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HALL'S CROSS-CULTURAL THEORY WIKI
HALL'S CROSS-CULTURAL THEORY WIKI
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Edward T. Hall's Cross-Cultural Theory
The background of the theory:
Edward Twitchell Hall, Jr was an American anthropologist and cross-cultural researcher born in 1914. The foundation of his theories on cultural perceptions of space was set during World War II when he served in the U.S. Army in Europe and the Philippines.
During the 1950s as he worked for the United States Army as well as during his work as a director of the Foreign Service Institute, teaching inter-cultural communications skills to Foreign Service personnel. Hall observed many difficulties created by lack of intercultural communication. Hall began to believe that basic differences of the members that come from different cultures perceived reality were responsible for miscommunications of the most fundamental kind. (Nina Brown, 2011)
Throughout his career, Hall presented many new concepts, including proxemics, polychronic and monochronic time, and high and low context culture. In his book, The Hidden Dimension (1966), Hall developed his theory of proxemics, arguing that human perceptions of space are formed and patterned by culture. He argued that differing cultural frameworks for defining and organizing space, which are internalized in all people at an unconscious level, can lead to serious failures of communication and understanding in cross-cultural settings. The book also analyzed both the personal spaces that people formed around their bodies as well as the macro-level sensibilities that shape cultural expectations about how streets, neighborhoods and cities should be properly organized. (Nina Brown, 2011)
The main idea of the theory
Edward Hall's theory tell about important cultural factors or dimensions. They are context, time, space and information.
At first he tried to divide cultures by context and time, i.e. how contextual elements and time are treated in communication.
Context
In high-context cultures there are many contextual elements that should be taken into account and help people to understand the rules. Many things are not said directly, much is taken for granted. Examples of high-context cultures are the cultures of France, Spain, Italy, Middle East, Japan, Russia. In low-context cultures ideas are expected to be outspoken very straightforward, most of the things require explanation. Written instructions, contracts and documents have more value in negotiations. Examples of countries with low-context cultures are Germany, Switzerland, USA, Scandinavia.
Factor
High-context culture
Low-context culture
Overtness of messages Many covert and implicit messages, with use of metaphor and reading between the lines. Many overt and explicit messages that are simple and clear.
Locus of control and attribution for failure Inner locus of control and personal acceptance for
failure Outer locus of control and blame of others for failure
Use of non-verbal communication Much nonverbal communication More focus on verbal communication than body language
Expression of reaction Reserved, inward reactions Visible, external, outward reaction
Cohesion and separation of groups Strong diistinction between ingroup and outgroup. Strong sense of family. Flexible and open grouping patterns, changing as needed
People bonds Strong people bonds with affiliation to family and community Fragile bonds between people with little sense of loyalty.
Level of commitment to relationships High commitment to long-term relationships.
Relationship more important than task. Low commitment to relationship. Task more important than relationships.
Flexibility of time Time is open and flexible.
Process is more important than product Time is highly organized.
Product is more important than process
Time
Hall categorized cultures by their members' attitude to the concept of time. According to his theory, there can be monochronous and polychronous cultures.
People from monochronous cultures usually do one thing at a time. Careful planning and scheduling is often present. Members of monochronous cultures have difficulties with starting something new, when they still have not finished another activity. Germany, USA, Scandinavian countries are among countries with such kind of cultures. In polychronous cultures human interaction is valued over time and material things. Being punctual is not that important in these cultures. People from such cultures pay more attention to human relations and do not mind doing several things at the same time. Such cultures are present in Latin America, Middle East, Russia.