Cultural Nuances, Assumptions, and the Butterfly Effect: Addressing the Unpredictability Caused by Unconscious Values Structures in Cross‐Cultural Interactions

Abstract

Cultural values, cross-cultural interaction patterns that are produced by dynamical (chaotic) systems, have a significant impact on interaction, particularly among and between people from different cultures. The butterfly effect, which states that small differences in initial conditions may have severe consequences for patterns in the long run, serves as a creative way of drawing attention to a particularly challenging aspect of such chaotic systems. Forty-six accounts of cross-cultural situations involving the interface of Asian and Western cultures were examined for underlying nuances (using Kluckhohn values orientations; F. R. Kluckhohn & F. L. Strodtbeck, 1961) and their possible effects. The discrepant relational perspective contributed the most to interaction difficulties but was not independent of other spheres. It is the last day in Taipei, Taiwan, for a yearlong visitor. He has a plane to catch and much to do-packing, closing bank accounts, mailing belongings, leave takings. Having been invited for a last lunch by a colleague, he heads back to his office to drop off some gifts when his hostess catches him and frantically spirits him across the city. He arrives to find a large number of people just about ready to leave a luncheon, many of whom he does not know. He realizes they have been invited to see him off. He has erred. His hostess and friends have "lost face." Was this all his fault? Why? Hadn't he learned anything during his stay? Will they distrust foreigners in the future, thinking them rude? What will their attitude be toward Americans now? Will their friends attend such gatherings again? However, if he had been on time for the luncheon, he might have missed his plane later that day, and his apartment would have been a mess. What impression would that have left? Should he have known better, planned better?Recognizing that cultural values have a significant impact on interaction, particularly among and between people from different cultures, is nothing new (R.

Situations and strategies for cultural learning in a short exchange programme

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Ecocultural Theories of Development

“…Nsamenang (2011) described cultural and psychological change resulting from the intermingling of cultural traditions through increasing waves of immigration and settlement in 'other' people's cultural areas. Fang (2009) noted that these external changes often result from cultural clashes and collisions, with cultural mixing processes usually being demanding and exciting (Remer, 2005). Cohen (2001) has described how cultural value adaptation of a people was influenced by their correct or mistaken given beliefs about what others will do, which eventually leads to the value equilibrium both on domestic and world levels.…”

Toward Conceptualizing Race and Racial Identity Development Within an Attractor Landscape

“…Among these perspectives are complexity, chaos, and systems theory. These frameworks have contributed to a more nuanced understanding of several different types of race-related phenomena including crosscultural communication, culture, cultural identity, ethnic identity, racial segregation, divergent racial conditions and outcomes, and adolescent identity development (Brittian, 2012;Chao & Moon, 2005;Menendian & Watt, 2008;Remer, 2007;Schelling, 2006;Spencer, Dupree, & Hartmann, 1997;Torres Rivera, 2005;Thommen & Wettstein, 2010). This article proposes an attractor landscape based on principles of complexity and chaos can describe, explain, and unify divergent perspectives of race and racial identity development.…”