Multiculturalism

This study explores the cultural differences, implications on behavior, non-verbal communication norms, and the role of cross-cultural understanding in future endeavors.

RUNNING HEAD: MULTICULTURALISM 1
Multiculturalism
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June 12, 2019

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Contents
Cultural Differences...........................................................................................................3
Individualist Orientation..................................................................................................3
High Context Focus........................................................................................................3
Short Term Orientation...................................................................................................4
Implications on Behaviour..............................................................................................4
Non Verbal Communication based Cultural Norms..........................................................5
Stereotypes....................................................................................................................5
Projection Psychology....................................................................................................5
Halo Effect......................................................................................................................6
Adverse Impact of Cultural Norms.................................................................................6
Cultural Understanding......................................................................................................6
Assistance from Cross Cultural Understanding Process...............................................7
Religion and Culture..........................................................................................................8
Christianity......................................................................................................................8
Future Endeavours and Christianity...............................................................................9

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Bibliography.....................................................................................................................10
Cultural Differences
Every culture is the mixture of a variety of elements, due to the diverse
backgrounds of the people living into it. There are many elements of a culture, which
differentiate it with other cultures like collectivism, individualism, power distance,
nurturing, uncertainty avoidance, contextual culture, indulgence, and restraint, etc (Ang
& Dyne, 2015). The briefing of three identified cultural distinctions, as well as post
assessment of the situation, as described below:
Individualist Orientation
Individualistic orientation is the orientation of the culture of a person, which state
the degree of freedom the persons feel inside themselves, control over themselves,
self-sufficiency and the desire for being appraised for their unique qualities. As being a
woman and a Taiwan person I am believed to be somewhere in between high and low
Individualism (CIPD, 2019). I have the desire and capability of being self-sufficient and
usually appraised for my unique qualities.
High Context Focus
Contextual culture is the basis of exchange of information among people and the
relations among them based on their surroundings. In Taiwan, the contextual cultural
present around me as well as in Canada also can be considered high in frequency
(Kottak, 2011). It is so because I am such type of person who believes in exchanging
information and interacting with the persons around me in a very positive manner

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(K.Stahl, Mäkelä, Zander, & Maznevski, 2010). This becomes easy for me, as the
culture present around me is also high contextual culture.
Short Term Orientation
This orientation helps an individual to focus on their past and present scenarios
rather than worrying for the future. In this way, they spend with free hand even they
have to borrow money for it (Martinez, Beaulieu, & Gibbons, 2015). The cultural values
and believes that I have learned from my family and country as well as from Canada
help me in making me a person that likes to live in the present and I won’t worry much
for future. I am serious and working hard for my career, however still enjoying and living
my life to fullest.
Implications on Behaviour
The effective analysis of the three identifies cultural distinctions helps me in
monitoring and reviewing my understanding about me and my culture. It became
possible due to the three basic cultural distinctions that are short-term orientation,
individualism orientation, and High Context Focus. These all distinctions have assisted
me in identifying the type of culture I am living and dealing in (Scollon, Scollon, & Jones,
2011). Before the analysis, I know that I believe in self-commitments, exchanging
information with other persons and focus more on the present. The detailed knowledge
about my behavior I got to know after the proper analysis of the dictions that explains
my behavior very productively (Muthusamy, 2019).

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Non-Verbal Communication based Cultural Norms
Communication can be of two types one is verbal and another is non-verbal.
Non-verbal communication is the exchange of thoughts among individuals without
saying a word from the mouth (Jenifer & Raman, 2015). The non-verbal communication
is usually affected by some previously established cultural norms like taboo, myths,
stereotypes, projection psychology, halo effects, etc. Some of them are explained
below:
Stereotypes
It is one of the three cultural norms, which has provided deep insight into my non-
verbal communication environment. Stereotypes are a widely oversimplified and fixed
image or idea about a particular thing or a person. In my culture, the widely establish an
image of women and poor people and the unnecessary believes behind them are an
example of stereotypes (Banks, 2015).
Projection Psychology
It deals with the projection of unwanted and undesirable feelings on somebody
else, rather not admitting by them first. In my culture, the nonverbal communication
practices like paralanguage and proxemics enforce males and my elder people to
project their undesirable feelings onto females and young people respectively
(E.G.Ochieng & Price, 2010).

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Halo Effect
When someone gets affected and make an opinion about a person by only
considering one character of that person then it is known as the halo effect. According
to non-verbal communication networks in my culture, this cultural norm happens
usually. People mostly interpret the character of a person by just taking into
consideration his one influential area or thought (Knapp, Enninger, & Knapp-Po, 2011).
Adverse Impact of Cultural Norms
Cultural norms that are discussed above if ignored then they can influence the
cultural values and relations in an adverse manner. In my culture, when I analyzed the
presence of all three cultural norms with respect to non-verbal communication, I come
to know that they need to be controlled in an efficient manner from the households only.
Cultural Understanding
The self-reflection and awareness of various cultural differences and their value
for its people are identified and analyzed by me in the above paragraphs. With the help
of that analysis, it became easy for me to understand the diversities of the culture and
the key issues involved in making the communication networks with other persons
(Miklosik, Evans, & Hasprova, 2018).
The knowledge that I get from cultural analysis also helped me in knowing the
difference between good and bad aspects of my culture. For example, is it always said
that opening restaurant is not a proud thing to do as compared to jobs? It is just a
stereotype and I come to simplify my problem regarding this due to the recently gained

