ERASMUS+ PROGRAMME, KEY ACTION 2

CAPACITY BUILDING IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Furthering International Relations Capacities and Intercultural Engagement to

Nurture Campus Diversity and to Support Internationalisation at Home
(FRIENDS)

Unit 4: Cultural taxonomies. A critical approach to cultural taxonomies

Part 5

Dr. Nedka Dimitrova

TRANSCRIPT

Uncertainty Avoidance
UAI is characterized by the degree to which the members of a society tend to avoid risky and
uncertain situations. Stress caused by the unknown future, as defined by Hofstede, makes
such a society prefer fixed regulations and organizational structures that will minimize the
risk from the “unknown”. In contrast, members of social groups with weaker UAI will be
more likely to welcome and accept uncertainty. Hofstede (1986, p. 313) emphasized the
impact of UAI on the perception of expected behavior at a specific age of a person, giving an
example of Japanese preschool children who are given the freedom to show their emotions,
however from that stage on until university, they are expected to strictly conform with
school regulations. In contrast, the US social system imposes stricter rules at the preschool
stage and more freedom at the following higher school levels, while studying at university
suggests increased competition.
Long-Term vs. Short-Term Orientation
According to Hofstede (1980), short-term oriented societies value freedom, achievement,
and care of oneself. Analytical thinking and consistency of thought is a priority with a focus
on the present result. Long-term oriented cultures are focused on learning, adaptiveness,
and self-discipline. Thinking of the abstract future rather than the current moment has an
influence on the concept of success and profit, which is always thought of as a future
possibility within long-term oriented cultures. They tend to rely on common sense and
investment in life-long projects in order to save for the future. Drawing on Hofstede’s
interpretation of differentiation between Long- and Short-Term orientation of cultures it

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views
only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the
information contained therein. 1
could be concluded that the interaction in the multicultural settings may be mainly
influenced in terms of people’s understanding of time and motivation for achievement.
Short-term oriented societies would be more inclined to search for logical reasoning and a
particular explanation while Long-term orientation would predispose a focus on a variety of
ways for solving a specific problem.
Indulgence vs. Restraint
IVR measures social factors related to happiness and satisfaction of life. Indulgent societies
would strive for free gratification of their basic needs and desires associated with life
enjoyment and pleasure. Much more control over gratification and needs would regulate a
restraint society in order to save for the future. Research evidence shows a trend to a higher
degree of Indulgence in South and North America, Western Europe and some regions of Sub-
Saharan Africa, while Eastern Europe, Asia, and the Arab world seem to be more restraint. In
Restraint societies, an expression of personal opinion would not be desirable. In contrast, a
higher degree of indulgence can signify a desire for self-expression and more active
involvement in the communication process.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views
only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the
information contained therein. 2