Sheona Thomas
D1 analysis of how Cultural variation can influence communication
“Culture is an aspect of identity, which we all have. Culture is based on a number of things
shared with others such as language, shared history, beliefs, attitudes, celebrations, musical
taste, dress, diet and many others. Culture is basically about a shared understanding with
others of the same culture. Cultures are neither inferior nor superior – they are just
different”1. Therefore, cultural variation is the different social behaviours which are
portrayed in cultures all around the world. Cultural variations can influence communication
in a health and social care setting in many ways. Everyone who you will encounter has a
culture and has values and beliefs. Sometimes people will share them with you, but often
they will not. If you are in a particular state or region, understanding a person’s culture will
help you appreciate how they tend to think and believe. Each person is unique, of course,
but knowing the culture can help you work with him or her more effectively. In a work
setting, you may find that a coworker of a particular culture values accuracy over speed. In
that case, you should approach them with your findings broken down in a table. Whereas,
another person may be more comfortable working with a collaborative group because
working collectively toward a goal is how they have grown up. While you may not wish to
ask, and you definitely should not want to assume, if you’re able to determine which culture
someone comes from, you may find clues about working habits. People of some cultures
may come across as harsh and brutally honest while facing you, while others may be quieter
and reluctant to look you in the eye. This is not meant to make anyone feel awkward it is just
because it’s the way they have been brought up. Therefore, you shouldn’t take anything
personally, but do educate yourself about cultural differences. The more a health
practitioner knows about their patient on a personal level, the easier they will find it to be
able to work with them. Some people chose to Invest in a book or two about cultural
diversity learn how to work more effectively with your groups and to widen your
understanding regarding cultural diversity.
Eye contact
Eye contact is necessary for social interaction. The special appearance of the human several
studies suggest that cultural norms affect eye contact behaviors. For example, Japanese
individuals exhibit less eye contact than do individuals from Western European or North
1 http://www.kirwinmaclean.com/cultural-competence-in-social-care-and-health/
D1 analysis of how Cultural variation can influence communication
“Culture is an aspect of identity, which we all have. Culture is based on a number of things
shared with others such as language, shared history, beliefs, attitudes, celebrations, musical
taste, dress, diet and many others. Culture is basically about a shared understanding with
others of the same culture. Cultures are neither inferior nor superior – they are just
different”1. Therefore, cultural variation is the different social behaviours which are
portrayed in cultures all around the world. Cultural variations can influence communication
in a health and social care setting in many ways. Everyone who you will encounter has a
culture and has values and beliefs. Sometimes people will share them with you, but often
they will not. If you are in a particular state or region, understanding a person’s culture will
help you appreciate how they tend to think and believe. Each person is unique, of course,
but knowing the culture can help you work with him or her more effectively. In a work
setting, you may find that a coworker of a particular culture values accuracy over speed. In
that case, you should approach them with your findings broken down in a table. Whereas,
another person may be more comfortable working with a collaborative group because
working collectively toward a goal is how they have grown up. While you may not wish to
ask, and you definitely should not want to assume, if you’re able to determine which culture
someone comes from, you may find clues about working habits. People of some cultures
may come across as harsh and brutally honest while facing you, while others may be quieter
and reluctant to look you in the eye. This is not meant to make anyone feel awkward it is just
because it’s the way they have been brought up. Therefore, you shouldn’t take anything
personally, but do educate yourself about cultural differences. The more a health
practitioner knows about their patient on a personal level, the easier they will find it to be
able to work with them. Some people chose to Invest in a book or two about cultural
diversity learn how to work more effectively with your groups and to widen your
understanding regarding cultural diversity.
Eye contact
Eye contact is necessary for social interaction. The special appearance of the human several
studies suggest that cultural norms affect eye contact behaviors. For example, Japanese
individuals exhibit less eye contact than do individuals from Western European or North
1 http://www.kirwinmaclean.com/cultural-competence-in-social-care-and-health/
