Let’s start with a fun question: If you had to describe yourself as a stereotype of your country, what would you say?
For me, it would probably be something like: “I’m German, punctual, obsessed with rules, wear a dirndl and eat sauerkraut and potatoes every day.”
This is of course an exaggerated caricature, but it illustrates an important point: culture not only shapes how others perceive us, but also how we see ourselves – and how we see others and the world.
What is culture?
Culture is the shared set of beliefs, values, traditions and behaviors that shape the daily lives of a group of people. It forms naturally when people come together with a common purpose.
Victoria Wilson writes in her article “Cultural Lens: How Our Environment Shapes Our Perspectives”:
“Culture creates a sense of belonging and security within the group. We demonstrate it through celebrations, rituals and traditions that show it is the way it is.”
Belonging is one of our most basic human needs, and culture fulfills this need by providing a framework for identity and understanding. Therefore, we accept the cultural lens for the purpose of belonging.
What is a cultural lens?
A cultural lens is the filter through which we view the world. It is shaped by:
- Beliefs and values: How we define right and wrong, success and failure, individual and collective responsibility.
- Traditions: Celebrations, rituals and customs that are passed down from generation to generation and give structure and meaning to life.
- Language: According to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, language influences thinking. Western languages, for example, emphasize precision, while indigenous languages often describe relationships and connections. For example, some languages lack certain temporal terms, which affects how their speakers perceive time, places and events.
- Religious influences: Faith often shapes perceptions of morality and meaning.
- Perception of time:
- Monochronic cultures: value punctuality and schedules e.g. Germany 😉
- Polychronic cultures: Relationships take precedence over rigid time management
- Emotions and behavior: Some cultures value emotional restraint while others encourage open expression.
- Interaction with nature: Indigenous cultures often view humans as part of nature, while industrialized cultures may view them as a resource.
Why it is important to understand your own cultural perspective:
1. Promotes empathy and understanding: realizing that others see the world differently promotes mutual respect.
2. Prevents conflicts: Awareness of cultural differences can reduce tensions and misunderstandings in different communities and societies.
3. Promotes intercultural competence: In a globalized world, the ability to deal with cultural differences is an essential and valuable skill.
How to become aware of your cultural lens:
- Reflect on your own culture: ask yourself questions like „What environment did I grow up in? Which language(s) did I speak? How have languages influenced my thinking? What values, traditions or behaviors were expected of me? How do I perceive myself? How do I perceive others? How are my decisions influenced by my cultural lens?“
- Understand your values and beliefs: Recognize which values are shaped by your culture.
- Allow yourself to be irritated and experience a culture shock: this takes you out of your comfort zone, opens you up to new perspectives and promotes empathy towards immigrants.
- Be curious: If you are confronted with something unfamiliar, approach it with a childlike sense of wonder. Ask “Why?” instead of judging.
- Engage with other cultures: participate in multicultural events (online or offline) and socialize with people from other cultures. Have an open, curious and respectful conversation. Travel and immerse yourself in local customs. For example, move abroad, stay at a locals places instead of a hotel or volunteer in another country – it can be a transformative experience.
Examples: How culture influences perception
Let’s do a little experiment: look at the picture for 5 seconds and try to remember what you saw.
The Michigan Fish Test
Research shows that culture has a major influence on how we perceive the world: Americans often describe objects in isolation, while Asians pay more attention to surroundings and interactions.
Why is there a difference? Japanese culture, which focuses on the collective, promotes a heightened awareness of group dynamics and context. In contrast, the individualistic culture of the US emphasizes personal autonomy, which leads to different perceptual habits.
Simon Barthelmé writes about this in his article “Culture and Perception” studies by Nisbett and Miyamoto (2005):
- They argue that cultural background shapes visual perception. Americans, for example, tend to focus analytically on certain details, while Asians have a more holistic view.
- People from different cultures can therefore observe the same scene, but interpret it differently due to their cultural background.
Let’s do another experiment: which line is longer?
The Müller-Lyer illusion
The Müller-Lyer illusion (lines that appear longer or shorter due to additional visual elements) shows how cultural imprinting influences perception. Studies from 1966 show:
- The Müller-Lyer illusion is strongest in people from Western cultures, where straight lines and angular shapes dominate the built environment.
- It is virtually absent for San bushmen and less pronounced in many non-Western groups where these geometric patterns are absent.
The cultural background not only influences what we focus on, but also determines how our brain processes visual stimuli, leading to different interpretations of the same reality.
What can you do to broaden your perspective?
- Travel or live abroad: immerse yourself in another culture to question your own beliefs.
- Practice active listening: Engage in conversations with people from different backgrounds.
- Write down your observations: Reflect on moments when you have felt surprised or uncomfortable due to cultural differences.
- Think about some of the following aspects that affect your cultural perspective: Education and upbringing, values, traditions, worldview, gender roles, health and illnesses, money (how do you perceive rich/poor people?), romantic relationships.
Summary
Culture shapes every aspect of our lives – from the way we see the world to the way we interact with it. By understanding our own cultural perspective and recognizing the diversity of others, we can foster empathy, reduce prejudice and enrich our perspectives.
Remember: culture is not static. It evolves over time, influenced by socio-economic factors, language and lived experiences.
I therefore invite you to be continuously curious, ask questions, reflect and engage in new experiences.