INTERCULTURAL SKILLS

- ACCULTURATION VISITING ANOTHER

CULTURE-

SEMINAR 2
MSC
9TH NOVEMBER 2015

2015, Prof. Christian Trster, PhD

Intercultural Skills

MUSLIM FOOTBALL STAR DOES NOT SHAKE

FEMALE REPORTERS HAND
Paradox or not?
FC Utrecht does not condemn
this but excludes from games
supporters who shout
discriminating paroles.
Player is being treated by
female physiotherapist.

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

VALUE ORIENTATION THEORY

1.

There is a limited number of common human

problems for which all must at all times find some
solutions.

2.

While there is variability in the solutions to all the

problems, this variability is neither limitless nor
random but is definitely variable within a range of
possible solutions.

3.

All alternatives of all solutions are presented in all

societies at all times but are differentially
preferred.

There is a little German, Mexican, French, Chinese,

. in all of us.

Multicultural Man

Hills, M.D. (2002) Kluckhohn & Strodtbecks Value Orientation Theory. Online Readings in
Psychology and Culture
2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

PERCEPTION OF OTHER CULTURES IS BIASED

Culture is part of social identity
People derive sense of self-worth by
perceiving own culture more favorable
than other cultures (We are better!).

These people
are crazy

Have less information about others and

use stereotypes to form expectations of
others (Others are all the same!).
Biased and polarized perceptions of
other cultures

Us

Us

Others

Cultural Attribute
2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

O
t
h
e
r
s

CULTURE SQUARE: EXERCISE 2

(15 MIN.)

In pairs:
1. Read the case
2. Analyze the case in terms of the
culture square
3. Describe the intercultural conflict
in terms of the culture square.
4. What would Herb have to learn to
deal with the conflict?

Intercultural Skills

Exaggeration

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Exaggeration

These people
are crazy

STEREOTYPE CYCLE
Herb keeps
more
information
for himself

Herb feels
like the
Chinese try
to steal his
ideas.

Chinese
think
Americans
are hiding
something.

Chinese ask
for more
information.

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

FIVE TRICKS

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

FIVE TRICKS:
Form groups: Visitors (changed room at least once) and Hosts (did not
change rooms)
According to which rules did you play?
Why did you play according to these rules? How did you decide?

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

VISITORS TO NEW CULTURE EXPERIENCE

IDENTITY THREATS
Need for positive group distinctiveness: People like to see their cultural
identities as positively distinguished from identities of other groups:

Self-esteem: Host to new culture often occupy low status positions

Efficacy: Feeling of helplessness and incompetence.
Belonging: Feeling unwanted or rejected.
Assimilation pressure: Policies that demand to change aspects of identity
create uncertainty about continuity of identity and sense of meaning
derived from identity.

Questioning own identity

Charlie Brown

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

EXERCISE: DISCUSS THE ADVANTAGES AND

DISADVANTAGES OF DIFFERENT REACTIONS
TO NEW CULTURES (10 MIN.)
Why am I here?

Visitors

Charlie Brown: Self-doubts

about place in new culture

These people
are crazy!

Hosts
Obelix: Devaluates
other cultures.
2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

10

EXERCISE: DISCUSS THE ADVANTAGES AND

DISADVANTAGES OF DIFFERENT REACTIONS
TO NEW CULTURES
+ Is open to new culture
+ Tolerance allows for
- Attributes intercultural irritations to own
limitations
- Feels inferior in comparison to other culture,
- Devaluates own culture
Charlie Brown: Self-doubts
about place in new culture

These people
are crazy

Obelix: Devaluates
other cultures.
2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

+
+
-
-
-

Self-confident
Beliefs in value of own culture
Thinks own culture is superior
Intolerance for cultural differences
Does not recognize own limitations in
dealing with other culture
Intercultural Skills

11

EXERCISE: DISCUSS THE ADVANTAGES AND

DISADVANTAGES OF DIFFERENT REACTIONS
TO NEW CULTURES
Integration: Individuals are able to adopt the cultural norms of the dominant
or host culture while maintaining their culture of origin. Integration leads to,
and is often synonymous with biculturalism.
Separation: Occurs when individuals reject the dominant or host culture in
favor of preserving their culture of origin. Separation is often facilitated by
immigration to ethnic enclaves.
Assimilation: occurs when individuals adopt the cultural norms of a dominant
or host culture, over their original culture.
Integration
Maintenance of own
cultural standards

Openness for change

Devaluation of other
culture
(Separation)

Devaluation of
own culture
(Assimilation)

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

12

EXERCISE: ACCULTURATION CASES

(10 MIN.)

