Cultural Awareness Training by

SGTM TES / Mil Div /
SGTM 5 BSGTM 5 B
Attitudes & BehaviourAttitudes & Behaviour
““Cultural Awareness”Cultural Awareness”

Structure of PresentationStructure of Presentation
What is Culture?What is Culture?
Understanding Cultural differencesUnderstanding Cultural differences
Dealing with Cultural differencesDealing with Cultural differences
Case studiesCase studies

CultureCulture
A shared system ofA shared system of
meanings,meanings,
beliefs,beliefs,
valuesvalues
behavioursbehaviours
through which experience isthrough which experience is
interpreted and carried outinterpreted and carried out

Culture Is ..Culture Is ..
RelativeRelative
LearnedLearned
CollectiveCollective
Changes over timeChanges over time
Complex responsive processComplex responsive process

Forces Shaping IndividualForces Shaping Individual
CultureCulture
Personal
Culture
Values
World-views
Beliefs
Behaviours
Urbanization
Migration
Minority
Experience
Cross-
cultural
Adjustments
Profession
Gender Language
Education
Industrialization
Social
background
Ethnic
background
Religion
Nationalism Colonisation

Dangers!Dangers!
StereotypesStereotypes
PrejudicePrejudice
Ethno-centric perspectivesEthno-centric perspectives

Culture – In Peace OperationsCulture – In Peace Operations
Civilians –Civilians –
CiviliansCivilians
(International)(International)
InternationalInternational
actors Localactors Local
communitiescommunities
CULTURECULTURE
Military – MilitaryMilitary – Military
(International)(International)
Military – CiviliansMilitary – Civilians
(Organizational)(Organizational)
LocalLocal
CommunitiesCommunities

Understanding CulturalUnderstanding Cultural
differencesdifferences
Eating habitsEating habits
Asia - chop sticksAsia - chop sticks
Europe - knife and forkEurope - knife and fork
Clean right hand in someClean right hand in some
countriescountries
Common plateCommon plate

BeefBeef
PorkPork
HorseHorse
““Everything that moves”Everything that moves”

Pork not eaten by Muslims forPork not eaten by Muslims for
religious reasonsreligious reasons
Christians keep horses, dogsChristians keep horses, dogs
and cats as petsand cats as pets
Fish is neutralFish is neutral

ReligionReligion
Religion – an important place inReligion – an important place in
many societiesmany societies
Knowledge of religion of hostKnowledge of religion of host
nation very importantnation very important
Respect religious beliefsRespect religious beliefs

Family and GenderFamily and Gender
Elders are highly respected inElders are highly respected in
some culturessome cultures
Understand family tiesUnderstand family ties
Different gender beliefs andDifferent gender beliefs and
viewsviews

CommunicationCommunication
Language is culture specificLanguage is culture specific
Avoid use of idiomaticAvoid use of idiomatic
expressionsexpressions
HumourHumour

Body LanguageBody Language
Gesture/body language haveGesture/body language have
different meaningsdifferent meanings
Smile will never be misunderstoodSmile will never be misunderstood
Polite handshake is accepted in mostPolite handshake is accepted in most
culturescultures

Dress CodeDress Code
Depends on culture, customs,Depends on culture, customs,
traditions and climatetraditions and climate
Adapt to local customsAdapt to local customs

TrafficTraffic
Peacekeeper die in trafficPeacekeeper die in traffic
accidentsaccidents
Different traffic conditionsDifferent traffic conditions
Respect local traffic lawsRespect local traffic laws
Adapt to local conditionsAdapt to local conditions

TimeTime
People have different concept ofPeople have different concept of
timetime
Need to understandNeed to understand
““You have the clock, we have theYou have the clock, we have the
time”time”

Building Cultural AwarenessBuilding Cultural Awareness
Understand your own cultureUnderstand your own culture
Understand and accept logic ofUnderstand and accept logic of
other cultural frameworksother cultural frameworks
Cultural differences as uniqueCultural differences as unique
and creative problem-solvingand creative problem-solving
opportunityopportunity

Host Country’s CultureHost Country’s Culture
Knowledge of history, culture,Knowledge of history, culture,
customs and traditionscustoms and traditions
Background for the conflictBackground for the conflict
Expectations from “Blue Berets”Expectations from “Blue Berets”

Cultural ShockCultural Shock
Unfamiliar:Unfamiliar:
– LanguageLanguage
– ClimateClimate
– CurrencyCurrency
– Road signsRoad signs
– ColleaguesColleagues
Adaptation processAdaptation process

The Adaptation StagesThe Adaptation Stages
HoneymoonHoneymoon
Initial confrontationInitial confrontation
Adjustment crisisAdjustment crisis
RecoveryRecovery

STAGESTAGE SITUATIONSITUATION APPROACHAPPROACH REACTIONREACTION
HoneymoonHoneymoon
First excitingFirst exciting
contact withcontact with
new culturenew culture
ObserveObserve
Excitement;Excitement;
Curiosity;Curiosity;
SlightSlight
concernconcern
InitialInitial
confrontationconfrontation
First intensiveFirst intensive
feeling withfeeling with
new culturenew culture
SolveSolve
problems inproblems in
familiar waysfamiliar ways
Confusion;Confusion;
MystifiedMystified
about;about;
OthersOthers
behaviourbehaviour

STAGESTAGE SITUATIONSITUATION APPROACHAPPROACH REACTIONREACTION
AdjustmentAdjustment
crisiscrisis
ProblemsProblems
intensifyintensify
ExperimentationExperimentation
with newwith new
behavioursbehaviours
Frustration;Frustration;
Anger;Anger;
ConfusionConfusion
aboutabout
RecoveryRecovery
Sense ofSense of
belonging tobelonging to
cultureculture
emergesemerges
NewNew
strategies tostrategies to
help onehelp one
functionfunction
effectivelyeffectively
New culture isNew culture is
understandableunderstandable
;;
Enjoying manyEnjoying many
aspect of itaspect of it

Maintaining Good RelationsMaintaining Good Relations
Between military and civilianBetween military and civilian
With other military contingentsWith other military contingents
Team workTeam work

Cultural AwarenessCultural Awareness
““If you areIf you are
HumbleHumble
RespectfulRespectful
FriendlyFriendly
you will always be fine”you will always be fine”

Case StudiesCase Studies
The market placeThe market place
The toilet experienceThe toilet experience
To walk hand in handTo walk hand in hand
Movement control at the airportMovement control at the airport
The giftThe gift

SummarySummary
Cultural awareness is increased byCultural awareness is increased by
giving you the most commongiving you the most common
examplesexamples
This is the first step to handleThis is the first step to handle
cultural differences positively, avoidcultural differences positively, avoid
conflicts due to misperception and toconflicts due to misperception and to
make you interact positively withmake you interact positively with
host cultureshost cultures

SummarySummary
Closely related to “Code ofClosely related to “Code of
Conduct”, where you get writtenConduct”, where you get written
rules.rules.
In culture you may find few writtenIn culture you may find few written
rules, but make sure, you know andrules, but make sure, you know and
obey themobey them

Questions ?Questions ?

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