Question

Understanding Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism

Ethnocentrism is the tendency of people to put their own culture at the center, and to use their cultural standards to judge the behavior and beliefs of people of different cultures. People who are ethnocentric believe their cultural beliefs are morally correct and others are morally questionable. They often become so deeply engrossed in their culture that other cultures and the people in them become unimportant. To some degree all people are ethnocentric. It is a natural tendency for each of us to believe that our cultural beliefs are the best. However, ethnocentrism prevents us from becoming culturally competent and responsive to others who share differing cultural beliefs, traditions, practices, and affiliations.

The opposite of ethnocentrism is Cultural Relativism. Cultural relativism is the view that the behavior in one culture should not be judged by the standards of another. The goal of cultural relativism is to be objective and sensitive to diverse cultures without ignoring international standards of justice and morality (Kottak & Kozaitis, 2002). The key to eliminating ethnocentrism is to first acknowledge that one is ethnocentric. Becoming more culturally relative can be achieved by recognizing the attitudes and beliefs related to ethnocentrism and then working to dispel them.

Please answer the following questions and post your answers to Blackboard.

1. How does ethnocentrism develop?

2. Did you recognize your own ethnocentric beliefs and attitudes?

3. Do people within the same culture always share the same attitudes and beliefs? If yes, why? If no why not? • Is anyone culture really better than another?

4. Are there any dangers to ethnocentric attitudes in a world that is becoming more diverse? If yes, what are the dangers?

5. How can ethnocentric beliefs and attitudes become more culturally relative?

6. What are things you can do in your life today to become more culturally relative?

7. Do you think your family and friends might resist your becoming more culturally relative, if yes, why? If no, why not?

Answer 1

1. It is widely assumed that Sumner coined the concept of ethnocentrism in 1906. This attribution is prominent in psychology and the social sciences and is found in major works on ethnocentrism, intergroup relations, and prejudice. A review of classic sources written in German, Polish, and English shows that the concept had existed in numerous publications for at least several decades before Sumner's writings on ethnocentrism . This article presents early conceptualizations of ethnocentrism and potential influences on Sumner. It also discusses implications of this conceptual history, such as biases that may have contributed to the widespread belief that Sumner coined the concept. It is argued that psychologists and other social scientists should stop attributing the origin of the concept to Sumner, despite his important role in popularizing it, and, in general, should engage more with their intellectual history in different languages Ethnocentrism is a major factor in the divisions among members of different ethnicities, races, and religious groups. It's the belief that one's ethnic group is superior to another. Ethnocentric individuals believe they're better than other individuals for reasons based solely on their heritage.

2.Yes we can as it is a natural tendency for each of us to believe that our cultural beliefs are the best. However, ethnocentrism prevents us from becoming culturally competent and responsive to others who share differing cultural beliefs, traditions, practices, and affiliations.To some degree all people are ethnocentric.

3. No, it is quite impossible and impractical to say that people within the same culture always share the same attitude and beliefs because attitude and belief depends on individual basis rather than anything else. It differ from individual to individual. It is not even correct to say that any culture is better than other as each has its different ways and uniqueness . It is all about individual who make any culture good or bad.

4. Ethnocentrism is a dangerous philosophy to follow because it requires each person to make assumptions of the other without taking their perspective into account. It is more than a lack of empathy; it is a complete disregard of the understanding needed to see through a different set of circumstances.As basic sociological theory holds, people flourish when they are well integrated into society. Ethnocentrism leads the group to rally around what makes their culture distinct. Ethnocentrism also bears a positive effect on societies as it heralds the most important elements in that society.Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own cultural group is somehow innately superior to others. It is easy to say that ethnocentrism only affects the bigoted or those ignorant of other cultures, and so is unlikely to be a major factor in one's own business communication.

5.Global changes to society such as increases in immigration have created an interest in intercultural relations. There is considerable literature on the social and cross-cultural psychology of intercultural relations focusing on challenges to the well being of the global society .However, a large amount of this research has examined the views of dominant groups and their beliefs, expectations, attitudes and behaviours. This trend has resulted in researchers who often focus on challenges to the well being of ingroup. In an increasingly diverse and plural society, it is essential to examine both the needs of ingroups and outgroups in order to provide a comprehensive, mutual and reciprocal understanding of ethnic relations that will promote and improve intercultural attitudes .

6.Culture is the beliefs, behaviors, objects, and other characteristics shared by groups of people. Given this, someone could very well say that they are influenced by internet culture, rather than an ethnicity or a society! Culture could be based on shared ethnicity, gender, customs, values, or even objects. Can you think of any cultural objects? Some cultures place significant value in things such as ceremonial artifacts, jewelry, or even clothing. For example, Christmas trees can be considered ceremonial or cultural objects. They are representative in both Western religious and commercial holiday culture.In addition, culture can also demonstrate the way a group thinks, their practices, or behavioral patterns, or their views of the world. For example, in some countries like China, it is acceptable to stare at others in public, or to stand very close to others in public spaces. In South Africa, if you board a nearly empty bus or enter a nearly empty movie theater, it is regarded as polite to sit next to the only person there. On the other hand, in a recent study of Greyhound bus trips in the US, a researcher found that the greatest unspoken rule of bus-taking is that if other seats are available, one should never sit next to another person. Numerous passengers expressed that “it makes you look weird”. These are all examples of cultural norms that people in one society may be used to. Norms that you are used to are neither right nor wrong, just different. Picture walking into a nearly empty movie theater when visiting another country, and not sitting next to the only person in the theater. Another person walks up and tells you off for being rude. You, not used to these norms, feel confused, and anxious. This disorientation you feel is an example of culture shock.

7.To avoid judging the cultural practices of groups that are different to yours, we can use the cultural relativism approach. Cultural relativism refers to not judging a culture to our own standards of what is right or wrong, strange or normal. Instead, we should try to understand cultural practices of other groups in its own cultural context. For example, instead of thinking, “Fried crickets are disgusting! ” one should instead ask, “Why do some cultures eat fried insects?”. You may learn that fried crickets or grasshoppers are full of protein and in Mexico, it is famous Oaxaca regional cuisine and have been eaten for thousands of years as a healthy food source!Some people worry that the concept of culture can also be abused and misinterpreted. If one culture behaves one way, does that mean all cultures can behave that way as well? For example, many countries and international organizations oppose the act of whaling (the fishing of whales) for environmental reasons. These environmental organizations say that there are not many whales left and such fishing practices should be stopped. However, other countries argue that whaling is a cultural practice that has been around for thousands of years. Because it may be part of a country’s oceanic culture, this country may say that such a cultural practice should not be opposed based on cultural differences, say, by an inland country that does not understand. Who gets to define what a moral cultural behavior is? Is whaling immoral? Two different cultures may have very different answers, as we saw in the above example. Another more extreme instance would be female genital cutting in some parts of the world. Locally, it is argued that the practice has cultural roots, but such a practice has raised concerns among many international human rights organizations.Anthropologists say that when we think about different cultures and societies, we should think about their customs in a way that helps us make sense of how their cultural practices fits with their overall cultural context. For example, having several wives perhaps makes economic sense among herders who move around frequently. Through such an understanding, polygamy makes cultural sense.