Use Hofstede's 6 Dimensions of Culture to Better Understand People

Using this tool helps me avoid social mistakes in my travels

If you want to really understand people from other cultures, there are 6 things you need to know. These are called Hofstede's 6 dimensions of culture, and they can help explain some of the key differences between people from different cultures.

Geert Hofstede was a Dutch researcher who did groundbreaking work on understanding cultural differences. He identified 6 key dimensions that help to explain how people from different cultures think and act. When he was working for IBM, he used these dimensions to help train employees who were going to be working in other countries.

Please note that this is just a tool developed by many years of research and that it cannot 100% describe a culture and the people that belong that that culture. It is just a model to help you get a feeling of what you can do better in your relations with people from other cultures.

I use it when I travel to other countries to meet people so that I know the dos and don`ts of interacting with them.

Each culture is unique and precious with the gifts and beauties it shares with the rest of the world. The world becomes a better place when our differences are lived as the richness of genuine human potential.

The 6 Dimensions

1. Power Distance: This dimension measures how much power is unequal within a culture. In cultures with high power distance, there is a big difference between those with power and those without. In cultures with low power distance, there is more equality between people.

2. Individualism vs. Collectivism: This dimension measures how much people focus on themselves versus their group. In individualistic cultures, people are more independent and self-focused. In collectivist cultures, people are more interdependent and group-focused.

3. Masculinity vs. Femininity: This dimension measures how much a culture values traditional masculine or feminine traits. In masculine cultures, traits like assertiveness and competition are valued. In feminine cultures, traits like cooperation and empathy are valued.

4. Uncertainty Avoidance: This dimension measures how much a culture tolerates uncertainty and ambiguity. In cultures with high uncertainty avoidance, people prefer structure and clarity. In cultures with low uncertainty avoidance, people are more comfortable with change and ambiguity.

5. Long-Term vs. Short-Term Orientation: This dimension measures how much a culture values long-term versus short-term goals. In cultures with a long-term orientation, people are more likely to save and invest for the future. In cultures with a short-term orientation, people are more focused on the present and immediate gratification.

6. Indulgence vs. Restraint: This dimension measures how much a culture indulges in or restrains from pleasure. In indulgent cultures, people are more likely to enjoy life's pleasures. In restrained cultures, people are more likely to restrain themselves from pleasurable activities.

Understanding these 6 dimensions of culture can help you better understand and appreciate people from other cultures.

How to use the 6 dimensions to get to know others from different cultures

1. Use Power Distance to understand how people from other cultures view power. In high power distance cultures, people may be more likely to defer to those in authority. In low power distance cultures, people may be more likely to challenge authority.
2. Use Individualism vs. Collectivism to understand how people from other cultures view the individual. In individualistic cultures, people are more likely to see the individual as independent and self-sufficient. In collectivist cultures, people are more likely to see the individual as part of a group and interdependent on others.
3. Use Masculinity vs. Femininity to understand how people from other cultures view gender roles. In masculine cultures, traditional gender roles are more likely to be valued. In feminine cultures, more equality between genders is more likely to be valued.
4. Use Uncertainty Avoidance to understand how people from other cultures deal with uncertainty. In high uncertainty avoidance cultures, people may be more likely to prefer structure and clarity. In low uncertainty avoidance cultures, people may be more comfortable with change and ambiguity.
5. Use Long-Term vs. Short-Term Orientation to understand how people from other cultures view time. In long-term orientation cultures, people are more likely to focus on long-term goals and planning. In short-term orientation cultures, people are more likely to focus on the present and immediate gratification.
6. Use Indulgence vs. Restraint to understand how people from other cultures view pleasure. In indulgent cultures, people are more likely to enjoy life's pleasures. In restrained cultures, people are more likely to restrain themselves from pleasurable activities.

What are the don'ts of these 6 dimensions?

1. Don't assume that everyone from a certain culture is the same. Just because someone is from a culture with high power distance doesn't mean they automatically defer to authority.
2. Don't make assumptions about gender roles. Just because someone is from a culture with high masculinity doesn't mean they don't believe in equality between genders.
3. Don't assume that all people from collectivist cultures are the same. Just because someone is from a collectivist culture doesn't mean they don't value individualism.
4. Don't assume that all people from high uncertainty avoidance cultures are the same. Just because someone is from a culture with high uncertainty avoidance doesn't mean they don't like change and ambiguity.
5. Don't assume that all people from long-term orientation cultures are the same. Just because someone is from a culture with a long-term orientation doesn't mean they don't focus on the present.
6. Don't assume that all people from indulgent cultures are the same. Just because someone is from an indulgent culture doesn't mean they don't restrain themselves from pleasurable activities.

Practical application

How do American, German, French, Indian, and Chinese cultures differ in each of these 6 cultural dimensions?

I will only use two of the dimensions above and will let you do further work with the rest. You may use the online tool to compare at most 4 different cultures.

Power Distance

Americans have a relatively low power distance. This means that people are more likely to challenge authority and expect equality between those in positions of power and those who are not.

Germans have a moderate power distance. This means that people are more likely to defer to authority, but they also expect some degree of equality between those in positions of power and those who are not.

French have a high power distance. This means that people are more likely to defer to authority and expect a greater degree of inequality between those in positions of power and those who are not.

Indians have a very high power distance. This means that people are highly deferential to authority and expect a great deal of inequality between those in positions of power and those who are not.

Chinese have a high power distance. This means that people are more likely to defer to authority and expect a greater degree of inequality between those in positions of power and those who are not.

Individualism vs. Collectivism

Americans have a relatively high individualism score. This means that people are more likely to value individual achievement and independence.

Germans have a moderate individualism score. This means that people are still mostly focused on the collective, but they also value individual achievement and independence to some degree.

French have a low collectivism score. This means that people are more likely to focus on the collective good rather than individual achievement.

Indians have a low collectivism score. This means that people are more likely to focus on the collective good rather than individual achievement.

Chinese have a very high collectivism score. This means that people are highly focused on the collective good and view individuals as being subordinate to the group.

Learning to see the beauty in the diversity of others will help you leave your comfort zone and think differently.