When Suellen learns that her roommate will be an international student from Britain she is worried that her roommate will be stiff and reserved. She is pleased, but very surprised, when Diana turns out to be bouncy and emotional. Suellen is surprised because Diana's behaviour violates:
A) cross-cultural congruence
B) gender norms for emotionality
C) cultural display rules
D) a and c

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cultural display rules refer to the societal norms that dictate how emotions should be expressed and managed. Suellen's expectation of her British roommate being stiff and reserved is based on cultural stereotypes, which are often shaped by display rules. However, Diana's behaviour does not conform to Suellen's expectation, which implies that she violates cultural display rules. Therefore, option C is the best choice. Option A, cross-cultural congruence, refers to the degree to which a person's behaviour matches the cultural norms of a different culture, which is not relevant in this case. Option B, gender norms for emotionality, refers to the idea that women are generally expected to be more emotional than men, which is not applicable in this scenario. Option D is incorrect because it conflates two different concepts.

When Suellen Learns That Her Roommate Will Be an International