Transcript The Culture Iceberg

The Culture Iceberg
Hanna Mujunen
Susa-Marika Väänänen
Anna Hassanova
The culture iceberg
•
Popular metaphor used to
represent cultural components
•
Different countries vary in these
elements
-Western/ Eastern
•
Tip (surface culture) of the iceberg
is shown when first arriving in a
foreign culture
“Level of awareness” and the
“deep culture” are less
recognisable.
•
Finland
Estonia
Age
A
Language
B
Age
A
Language
A
Art, music,
literature
B
Manners
B
Art, music,
literature
B
Manners
B
Body
language
A
Modesty
B
Body
language
A
Modesty
B
Ceremonies/
traditions
B
Personal
space
A
Ceremonies/
traditions
C
Personal
space
B
Concept of
Justice
B
Personal
Friendship
A/B
Concept of
Justice
B
Personal
Friendship
A
Corporate
structure
B
Punctuality
A
Corporate
structure
A
Punctuality
A
Corruption
A
Race/ethnicity
B
Corruption
B
Race/ethnicity
B
Directness of
speech
A
Religion
C
Directness of
speech
A
Religion
C
Dress
A
Showing
emotions
B
Dress
A
Showing
emotions
A
Family life
B
Social
interaction
B
Family life
A
Social
interaction
B
Gender roles
B
Social status
C
Gender roles
B
Social status
A
Gestures/
Facial
expressions
A
Treatment of
foreigners
B
Gestures/
Facial
expressions
A
Treatment of
foreigners
B
Humour
B
Values and
Beliefs
C
Humour
B
Values and
Beliefs
C
Finnish/ Estonian cultural Iceberg similarities
Punctuality
Expressions
Age
Directness of
speech
Dress
Art, music, literature
Race
Body language
Modesty
Concept of justice
Humour
Social interaction
Religion
Treatment of foreigners
gender roles
Values and beliefs
Finland
Business culture
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Low-context cultural country
Monocronic
Westernized / masculine
Straightforward / verbal communication
Punctual / time
Equality
Form short-term relationships
Honesty: all words are taken seriously & people
stay behind their words.
Manners/ eye contact/ hand-shake
Presentation: formal/ clean cut
Wish to avoid confusion
Business lunches/dinner: entertainment and for
negotiation
Respect/ status: “hierarchical ladder”
Age/gender: position and status in company
Older people are respected more than younger
ones
- changing due to youth accessing more information
Power distance
Do not like to be supervised /Good self-discipline
Generalisation
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Individualistic culture
-“self-bossed/competent individualism”
Honesty
Straightforward /stubborn
‘Nuclear family’ (members of extended family
typically live apart, and youths seek independence
around the age of 20)
Traditions: based mostly on the Western Christian
calendar and Protestant traditions.
-Today’s society many traditions are diminishing
Relationships: Strong bonds are formed after social
interactions ex. sauna
Body language: Straightforward / independent
(reserved) / space
Values & beliefs: individual depending on
background, experiences.
•
Religion- “One is accustomed with the state church
(and religion, maybe even God) being there but
don’t want it (them) to interfere with your life”
•
Manners are European (especially young people)
and attitudes quite liberal and relaxed
Modesty: no boasting culture and Finns maintain a
low profile
(www.helsinki.fi/finntest)
•
Estonia
Business culture
Generalisation
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Low-context cultural country/ monocronic
Masculine
Short-term orientation
Respect/ honesty/ straightforward/ punctual
Foreign influence= black markets
Equality
Tactical negotiations, not collaborative and
conciliatory in manner
Responsible/ direct/ patient / silent
Eye contact/ handshake
Honesty / courteous
Hierarchical structure/ respect elderly
Short term relationships
•
In informal situations: relaxed and open
Individualistic culture
Humour: Ironical/sarcastic and disguised
Rationalistic mentality: ‘German’s left their mark’
Stubborn
Equality/ liberalism
Family structure: ‘nuclear family’
Traditions: Western Christian calendar and
Protestant traditions
Religion- individual
-16%- God 54% spirits 26% Atheist
“ Most non-religious people in the then 25-member European Union.”
•
- Lutheranism: due to links to Nordic countries
Language: important bearer of national identity
Conclusion
•
The table and the iceberg represents the
similarities between Finnish and Estonian
culture.
(similarities)
•
•
Structured co-corporation that leaves room
for their independence
The cognitive level: many similarities
–
•
•
•
•
Both are low-context cultural countries, thus
they have many components in common
- Dress/expression/ age/ body language
- Even some of the words are the same in
both cultures as they belong to the FennoUgric group. ( ex. Kaunis)
Similar communication patterns; interrupting
is considered impolite.
The cultural layers of Estonia and Finland
show more resemblance than meets the
eye.
In order to maintain and develop their
cultural identity the Estonians and Finns are
interacting with the world
•
•
•
Race/ humour/ social interaction/ art/music
literature/ modesty/ treatment of foreigners
Can be learned: behaviour learning
Can be recognized
Emotional level: Religion / values and beliefs
- Individual according to various elements,
such as traditions, experiences.
- Emotional level is the core of the culture,
deep, moral, time consuming.
- Not recognisable in Finland or Estonia
Conclusion
Differences between Finland and Estonia in the
cultural components are:
-Corruption, personal space, ceremonies,
corporate structure, family life, social status
-Corruption: People trust authorities in Finland
and are given the idea that corruption does
not exist.
-In Estonia, people are more aware of the
corruption, thus social status has become
important to the public.
-Hierarchical levels are more respected in
Estonia when in Finland equality is
appreciated.
(differences)
-Family life may differ depending on individuals,
in Finland however it is more common to
leave at an earlier age.
-Personal space is appreciated by both cultures,
however Estonian people do not show it as
openly as Finnish people .