Cultural Differences and Misunderstanding: An Essay Using Gibbs Cycle

This essay examines a personal experience of cultural misunderstanding that occurred in France, where a seemingly innocent greeting led to confusion due to differing cultural norms. The author employs the Gibbs reflective cycle to analyze the incident, detailing the initial description of the event, the feelings it evoked, an evaluation of the situation, and conclusions drawn. The essay highlights the importance of cultural competence in a globalized world, emphasizing how varying perceptions and preconceived notions can create barriers to effective intercultural communication. The conclusion underscores the need for individuals to develop a better understanding of cultural differences to mitigate misunderstandings and promote more effective interactions. The author plans to enhance their understanding of multiculturalism through courses and self-learning to address these issues.

Running Head: MISUNDERSTANDING
Misunderstanding
Name of the Student
Name of the university
Author note

1MISUNDERSTANDING
Introduction
The aim of the paper is to indulge in a discussion of the issues faced in
misunderstanding raising from the differences in cultural perspective. In order to understand
the same, author would involve the Gibbs reflective cycle framework in order to enhance a
better understanding of the issues concerned.
Description
The incident involves a friend of mine when both of us went to France. During our
travel in the country, we encountered a girl and we befriended her easily. As a mode of
salutation when she approached him, she poke a kiss on his forehead. My friend was quite
taken aback at the gesture as he looked at it as a sense of indecency. He also complained of
lack of consent on the part of him. Later the girl explained to him that it was a simple gesture
of greetings that French people often indulge in.
Feeling
After the girl had parted, I realized that the misunderstanding took place because my
friend was not aware of the culture of greeting of French people. The case that had happened
was because of cultural differences. In competence of the people of culture about the culture
of the other has given rise to the situation (Deaton & Cartwright, 2018).
Evaluation
In a global situation, since the interaction of the people from different culture has
increased in an exponential level, the competence of the people to the culture of those whom
they are interacting with is also important (Pitzl, 2015). Every person has their own sense of
reality; however their reality is colored by their cultural context. As such, the connotation of
an attribute from a particular culture might not be accepted in the same way from the person

2MISUNDERSTANDING
belonging to the culture of the other. Misunderstanding can cause because of several other
factors. The factors often include factors like the ones of social differences, difference in
dialect and racial identities (Kostadinovska-Stojchevska, 2018). Such differences often lead
to certain preconceived notion about the culture of the others, which impacts their interaction
and creates a barrier, preventing it from being effective. Such differences and cultural context
often assists in shaping the personal bias that develop in an individual, leading to the
misunderstood communication (Storti, 2017).
Conclusion
From the case involved in this respect, it can be realized that the people from different
cultural background carry their own perception as well as about that of the other. Such
preconceived notion creates a barrier in their understanding and affects the interaction of the
people from different cultures. It also creates bias that blinds our vision and enhance our
prejudice. The difference in perspective between the people from different culture therefore
hinders the effective intercultural communication.
Action
After witnessing the case, I have realized the importance developing competence to
the differences that are intrinsic in the communication of the individuals in making their
interaction effective. In order to mitigate the misunderstanding that is raising in the cultural
sphere, I would try to develop a better understanding of the differences. I would also
undertake courses on multiculturalism and indulge in self-learning of the issues faced by
people on different spheres.

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References
Deaton, A., & Cartwright, N. (2018). Understanding and misunderstanding randomized
controlled trials. Social Science & Medicine, 210, 2-21.
Kostadinovska-Stojchevska, B. (2018). Idioms and the cultural misunderstanding that (may)
arise in the process of acquisition. International Journal of Education
TEACHER, 8(15), 119-127.
Pitzl, M. L. (2015). Understanding and misunderstanding in the Common European
Framework of Reference: What we can learn from research on BELF and Intercultural
Communication. Journal of English as a Lingua Franca, 4(1), 91-124.
Storti, C. (2017). Cross-cultural dialogues: 74 brief encounters with cultural difference.
Nicholas Brealey.