Summary

Back to: Cultural Standards

In this course section we explained and discussed the concept of Cultural Standards, mainly coined by Alexander Thomas. Approach and methodology of the recording of cultural standards have been explicated.

It has been accentuated that the aims of standards are to raise awareness of cultural differences and to improve intercultural communication. The relevance of cultural standards as orientation systems and tools for dealing with cultural realities has been underlined. Some examples gave stimulation for reflecting prevalent cultural standards.

The critical discussion on cultural standards and the differentiation of standards and stereotypes has been depicted.

Furthermore, ethnocentric and cultural relativistic approaches have been explained and defined.