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understanding of cultural diversities and various norms (Saxena, 2015). With the help of
this, I can work upon bad aspects of my culture and make them an opportunity for me,
which in turn help me in identifying and reaching to the career goal of my life. The
professional goal of my life is to be the owner of restraint or a coffee shop.
I have the desire that someday I own a restrictor a coffee shop or the mixture of
both, which will be based on unique concepts and have excellent chefs. In order to
achieve so, I have to turn cultural norms in my favor by assisting and educating people
about the realities and removing the misunderstanding they are having. The cultural
diversity present around me is also the reason for various cultures norms and there
adverse effects on thinking of people (Schein, 2010).
Assistance from Cross-Cultural Understanding Process
The cross-cultural understanding process is the mixture of seven steps that in
together help in understanding the diversity among various cultures. Steps in the
process are being acquainted, asking right questions, handling visual images,
stereotype dealing, getting started, gaining entry and establishing trust and corporation
among individuals.
With the help of this process, I can get assistance in planning and developing
action plans for my professional goals (Tyagi & Rathi, 2015). It can also help me in
understanding the cross-cultural differential and can help by providing solutions for
various cross-cultural norms and taboos. These taboos and myths would not allow a
person to think with their right mind and due to this many misunderstanding and miss-
concepts build up. the area of process “ stereotypes dealing “ and the steps after that

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can help me by assisting me with the activities and ideas that can help me with such
situations now and in the future (Knapp, Enninger, & Knapp-Po, 2011).
Religion and Culture
People of Canada mainly follow the Christianity religion. In Canada Christian,
people are found in abundance. There are other religions also like Buddhism, Jewish,
etc. However, these religions are found in the minority. In Canada, Christianity is mainly
divided into four parts that are Catholic, Protestant, Christian Orthodox and other types
of Christians. In Canada, almost 67% are Christians and they believe in Jesus Christ. In
1497, Christianity came into existence in Canada and in 1608; the first Catholic colony
was founded in Canada. There are many religious practices in Christianity done in
Canada. Their many groups practice sacraments apart from them many Protestants
consider communion and baptism as sacramental. On the other hand, some Orthodox
and Roman Catholic churches include Eucharist, extreme unction, penance, etc
(Cochrane, 2015).
Christianity
The religion is considered a religion of Abraham Monotheistic. It is the most
followed religion in the world with approximately 2.4 billion followers. The values of
Christianity came from the teachings of Jesus Christ and widely spread by various
people all over the world (Ang & Dyne, 2015). The adherents of Jesus Christ are known
as Christians. They believed that Jesus Christ is the god’s son and came to save all of
the people.

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In the 1st century, the Christianity religion began in the Roman region as the
second temple of Judaic sect. After that, Jesus Christ and his followers have spread the
teachings of this religion in a variety of places in all directions. Today this religion is
considered to be the world’s largest religion and diversely spread among people. Due to
this, it brings unity in diverse culture in which I am and everybody is living. Christian
people believe in the holiness of churches and their saints (E.G.Ochieng & Price, 2010).
Future Endeavours and Christianity
It is already told in above lines that the most followed religion in the world as well
as in Canada is Christianity. The followers of Jesus all over the world are in abundance.
In order to be a successful businessperson as well as own a successfully running
restaurant, it is essential for me to believe in Christianity as well. As my religion is
Buddhism, however, I am such type of person who believes in all types of religion. I also
believe that there is only one god, however, known with different names in different
religions (Cochrane, 2015).
Christianity is the religion which is most followed by people all over the world.
That is the reason I should learn about some basic truths about this religion. This can
help me in interacting with the people in the culture I am livening. Due to this, I can
make truthful judgments about my future endeavors, which in turn can lead me to the
right path at the right time and with the right method. This world is a mixture of people,
who have diverse backgrounds and beliefs. It is advised to every person that in this
diverse world with a variety of cultures, they should blend themselves effectively. This,

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in turn, can help them in achieving their personal and professional goals efficiently and
effectively.

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Bibliography
Ang, S., & Dyne, L. V. (2015). Handbook of Cultural Intelligence. Routledge.
Banks, J. A. (2015). Cultural Diversity and Education: Foundations, Curriculum, and
Teaching (6th Edition ed.). New York: Routledge.
CIPD. (2019). The professional body for HR and people development. Retrieved May 2,
2019, from https://www.cipd.co.uk/
Cochrane, C. N. (2015). Christianity and Classical Culture (1st Edition ed.). Ravenio
Books.
E.G.Ochieng, & Price, A. (2010). Managing cross-cultural communication in
multicultural construction project teams: The case of Kenya and UK. International
Journal of Project Management , 28 (5), 449-460.
Jenifer, R. D., & Raman, D. G. (2015). CROSS CULTURAL COMMUNICATION
BARRIERS IN. national Journal of Management , 6 (1), 348-351.
K.Stahl, G., Mäkelä, K., Zander, L., & Maznevski, M. L. (2010). A look at the bright side
of multicultural team diversity. Scandinavian Journal of Management , 26 (4),
439-447.
Knapp, K., Enninger, W., & Knapp-Po, A. (2011). Analyzing Intercultural
Communication. Walter de Gruyter.