal goals and benefits. In my
opinion, China is more traditional, and people prefer collectivism. Chinese people like to do things together
with a group of people. In Chinese families, if a family member has problems
that should be dealt with, all the family members will gather together to have
a meeting to talk about it. Chinese people like to discuss personal things in
their big families. They would like to talk about the things such as marriage,
education and careers. Before I was 18 years, my parents helped me to think
about everything, and helped me find a good school, doing good things. My
family would have a meeting and discuss them. Because my parents hope I have a
good future, they don’t want me to learn something bad and have a bad future.
Show both individualistic and
collectivistic tendencies
Now,
I study in America, and I have to adapt to American life. I have experienced
American culture and learned a lot. I have learned that when I am talking with
my friends and family I should show my opinion in a direct way. If I have some
good thoughts and ideas, I will tell my parents about them. I think they would
be open to hearing my ideas because the relationship between my parents and me
is more like a brother and sister relationship, and also my parents are very
open minded. But in China, some parents do not have an open mind. Since I have
both experienced Chinese and American cultures, I identify myself to be a part
of both individualism and collectivism. On one hand, I represent individualism
when I can decide something by myself. In this way, I have absorbed American
style. I can use the American style when I am thinking about things. On the
other hand, however, when I am dealing with big and important things, I will
ask my parents for their opinions. I do this to show respect to my parents and
because I don’t think I have enough life experience, so I welcome their input.
In this way I display collectivism. Because of my experience with both American
and Chinese culture, I show both individualistic and collectivistic
tendencies.
Power distance compares two
individuals or groups in terms
When
I power distance compares two individuals or groups in terms of relative
respect, honor and authority. It can be thought of as which person has the
greater face. “People in small power distance cultures tend to value equal power
distributions, equal rights and relations, and equitable rewards and
punishments on the basis of performance” (4). My roommate thinks low power
distance means that people are equal, and both get respect for their ideas. The
peer response groups which contain students from different cultural backgrounds
can demonstrate this principle very appropriately. I think the American
students should show they value low power distance.
Low power distance and High power
distance
My
roommate gave me an example of low power distance. In one of her classes there
are some Chinese students. She thinks Chinese students should think their
English is poor or lower than American students because they also don’t
understand some rules about the English language. And American culture that was
not very clear to Chinese students. They seldom share their ideas or opinions
in class. Instead, my roommate doesn’t think about those things and doesn’t
think the Chinese students should either because American students are
representative of low power distance cultures. They use direct and practical
words to express themselves. They should give a good answer to everyone in a
group. They don’t care about others’ mistakes. Whether the other students’
comments or opinions are bad or good, they accept all of them and respected them;
in this way, my roommate shows me something about American value of equality.
Power distance can also be related with informality. By contrast, “people in
large power distance cultures tend to value equal power distributions, equal
rights and relations, and equitable rewards and punishments on the basis of
performance” (4). In cultures that give high power distance to teachers or
others, students are without confidence to give comments to the high-power
people. In China, students should call teachers professor or begin with Mr.,
Mrs., Ms. or Miss. If anyone speaks to a teacher, he or she should use the
titles to show more respect to teacher. But my roommate calls her teachers or
professors directly only by their first names, and she never uses the title for
professors. In addition, the title is most only used in formal situations.
Small power distance
“For
small power distance cultures, equality of personal rights represents an ideal
to strive toward in a system” (4). My roommate’s family has lower power
distances. Everyone in their families has equal rights, no matter whether it is
a young child or old person, that individual should have a power in this
family; and no matter of how old or of what generation in the family. All the
family members can talk together and share many ideas or opinions; people can
take the advice from their elder family members or not take the advice and can
use their own ideas by themselves. For example, my roommate goes back home
every weekend because she is a transfer student. She was homesick when she took
a far distance school which was in Los Angeles. However, she just wants to
spend more time with her family members, which is what she thinks is more
important. That’s why she transferred to Gorger Fox University; she thinks this
was a good school and a Christian school. She talked with her families and told
them about her opinion of transferring. Her parents at first will talked
together about this thing; and gave some ideas, and then the family was fine
with her idea and helped her to transfer. I think her parents gave her equality
in her family. Another point of family values is power distance. Power distance
in my family and Ibrahim’s family is different. “For small power distance
cultures, equality of personal rights represents an ideal to strive toward in a
system” (4). Everyone in American families has equal rights, no matter whether
it is a young child or old person, that individual should have a power in this
family; and no matter of how old or of what generation in the family. All the
family members can talk together and share many ideas or opinions. People can
take the advice from their elder family members or not take the advice. They
can use their own ideas by themselves. For example: my roommate told her
parents about her decision to come to the United Kingdom to trip here. At
first, she parents said they will talk about this together and gave some ideas.
Then the family was fine with his idea. I think his parents gave her equality
in her life.
Large power distance
“For large power distance cultures, respect
for power hierarchy in any system is a fundamental way of life” (4). In my
family, high power means older age and higher generation in a family. China has
a long history about traditional manners; elder people in the family must be
respected and have the most power. Parents respect older people who know a lot
of things, because they want to learn knowledge from other people and books.
Parents also think the elder people must have more experiences, and they should
have much knowledge. For example, in my family, I have to listen to my parents’
idea. My parents want me to have a good future. The child doesn’t want to go,
but the parents’ force their child because learning more knowledge is helpful
for the child to go to a good school. Then the child cannot give her or his own
opinion; the child should follow parent’s opinion about life. If child
disagrees or says no, that is different and such familiarity should be
considered disrespectful to people of such higher power distance. This thing
should show large power distance in this family. In my roommate family, power
distance is lower.
Power distance good for making
personal decisions which may lead to personal success
Those
two countries have absolutely different cultures. In the aspect of family, it
seems especially evident. But if we compare those two kinds of cultures, there
are no good cultures or bad cultures for a country. There are just suitable
cultures and unsuitable cultures for countries. Chinese have high power
distance, so elder people there can be respected by young people. It is good
for family harmony. Americans have lower power distance, so people in a family
can get along with each other comfortably. Chinese families are more
collective, so people can get more help from their families. It is good for
people get success, which is then available to help other family members.
Americans families are more individual, so people can make decisions by
themselves and do not have any other obstruction. It is good for making
personal decisions which may lead to personal success.
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