We tend to judge people’s behaviour according to the standards of our own culture. So we might think that: "they" drive on the "wrong" side of the road in Europe; that people who do not move to the left on an escalator are rude; and people who do not say "thank you" have no manners.
It might just be that we are operating according to different standards. This example from Community Door highlights one cultural difference:
- An Australian sees an Asian person sniffing loudly. Australians think everyone should use a handkerchief or tissue to blow their nose and consider sniffing to be rude.
- An Asian person sees an Australian blowing his nose on a handkerchief or tissue. Asians view handkerchiefs and tissues as unhygienic and are often repulsed by a person blowing their nose.
What you think is normal, is actually cultural. People generally observe each other’s cultures and just go their own way. However, observing cultural practices and understanding them can help people to get along.
The following video explains what cultural diversity is, what types of differences it covers, and some useful tips for communicating with cultural awareness:
Social niceties are vital to any effective and pleasant social interaction – and that is what EQ is really about.
What would you do in the following situations?