Study: Americans don't understand others

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-- Study: Americans don't understand others
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Posted by venomX on Jul-19-2007 18:09:

quote:
Originally posted by Lilith
Therefore, the interpretation of another person�s actions depends on the ability to consider that person�s mental states. We have shown that unreflective perspective taking is very much a function of cultural patterns. Unreflective perspective taking is more natural for members of a culture that emphasizes interdependence than for members of a culture that emphasizes independence.[/b]

Which is what it really comes down too in anyone's case regardless of your cultural background.

But what you quoted above says exactly the opposite, that it is a function of cultural background.

Posted by DJ Shibby on Jul-20-2007 01:39:

quote:
Originally posted by NeoPhono
I guess to me this whole thing is coming across as "Americans are ignorant whereas the rest of the world is enlightened." It doesn't make much sense that a whole population is somehow oblivious to the rest of the world, while the rest of the world "understands" Americans. I agree that certain elements of a population might be ignorant, but labeling an entire population based on those individuals is silly. I think ignorant Americans might be more visible than those of other cultures, but that can't be used to speak for the entire population.

It's just about how a society molds how the individual mind goes about developing in regards to communication;

naturally, an individualist, capitalist society will have people who look out for themselves and only think about themselves, whereas the Chinese society seems to be more in tune with the collective.

I wouldn't say it's so much a comparison of "them vs us" but rather a statement on the psychological ramifications of one's culture on their outview and communication techniques.

We've got the results of a small study, and that's all; it needs to be repeated, in different scenarios and in different volumes, and the conclusions we come to are just our opinions on the data presented.

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