Type I

The diffences between ethnocentrism and cultural relativism.

Cultural relativism is understanding other cultures and their beliefs. For example what seems normal to one culture may seem offensive to another.  We try to understand unfamiliar values and norm without judging them and without apply the standards of their own cultural.

Ethnocentrism is the use of one’s own culture as a yardstick for judging the ways of other individuals or societies, generally leading to a negative evaluation of their values, norms, and behaviors. In simple terms it is the thinking that one’s own culture or group’s ways are superior to others or judging other groups as inferior to one’s own.

The similarities between ethnocentrism and cultural relativism

Both are means of judging other groups and their culture

 The examples of cultural shock

1.        I’m Indonesian, when I heard someone that come from America is introducing his parents by the name, for example “this is my parents, John and Grace”. I think is not poite, but in America is fine and polite.

2.        In Greece, for example, smiling when you meet someone for the first time appears as a weakness. Many Greeks think that Americans smile too much and therefore are weak, and many Americans think that the Greeks are too stoic!! This is the opinion of a American of Greek descent.

3.        Drinking Mate, an Argentine custom is also a cross-cultural challenge. You drink the tea from a gourd or special cup, with a metal straw that has a filter to keep the tea leaves out as you suck up the liquid. It is a social drink, so you drink yours, pour some more water on and pass it along, you would be rude if you didn't. Try to do that here and the tension, well, it's better not to ask if someone wants some.