New cultural experience

Documenting your stereotypes and expectations: Below are some questions to consider before
undertaking your new cultural experience. This list is certainly not comprehensive, but it may help you
start to think about your stereotypes and expectations.

A. Your stereotypes about the target group:

How will the target group look and dress (e.g. gender, age, ethnicity, clothing)?
How will they act and speak (e.g. common gestures, a shared language)?
As a group, what common interests, hobbies, habits, experiences, or skills do they share?
How will their cultural values, attitudes and norms be similar or different to yours?

B. Expectations about the experience and interaction:

What will the venue/location be like (e.g. appearance, smell, size, importance to the culture)?
How will the target group interact with you (e.g. body language, words, tone of voice, topics of
conversation)?
What do you expect to occur during the experience (e.g. activities, situations)?
How will you feel/act/react at these times? How will the target group feel/act/react?
What activities or situations are likely to make you feel comfortable or uncomfortable?
What activities or situations are likely to make the target group feel comfortable or uncomfortable?

C. Other considerations:
What cues or signs will help you recognise whether you are experiencing any of the cognitive
responses we discussed during class (e.g. attribution errors, cognitive dissonance, stereotyping)?
What cues or signs will help you to recognise whether you are categorised by them as an in- or out-
group member?
Which components of contact theory are likely (or unlikely) to be present? To what extent might
you have some control of these, if desired, to make the contact more favourable?
What behaviours should you enact or avoid in order to demonstrate cultural intelligence?
How will you know if your behaviour is (culturally) appropriate?
What will you say if someone asks why you are there? (NB: If in doubt, it is best to be honest)

NB: Please avoid experiences or situations in which you feel too uncomfortable (physically or psychologically).

Universal Pictures

Managing in international contexts (21717): Dr Anthony Fee