Rugged American individualism could hinder our ability to understand other peoples' point of view, a new study suggests.
And in contrast, the researchers found that Chinese are more skilled at understanding other people's perspectives, possibly because they live in a more "collectivist" society.
"This cultural difference affects the way we communicate," said study co-author and cognitive psychologist Boaz Keysar of the University of Chicago.
Simple study
The study, though oversimplified compared to real life, was instructive. Keysar and his colleagues arranged two blocks on a table so participants could see both. However, a piece of cardboard obstructed the view of one block so a "director," sitting across from the participant, could only see one block.
When the director asked 20 American participants (none of Asian descent) to move a block, most were confused as to which block to move and did not take into account the director's perspective. Even though they could have deduced that, from the director's seat, only one block was on the table.
Most of the 20 Chinese participants, however, were not confused by the hidden block and knew exactly which block the director was referring to. While following directions was relatively simple for the Chinese, it took Americans twice as long to move a block.
"That strong, egocentric communication of Westerners was nonexistent when we looked at Chinese," Keysar said. "The Chinese were very much able to put themselves in the shoes of another when they were communicating."
The results are detailed in the July issue of the journal Psychological Science.
Collectivist societies, such as the Chinese, place more value on the needs of the group and less on the autonomy of the individual. In these societies, understanding other peoples' experiences is a more critical social skill than it is among typically more individualist Americans.
Sounds like this study is about communcation not the ability to see things from other peoples perspective.
NeoPhono
So I'm guessing that everyone else "understands" Americans?
Capitalizt
I don't understand this study.
Lilith
Where is the complete entirety of the report rather than a journalist's perspective of some elements of it?
infinity HiGH
quote:
Originally posted by NeoPhono
So I'm guessing that everyone else "understands" Americans?
More so than Americans understand other people. Of course, that doesn't mean that there isn't any ignorance found elsewhere.
NeoPhono
quote:
Originally posted by infinity HiGH
More so than Americans understand other people. Of course, that doesn't mean that there isn't any ignorance found elsewhere.
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.
HardTranceProd
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.
Why doesn't it make much sense?
Objectively speaking, isn't it possible that, say, 60% of Americans are ignorant, compared to 30% in another country?
It may not be a question of visibility, it's really an objective question about numbers.
tathi
coincidentally my friends and i were watching clips from CNNNN last night :p
first time i´ve read portugese, its practically the same as spanish :p
NeoPhono
quote:
Originally posted by HardTranceProd
Why doesn't it make much sense?
Objectively speaking, isn't it possible that, say, 60% of Americans are ignorant, compared to 30% in another country?
It may not be a question of visibility, it's really an objective question about numbers.
I find it hard to believe that there is that large of an objective difference. I'd also add that this study was looking to see how well people understood other's perspectives. Can a non-American, one of a different culture, really be said to understand what it is like to live in an American, non-collectivist society? I think that is the question to be asked. How you would test that, and how well did the experiments test the opposite also needs to be questioned.
HardTranceProd
quote:
Originally posted by tathi
coincidentally my friends and i were watching clips from CNNNN last night :p
first time i´ve read portugese, its practically the same as spanish :p
