Managing Life Overseas: Researching the domestic cultural context

Last week, we began a new series on preparing to live successfully overseas for extended periods of time due to either work opportunities or study purposes. This week we will start by focusing on an important early planning issue of researching both the domestic and the proposed new host cultural context.

To illustrate this process, the contrast between what are called the English-speaking, Confucian, and Muslim clusters of nations have been selected for more detailed investigation. However, given the complexity and critical importance of this topic, we will initially focus on gaining a more detailed understanding the domestic or home culture.

The importance of researching the domestic culture

One of the most laborious and potentially exasperating experiences when preparing for life overseas are the seemingly endless decisions that need to be made regarding what to pack to take from home. However, one item that will inevitably be included is our package of domestic cultural orientations.

Indeed, these values are so inextricably linked to every aspect of our personality, perceptions of reality, and interpersonal behavioural expectations that we cannot even take a break from them during the journey by checking them in with the luggage.

Consequently, given that we can reasonably anticipate that almost every experience in the new host location will be based on contrasting cultural perspectives, it becomes even more important that we fully understand our deeply ingrained and largely unconsciously acquired domestic pattern of cultural norms. Without being prepared with a sophisticated understanding of our own cultural orientations, we risk being constantly exposed to an uncomfortable sense of disorientation or even an ultimately disruptive series of culture shocks in the hoist context.

Therefore, given that I’m British and much of this series is based around my numerous experiences of living for extended periods overseas as a university educator, I will now focus on critically evaluating what are frequently identified as the English-speaking cluster of nations as an example of a domestic cultural context.

The English-speaking cluster of nations

The English-speaking nations (ESNs) are typically depicted as a distinct and particularly homogeneous cluster of nations in nearly all cross-cultural models. As an initial illustration, in four of the six categories selected from the Hofstede dimensions, all these nations are inclined towards small power distance relationships, are highly individualistic in their personal life preferences, display significantly low uncertainty avoidance in terms of being relaxed about change, while expressing very high levels of inclination towards indulgent behaviour.

Moreover, apart from the commonality arising from a shared language, this close similarity can be broadly explained in terms of being ultimately based on long-term historical relationships as well common political, economic, and defence perspectives. However, as we shall see, this close, largely subconsciously experienced homogeneity does expose people from this cultural cluster to being somewhat easily disorientated when encountering contrasting cultural behavioural expectations that can lead to sense of early frustration or even culture clash in a largely unfamiliar host context.

In conclusion, learning more about the cultural context of both the domestic and future host nation can be a significant challenge as culture is positioned at ever more complex and less visible levels. This was illustrated in the Iceberg model developed by Hall that was explored in the concluding blog in the series on Exploring Cultures. Here it was stressed that at the third and deepest level of underpinning values are acquired largely unconsciously at an early age through what is called the socialisation process in ways that are not generally specifically articulated.

However, to become comfortable and competent living the new cultural context overseas, learning about the values underpinning behavioural expectations becomes increasing important. This again highlights the fundamental contrast between this experience of living overseas and being a temporary passing visitor.

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Question 1

Why are many people across all cultures largely unaware of their deeper cultural values?

Question 2

To what extent might increasing levels of multiculturalism enhance homogeneity in the ESNs?

Question 3

What factors might explain why the USA is typically shown as an outlier in this national cluster?

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We shall explore Question 3 in the next blog.

Reference

• Hall, E. T. (1976). Beyond culture. Anchor Books.

• Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G. J. & Minkov, M. (2010). Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind: Intercultural cooperation and its importance for survival (2nd Ed). McGraw-Hill, London.