: Hofstede Uncertainty Avoidance
Document Summary
The concept of uncertainty avoidance was first used in the 1960s in a book about the theory of the firm. It was later used to describe differences between national societies. In uncertainty avoiding societies, people tend to stay in the same job for longer periods as changing jobs is seen as one of the most uncertain things one can do in life. On the other hand, in certainty accepting societies, changing jobs is much more common. Aggression and emotions may be advantageous in a certainty accepting society, but they should be controlled in an uncertainty accepting society. In an uncertainty avoiding society, aggression and emotions are often avoided or controlled. Xenophobia, or fear of people who are different or come from elsewhere, is more common in uncertainty avoiding societies. The level of uncertainty avoidance is measured by an index known as the uncertainty avoidance index (uai).
