World View Introduction

1
World View Introduction

• The world situation is viewed differently because
  of different assumptions about reality

2
Three Examples of Differences

• Westerners assume there is a real world external
  to themselves made of lifeless matter
• People in Southeast Asia believe this external
  world does not existit is an illusion of the
  mind
• Tribal people see the world as a living organism
  to which they must relate

3
Basic Assumptions of Life Worldview

• Taken for granted and generally unexamined,
  therefore implicit
• Assumptions reinforced by the deepest of feelings
• Anyone who challenges them comes under vehement
  attack
• Most really believe their assumptions and rarely
  aware that their perspective of life is molded by
  world view

4
A. Basic Assumptions Underlying each of the Three
Dimensions of Culture

• Existential Assumptions provide cognitive
  structure used to explain reality
• These define what is realin West include
  atoms, viruses, and gravityin India include
  rakshasas, asparas, bhutams (spirit beings)in
  Africa, include spirits of Ancestors still living
  among people
• Explain concepts of time, space, and other worlds
• WestAssume time is linear and uniform (beginning
  to end, year, day, minutes, seconds)
• OtherAssume time is cynical (repetition of
  seasons, birth-death, growth-decay)
• Cognitive Assumptions mental categories used for
  thinkingdetermines the kinds of authority people
  trust

5
Basic Assumptions

• Affective Assumptions notions of beauty, style,
  aesthetics, tastes in music, art, dress, food,
  architecture, and how they feel about each other
• In Buddhistic culture life is equated with
  sufferingeven joy creates suffering because it
  will end! Thus, little need to strive for a
  better life.
• Westerners believe that hard work and planning
  could achieve a comfortable, happy life
• Evaluative Assumptions standards people use to
  make judgments
• See next page

6
Evaluative Assumptions

• Criteria for determining truth and error, likes
  and dislikes, right and wrong
• Westerners believe honesty is telling people the
  reality even if it hurts
• Other countriesbelieve it best to say what
  people want to hearmore important they are
  encouraged then to know the truth!
• Determine priorities of a culture
• Westerners place a high value on technology and
  material good with business as main activity
• Status is determined by wealth and organized
  around economic themes (banks, and insurance co.)
• Indiahigh value on religion purity, highest
  honor given to priestly caste
• Culture is organized around religious themes
  (temples in every village)

7
Evaluative Assumptions

• Different standards of morality create
  cross-cultural misunderstandings
• Westerners consider sexual sin the worst
• South Asias worst sin is loosing
  tempermissionary looses respect when impatient
• How do we deal with existing ethical beliefs of
  people and introduce concepts of sin? What if we
  do not live up to the norms of the people?
  (Barrenness needs a second wife?)

8
World-view Serves Five Functions

1. Provides a cognitive foundation to explain our
   beliefs about reality
2. Gives us emotional securityin a dangerous world
   of uncontrollable forces and crisis of drought,
   illness, and death plagued by uncertainties
3. Validated our Deepest Cultural Norms used to
   judge our experiences and choose a direction in
   life
4. Gives notion of right and wrong, and how to deal
   with it
5. Is a map for guiding behavior, and life

9
More World View ideas

• Integrates our Cultureorganizing our ideas,
  feelings, and values into a united view of
  reality reinforced by deep emotions and
  convictions
• Monitors Culture Changefrom constant flood of
  new ideas, behaviors and thingsworldview helps
  select/reject what fits best.