Dimensionalising individualism, power and time

This video discusses three of the most widely-used dimensions for analyzing cultural differences: Individualism and Collectivism, High-Low Power Distance, and E. T. Hall’s Time orientations: Monochronic and Polychronic.

Of the many constructs and dimensions we have studied thus far, these three seem to be particularly applicable or have strong explanatory power across a wide range of cultural contexts.

1. Individualism and Collectivism may be the most widely-used terms in seeking to make sense in comparing cultures. However, they are often misunderstood and misused in research. The next step will help you more accurately understand their meaning and applications.

2. High and Low Power Distance addresses whether power is distributed evenly or unequally among members of a society. This can describe the functional expressions of hierarchy, status, and inequality that manifest themselves, especially organizational structures across cultures. Note that critical scholars look at this in more theoretical and socially situated ways. They aim to address systemic power inequalities and social injustices that need to be rectified, call privileged classes to account to better acknowledge, empower marginalized populations.

3. Time orientations also vary across cultures. As E. T. Hall discusses in his research, some cultural systems prefer Monochronic (arranging time linearly, one event after another, in analog sequential ways) and others prefer Polychronic processes (doing many things at one time, multi-tasking, in more digital, event centered ways).

Hall was also interested in examining how each culture emphasizes different slow or fast messages. Studying what people take time for can increase our awareness of what is more important or meaningful to them. A modern technological culture might seek to use devices to save time, to do more things at the same time more quickly (fast!), and yet still take their time for other activities, like enjoying music or a concert, religious meditation, or a massage (slow!).

How does your culture view time? Do you tend toward trying to do many things at the same time, or are you more linear and sequential in the way you do things? What fast or slow expressions of messages or time use are common in your culture? However you view or practice these areas, we suggest “its time” to be more cross-culturally sensitive to the variations that exist around us.

We urge you to think about these variations and offer any suggestions you have for being more aware or more sensitive to the different ways that other cultures emphasize certain values or dimensions. Thanks for providing your insights and feedback.