Cultural Diversity Study Guide

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering cultural dimensions, communication styles, gestures, and stages of culture shock.

Thumbs up (Middle East)

A gesture that can be considered a serious insult instead of a positive gesture in some Middle Eastern countries.

OK sign (Brazil)

A gesture that can be considered offensive in Brazil.

Peace sign with palm inward

An insulting gesture in the UK and Australia.

Rock on gesture (Southern Europe)

A gesture that can imply someone's spouse is unfaithful in parts of Southern Europe.

Beckoning with one finger (Philippines)

A gesture considered disrespectful in the Philippines because it is used for calling dogs.

Power distance

The degree to which a society accepts unequal distribution of power.

Individualism

A cultural focus on personal goals and independence.

Collectivism

A cultural focus on group loyalty and community goals.

Masculinity (Hofstede's model)

A focus on competition achievement and success.

Femininity (Hofstede's model)

A focus on cooperation equality and quality of life.

Uncertainty avoidance

How comfortable people are with uncertainty and risk.

Long term orientation

A focus on future rewards persistence and saving.

Indulgence

A culture that encourages enjoyment freedom and leisure.

High context communication

Communication that relies heavily on relationships body language and shared understanding.

Low context communication

Communication that is direct explicit and based on spoken words.

Monochronic time orientation

Doing one task at a time and valuing punctuality.

Polychronic time orientation

Handling multiple tasks and prioritizing relationships over schedules.

Michael Bond

The researcher who introduced long term orientation based on Confucian values.

Michael Minkov

The researcher who updated and expanded Hofstede's research with modern global data.

United States cultural characteristics

Low power distance high individualism moderate masculinity moderate uncertainty avoidance short term orientation and high indulgence.

Ethnocentrism

Believing that one's own culture is superior to others.

Cultural relativism

Understanding another culture based on its own values rather than judging it by your own.

Honeymoon stage

The first stage of culture shock where everything feels exciting and new.

Frustration stage

The stage of culture shock where language barriers and cultural differences create stress.

Adjustment stage

The stage of culture shock where people begin adapting to the new culture.

Acceptance stage

The stage of culture shock where people function comfortably in the new culture.

Reverse culture shock

The stage where returning home feels unfamiliar after living abroad.

Intercultural Fun Quiz

An activity that demonstrated people often make cultural assumptions and that behaviors vary across cultures.

Cultural diversity

The existence of different cultures with unique beliefs values traditions and behaviors.

PIMULI

A memory trick for the dimensions of Power Distance Individualism Masculinity Uncertainty Avoidance Long Term Orientation Indulgence.

HFAAR

A memory trick for the 5 stages of culture shock: Honeymoon Frustration Adjustment Acceptance Reverse.