PSYC*4160 Lecture 5: Avoidance and Culture
Document Summary
Productive or construction depends on cultural context. Diverse cultures often have reasons for avoiding: (1) protecting the avoider from harm, (2) maintaining a positive mood, (3) spiritual or philosophical reasons. Japanese avoid conflict to preserve congeniality and consensus, and out of congeniality for others; China: appropriateness of conflict may be judged more positively than the effectiveness of the behaviour. Us: effectiveness as a partner"s conflict behaviour ranks as more important than appropriateness. Collectivistic cultures: when you avoid a conflict, others will talk to you about how to heal wounds, make amends, and solve the conflict in indirect ways. Individualistic cultures: if you avoid someone as the result of a conflict, your friends cheer you on, suggesting you don"t need to take any of that, or escalate the situation. Depending on culture, can push you into reconciliation or continual fighting. Collectivistic cultures, avoidance represents indirect workings through, but in individualistic cultures, it represents indirect escalation.
