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Cultural Context: Part 3

Understanding how we think and what we value are pretty easy things for us to understand.  As an American, I know that there are things that I do and say that have become part of my culture.  My cultural context in this situation is what I expect to happen during situations based on my experiences.  During my travels, I have begun to understand other cultural contexts which have assisted me in becoming a better communicator.  

Here are a list of questions I want you to answer:

1. What are some examples of things you would never want your friends to do in the presence of their parents?  Why? Are these rules written down or does everyone just know it?
2. What are some examples of things you would never want your parents to do when they were in the presence of your friends? Why? Are these rules written down or does everyone just know it?
3. When everyone knows a rule that is not written down, we call that a “social norm”.  List 3 “social norms” using your culture as a context (think about the social norms of school, home, family trips, sleep-overs, etc.).

Again, read other people's postings and identify similarities and differences and a possible explanation for the similarity or difference.  

Cultural Contexts: Part 2

Now that we know what cultural context is, let us make some connections to these words to help us understand and remember the words.

As an Wisconsinite (an American from the state of Wisconsin), here are a few example of the cultural context and unwritten rules for behaving in a theater: wait in an organized queue to get your ticket, no talking during the film for any reason, silencing your phone, and try to crouch when you walk in front of the screen.  Some of the unwritten rules for being in the underground/subway include not talking to strangers unless to ask directions, avoid making eye contact unless you are interested in the person, and wait for the people to exit the train before boarding.  Last, the unwritten rules as a teenager include behaving differently with friends than family, not relying on parents for assistance, and turning small situations big problems.

For this posting I would like you to list the unwritten rules from your cultural context for the following situations:
1. Work habits
2. Relationships
3.  Beliefs and values
4.  Time
5.  Food
6.  Communication

Like the last posting, please read and provide feedback to at least 3 others.  

Cultural contexts: Part 1

What does the word context mean as it relates to the word culture?

After you have answered the question to the best of your ability (with or without the help of Google) please read and provide feedback on at least 3 others' postings.  All of these postings will be public, so once something is posted, it cannot be taken down.