WHAT IS “NORMAL”?

Respond to each of the following 10 items by indicating the extent to which

you would find such a behavior or custom “quite ordinary” or “quite
strange.” Use the scale below to indicate your responses. Write a comment
about your response after each item. Why did you respond the way you did?

Quite Ordinary Ordinary Neutral Strange Quite

Strange
1 2 3 4 5

Rating:
Comment:
Gut-level reaction:
1. A man wearing a skirt. _____

Gut-level reaction:
2. Eating meals without utensils. _____

Gut-level reaction:
3. A family taking a communal bath. _____

Gut-level reaction:
4. Haggling over the price of a T-shirt in a department store. _____

Gut-level reaction:
5. Slurping your soup loudly in a restaurant. _____

Gut-level reaction:
6. Sticking out your tongue to say, “Hello.” _____

Gut-level reaction:
7. Giving a nice, tasteful clock as a housewarming gift. _____

Gut-level reaction:
8. Bringing an item with a company logo as a nice _____
souvenir for your host.

Gut-level reaction:
9. I greet you by saying, “I salute the godlike qualities _____
within you.”

Gut-level reaction:
10. Seeing someone walking while eating at the same time. _____

Source: Adapted from Ron Lustig & Jolene Koester (2003). Intercultural
Competence (4th ed). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

PDA: PUBLIC DISPLAY OF AFFECTION?

Sophia is from a large, full-blooded Italian family where everybody kisses

and hugs each other each time people enter the house. It is no big deal for
her. However, she has been dating a Korean guy named Lee. Lee and Sophia
are compatible, get along great, and are getting serious about each other. It
took about nine months for Sophia to introduce him to her entire family.

Coming to the house for a barbeque, Sophia’s family bombarded Lee with
kisses and hugs from everyone, including five uncles. Lee was very taken
aback by these gestures and appeared rude when he did not return the kisses
and hugs. Instead, he stood awkwardly, like a bump on a log, and did not
move the entire night. Sophia was surprised by his reaction. She warned him
about her affectionate family but his behavior was making her look bad,
especially when her sister, mother, and brother asked if there was something
“wrong” with Lee.

The following week, Lee invited Sophia over to his house to meet his
parents. Upon arrival, Sophia started to kiss his mother on the cheek when
Lee pulled her back and bowed to his mom. His parents did not offer a
handshake at all. They smiled very slightly to Sophia and asked her if she
wanted some tea. She said, "no," since she had just finished sipping her Diet
Coke. Lee's parents excused themselves and went back to their bedroom.
Sophia was visibly upset by this “cold” reaction. What happened in this
critical incident?
 1. A man wearing a skirt is “normal” in Sri Lanka and Scotland.
2. Eating meals without utensils is “normal” in the Philippines and
Morocco (and in the U.S. for millions fast-food customers!)
3. A family taking a communal bath is “normal” in Japan.
4. Haggling over the price of a T-shirt in a department store is
“normal” in Iran and China, among other cultures.
5. Slurping your soup loudly in a restaurant is “normal” in Korea and
China.
6. Sticking out your tongue to say, “Hello,” is a “normal” traditional
greeting in Tibet.
7. Giving a clock as a housewarming gift is “normal” in many
cultures, but definitely not normal in China, where giving a
clock would have the connotation of death!
8. Bringing an item with a company logo as a nice souvenir for your
host is “normal” in many cultures, but not normal in France.
9. Greeting someone by saying, “I salute the godlike qualities within
you,” is “normal” in Nepal and India.
10. Walking while eating food is “normal” in the U.S., but not normal
in many cultures such as Sweden and Japan, where it would make them
feel uncomfortable--meals are eaten sitting down, not “on the run.”
 NAME: ___________________________________

INTERACTIVE PROBES FOR “PUBLIC DISPLAY OF

AFFECTION?”
(Ask yourself and probe your classmates)

1. Using the concepts in Unit 5, how would you explain Lee’s awkward
reaction in Sophia's house?

2. How would you analyze Sophia's treatment by Lee's parents?

3. Have you or your friends had similar "culture-bump" experiences that

created nonverbal awkward moments or interactions?

4. If you have done some overseas or cross-country travel, do you have any
interesting nonverbal stories to share with a classmate? Think of an example
in which nonverbal gestures actually helped you in your travel. Think of
another example in which nonverbal behaviors actually created intercultural
misunderstandings.
Let’s apply some concepts from Unit 5 to the scenario:

1. With regard to haptics, to what kind of family does Sophia belong?

*a. High contact (Remember that haptics refers to touch.)
b. Low contact
c. Monochronic
d. Polychronic

2. With regard to haptics, to what kind of family does Lee belong?

a. High contact
*b. Low contact (Remember that haptics refers to touch.)
c. Monochronic
d. Polychronic

Let’s apply some concepts from Chapter 7 to this scenario:

3. What types of verbal styles are used by Lee’s parents?

*a. High context and formal (In this high-context and formal family,
Sophia’s direct refusal of an offer of tea may have indicated more than
Sophia intended.)
b. High context and informal
c. Low context and formal
d. Low-context and informal

4. What type of verbal style is used by Sophia’s family?

a. Formal
*b. Informal