Description
This week’s topic is society and social interaction. In ch. 4 you read about the different types of societies, and the importance of social interaction in the development of “self.” You also watched two short video clips “Funny Cross Cultural Misunderstandings” and “5 American Hand Gestures That Can Get You In Trouble Abroad.” These film clips illustrate that our non-verbal communication has different meanings depending on the culture and context. We learn about the “rules” of our society through social interaction. In an American context, we learn that it is appropriate to point a finger at objects. But in other cultures, pointing a finger is considered rude. In an American context, we learn that it is considered rude to stand very close to a stranger, but in other cultural contexts, standing close to a stranger is considered relatively normal (depending on the situation, of course, i.e. walking in public).
Please choose one to respond to:
1) Have you ever been to another city, state, or country where the rules and norms of social interaction are very different? Explain what have you noticed?
2) What would you say to a person visiting Los Angeles about the social “rules” they should expect while visiting? For example, are people friendly? What to expect while driving on the freeway? What are the driving rules? etc…
3) What are the rules of social interaction on public transit or in Uber/Lyft? For example, where should one sit if it is crowded? Where should one sit if it is just you and the driver of the car? What are the rules about eye contact? If making eye contact, how long should eye contact last? Are you expected to have a conversation with the driver?
