2.4. Social Norms and Control

But also it varies from culture to culture this symbol, what is the meaning of this one for example, maybe in India, this is chota or thoda, it is very small amount, okay but look into other what other people in other countries they think.

This chunk discusses how the meaning of gestures can differ greatly among cultures. For example, a gesture that signifies a small amount in one culture (like 'chota' in India) may have different interpretations elsewhere. Understanding these variations is crucial in intercultural communication.

Imagine you’re in a restaurant in India, and you use your hand to indicate a small serving size, and the locals understand what you mean. However, if you used the same gesture in Italy, it might confuse the staff, who may interpret it as requesting clarification instead of indicating size.

Some meanings, some gestures are very universal like smile, if I smile you understand I am happy, okay and it is almost universal but for example, the thumbs up, okay in United States, it is a kind of positive reinforcement, in Russia and Australia it could be an offensive curse for this one.

This part contrasts gestures that are widely understood, such as smiling, with those that can be interpreted differently depending on the culture. While a smile universally signifies happiness, a thumbs-up gesture can be positive in some cultures but offensive in others, illustrating the complexity of non-verbal communication across different societies.

Think of a thumbs-up as a friendly signal. In the U.S., it’s encouraging, while in Australia or Russia, it can be seen as an insult. This shows how a simple gesture can lead to misunderstandings if one is unaware of cultural context.

the colour is red but it has different meaning in different cultural or different context. In the left-hand side, it means there is a police, there we understand that okay this is the police, something is an emergency, in the right-hand side, it is the red light that means you have to stop and in the middle, it means actually a brothel; the prostitutions.

This section discusses how the color red carries different meanings in various contexts. For instance, red can signify danger in relation to police alerts or stop signals, yet in other contexts, it might indicate something entirely different, such as the presence of a brothel. This stresses the importance of context in interpreting symbols.

Consider a traffic light. Red means stop for drivers everywhere, but in a different situation, a red light outside a building can attract attention for completely different reasons. Understanding the context helps avoid confusion.

Now, another important component of culture is the values and beliefs okay. What is that? Values are culture standard for what to do, what is good, what is not good to decide okay.

This chunk introduces the idea that every culture has its own set of values and beliefs that guide behavior and decision-making about what is deemed acceptable or not. These values shape our understanding of good versus bad, ethical versus unethical, and socially acceptable versus unacceptable actions.

Think of values as a cultural compass that helps people navigate their daily lives. For example, in some cultures, collectivism is valued, where community and relationships take precedence, whereas in others, individualism is celebrated, focusing more on personal achievements.

In order to put those values and beliefs into practice, we have generally norms. So, what is good ugly, how to control that one these values ok.

This section explains how norms are established in society as practical applications of culture’s values and beliefs. Norms dictate behaviors that are considered acceptable within that culture, and they act as a form of social control to guide interactions and maintain order.

Consider norms like wearing appropriate clothing to a formal event. These are learned behaviors informed by cultural expectations. If someone shows up in casual wear at a formal dinner, they are likely to feel out of place, highlighting how norms help maintain social order.

culture matters, how people define, what is right or wrong, what is risky or not risky.

Here, the text emphasizes that perceptions of risk are heavily influenced by cultural context. What may be considered risky or unacceptable behavior in one culture might not carry the same weight in another. Cultural bias shapes our understanding of safety and risk.

For example, extreme sports like bungee jumping may be seen as thrilling and an expression of freedom in some cultures, while in others, they may be viewed as reckless and irresponsible. This variation highlights how cultural perspectives can influence our understanding of risk.

--