Unit 10
Cultural Influence on Perception
In today’s class, we will…

discuss the definition of perception
understand the various ways of interpretation are influenced by culture get to know generalizations and stereotypes

Quality hardworking honest brave
in 1966
37 7
In 1972
74 20 17
religious
intelligent practical
14
14 8
18
32 27
ignorant
artistic progressive sly treacherous warlike cruel

Thinking Patterns

Analytical

Synthetic
Holistic Mind vs Analytic Mind
1. Names Oriental (Chinese) names family name + given name Occidental (western) names given names +family names
24
13 7 20 19 23 13
10
26 28 19 12 13 9
Movie — “The Forbidden Kingdom”
Self-check List



What is perception? How does culture influence perception? What is generalization? What is stereotype?
Students of each class will be organized into small groups of 2 people, with each group working on one of the topics suggested. The presentation topics involve comparative studies on some specific aspects between Chinese culture and English culture. When researching on the topics, students are suggested to include the following parts in the presentation: (1) Find out similarities / differences on the given topic between two cultures. (2) Provide adequate examples to show the similarities and differences you find. (3) Explore on how different cultural values in each culture are reflected through your study. Requirements for the Presentation: (1) Each group will make a presentation of about 10 minutes on the topic they choose. (2) Each member of the group has to participate in the preparation as well as the delivery of the presentation speech. (3) It is strongly recommended that each group use computer aid when giving their presentations. (4) It is also strongly recommended that no two groups within one class choose the same topic.
东方看整体、西方重解析
2. In medicine Chinese traditional medicine Consider the whole body system of health to treat a local problem
局部的病症要通过对全身系统的调理来解决

Western medicine To find out what particular virus to deal with
究其病原直接深入到分子原子，病菌病毒
The Local People’s interpretations Seeing former chief approaching younger brother marrying the elder brother’s widow Hamlet’s mother getting married one month after his father’s death the dead chief having only one wife
Friend
Friend Coworker
Friend
Friend
Coworker
Independent view of self
Dependent view of self
Collectivist cultures
Individualist cultures
Interdependence Relationships Social obligations


Suggested Topics for Presentation 1. A comparative study on Chinese martial artists vs. the Western knights. 2. A comparative study on the rules of gift-giving and gift-receiving in Western culture and Chinese culture. 3. A comparative study on Western and Chinese painting 4. A comparative study on Western and Chinese architecture 5. A comparative study on school education in America and China 6. A comparative study on family education in America and China 7. A comparative study on wedding customs in different countries 8. A comparative study on Western and Chinese table manners 9. A comparative study on Western and Chinese advertising 10. A comparative study on the use of euphemisms in Chinese and English
What matter most is how you see yourself！
The Structure of Self-Concept
Self-concept
Who am I?
Self-esteem
My sense of self-worth?
The self Self-knowledge
How can I explain ricans’ views of themselves Informal, friendly, casual Egalitarian Direct, aggressive Efficient Goal/achievement oriented Profit oriented Individualistic Progressive Enthusiastic Open
Foreigners’ views of Americans Undisciplined, too personal and familiar Insensitive to status Blunt, rude, oppressive Obsessed with time, opportunistic Promise more than they deliver Materialistic Self-absorbed Tend to equate “new” with “best” Deceptive Untrustworthy
Independence Aspirations Achievements
Culture and Perception
Discuss Chinese cultural perceptions of color. What do Chinese associate with the following? black white red blue yellow Do Americans associate these colors with something the same or different?


We see what we choose to see. We hear what we choose to hear.