Analyze how the situation described in case limits integration and/ or

fosters assimilation or separation. Make use of the Inner Team Metaphor
(Obelix, Charlie Brown, and Multicultural Man) to analyze the situation.

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

13

ACCULTURATION PROCESS

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

ACCULTURATION
Behavioral Script: A schema that contains information about the sequences of
behavior appropriate to particular situation.
If situation matches existing schemas, behavior occurs automatically.
If situation does not match existing schemas, people may adjust existing ones or
create new ones.

In an intercultural context the ability of the employees to adjust old scripts or

create new ones is called acculturation.

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

ACCULTURATION

80% of midsize and large companies send employees abroad.

Two to three times of the costs of equivalent position back home.

BUT:

Twenty percent of premature termination of assignment

One-third did not perform up to expectations
One-fourth left company for competitor within one year of repatriation.

Black, J. S., & Gregersen, H. B. (1999). The right way to manage expats. Harvard Business Review, 77, 52-63.
2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

Managers often send people on overseas assignments who are capable

but culturally illiterate.

Black, J. S., & Gregersen, H. B. (1999). The right way to manage expats. Harvard Business Review, 77, 52-63.
2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

ACCULTURATION
Acculturation occurs in stages (Lysgaards U-Curve)

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

HONEYMOON
You're fascinated by the new culture and excited about all the new and
interesting sights and sounds.

Tourist phase
Guest to new culture
Respect
Curiosity

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

CRISIS
Period of disillusionment as you must seriously cope with living a new
culture on a day-to-day basis.

Obligation to adjust
Loneliness
Rejection
Loss of status and possession
Confusion
Surprise, anxiety, disgust
Incapability to cope

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

RECOVERY
You gradually adapt to the new culture and learn how to behave
appropriately
Understand language
Understand culture
Humor

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

ADJUSTMENT
You begin to enjoy the new culture, although there may be occasional
instances of anxiety and strain.
Enjoyment of new culture
Feeling home

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

ACCULTURATION
Pre-assignment factors:

Cultural competences
Motivation
Previous experience
Language ability
Logistical support

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

ACCULTURATION
Post-assignment factors:

Cultural Novelty
Coworker support
Logistical support
Spouse adjustment
Job stressors (clarity, discretion, novelty, conflict)

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

ACCULTURATION
Post-assignment factors:

Cultural Novelty
Coworker support
Logistical support
Spouse adjustment
Job stressors (clarity, discretion, novelty, conflict)

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

TO-DO-LIST
Principle 1: Establish family foundations first. You cant be successful if home is in
chaos.
Discuss with spouse:
cultural shift
distance from home
living situation
spouses ability to find friends
work
School
Email relationship with future colleagues (with children)
Invite family and friends

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

TO-DO-LIST
Principle 2: Build credibility and openness from the start. If you focus on the
problem first you send the message There is no good here.

Ask questions instead of making statements.

Let colleagues validate your theories
Setting up office can wait. Start reaching out from day one.
Look for cultural interpreters to help translate and deliver ideas for change.

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills

TO-DO-LIST
Principle 3: Get serious about compliance. Business standards and the rules of the
game can change dramatically when you move from one corporate and cultural
climate to another.
View on what is appropriate might not be same as at home office.
e.g., Deal-making practices, employment practices, quality control,
environmental protection
Become unofficial compliance officer.
Ask people on all front lines about their actions
Quickly move once problems arise
Differentiate between serious compliance lapses and unfamiliar but acceptable
ways of doing business

2015, Professor Dr. Christian Trster

Intercultural Skills