 What was your cross-cultural training like in PC? You probably learned about differences and similarities and needed to make some generalizations. Is it ok to generalize? I think so as long as you use them very cautiously and are aware of the limitations of generalizations. That means apply them carefully and regard them somewhat skeptically. Generalizations are neither always accurate nor reliable but it is not possible to talk about a group without using generalizations.
If we over-generalize, we need to be cautious about stereotyping– which is to develop a fixed, unvarying idea, usually an oversimplified opinion, belief about a person or a group (for example, All US Americans are always direct). So looking back did your PC experience reinforce your stereotypes or not? Do you tend to make generalizations about the culture you lived in?
6 Comments So Far»
Laurette
I have lived in 17 countries. People I meet ask me how I manage to gain an understanding of a people in relatively short order? I reply if you need more than three months to learn about a country and its people you will probably never know them. So how do I do it? In my book all peoples have several common traits. Almost all love their families and strive to make a better life for our children. We all have questions about who were are and where we are. We all want our own identity. And more. The trick is to see the unsual or distinct traits of a people and these tend to be few. The exceptions of a people, rather than the commonality, tend to define a given people.
17 countries, wow… you certainly do have experience. So now comes the question, how do you train people to do what seems to come naturally to you? Can you train people? If the exceptions of a people, rather than the commonality define the given group, how can you ever talk about the group or learn about them as you would be talking about exceptions and individuals and no general threads.
Laurtette
You assume that the people to be studied share the common traits of mankind in general. You focus on where they differ from these to define them and understand them. These differences are common to that people but not all peoples. Examples would be they worship trees, they eat with their hands, they leave their children out in the cold to condition them, the old are left on ice floes to die.
That is exactly what the PC cross-cultural training book, Culture Matters, does. Did you happen to use it in your training?
Laurette
No, I don’t believe the book was around when I trained in 1962.
Laurette, I find this discussion fascinating. I was an Army brat and spent time in Occupied Japan and then Germany after the Occupation ended. We lived on Army bases, but we were taught about the history and culture of the country in our American schools on base. We were encouraged to develop friendships with both the Japanese and Germans.
Now, like so many groups, there are organizations and websites for those of us who were “:brats.” Some of the interesting materials being shown online are the booklets which were used for the orientation of the wives of the American military men. Much of it sounds like the format you are using.
When you were with the Peace Corps, did you work only with trainees or did you also work with the staff and their spouses who were going overseas for the first time? Also, why do you think that Peace Corps waited so long to hired a “cross cultural expert?’ Were there any specific problems which you think may have prompted this addition?
Thanks.
Leave Comments Below»