Jackie is often surprised when she goes to other countries to learn that people do business so differently. For instance, in meetings Jackie is used to getting straight to the point and addressing any relevant issues. However, she has learned that in many countries businesspeople take the time to first make small talk and ask about the family before finally getting down to business. To Jackie this seems to make the meetings unnecessarily long and wastes valuable time. These cultural differences seem strange to Jackie because she is relying on her _____________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Jackie's surprise and confusion with the cultural differences suggest that she is relying on her self-reference criterion, which is an unconscious reference to her own cultural values and beliefs when interpreting other cultures. She sees her own way of doing business as the "right" way and expects others to do the same, which leads to misunderstandings and a lack of cultural sensitivity.

Jackie Is Often Surprised When She Goes to Other Countries