Select a page
With our focus on clinical and technological inventions in reaction to COVID-19, there is a wonderful lack of cultural innovation during this period. We believe that culture is stagnant, but the fact is that as we evolve to deal with the demanding situations of life, the COVID-19 era presents an opportunity to examine the flexibility and adaptability of cultures due to external differences in pandemic reactions, both governmental and social, which allows us to ask ourselves: is there a link between the strength of a country’s trust in its government and the acceptance force of its society as true in other citizens?More importantly, how do these cultural attitudes and relationships have an effect on a country’s reaction and perspective to the pandemic?
Research into how other societies respond to pandemics has shown that countries with a sometimes collectivist framework have a faster and more effective reaction, as their citizens are more likely to adjust to social estating and hygiene practices that reduce the spread of assistance, while individualistic countries respond less. . Subsequently,the media noted that America’s highly individualistic culture was the main explanation for why they had the highest instances of COVID-19 in the world. However, research into the dimensions of intersocial acceptance as true between citizens and between citizens and government leaders shows that aligning these two types of cultures with some reaction to COVID-19 is much more dynamic, while some societies are responding to COVID-19 by strengthening classical cultural norms, other countries are converting their social fabrics for greater control of having an effect on the virus.
Individualism versus collectivism: how mood affects social relationships
The company’s reactions to government action opposed to COVID-19 largely have existing culture. “People create the societies in which they live. . . Each country wants to locate a new type of layout safely, “Jody Tangredi, an expert in intercultural relations at the University of the Pacific, told HPR. The way we’ve known the differences between other people is how their attitudes toward regulations are. Adherence to society’s rules and regulations has an effect on the group’s team spirit, known as collectivism, which is directly similar to what other people think of their government.
“There are countries and cultures that don’t like regulations. . . The government cares only to a certain extent, but “those who settle for more regulations and regulations and have a tendency to stick to the design of their society are what other people call narrow cultures,” Tangredi added. Basically, the fact that societies have an individualistic or collectivist worldview influences the extent to which government participation is established. This is reflected in the dating of a culture with the current regime and determines its technique to the COVID-19 era.
Socially individualistic cultures that reject intervention
Some countries around the world inspire attitudes of rejection of state interference, so citizens tend to have an individualistic global vision to feel largely confident on their one-off social networks, although societies in those states find solace in others in the Ante COVID-19, they are critical and not easy with their governments. Laeticia Allache ’24, a Harvard University student with roots in the French family circle, testified about France’s unified social scene emphasizing engagement with the circle of family and friends. described an individualistic culture where, even in the days of COVID-19, Americans prioritized the circle of family ties and socialization, despite government advice; he also painted a culture of high standards, either in terms of the quality of his food or the government. Policies.
Earlier this year, the yellow vest motion reflected what Laeticia called a revolutionary and militant culture that did not hesitate to take political action. “The relationship between other people and the government [is] one in which other people in France are much less afraid to call for radical change,” he said. In addition to this dating, France has been delayed in responding to the outbreak and is not prepared once it has done so. Despite recent attempts at the public image, the political and electoral downfalls of President Macron and his party are testament to society’s discontent. Given the fear of French society for its ability to continue maintaining social media and its pre-existing hostile appointments to the government, Macron’s growing unpopularity in France, that is, with regard to his government’s reaction to COVID-19, is not surprising. According to a study by the Institut Pasteur, this lack of confidence made it more difficult to control the pandemic, which in turn fueled discontent.
There is some other race of individualistic societies: a society whose Americans distrust others and their government the COVID-19 crisis as a “crucible” of ethnic differences, socioeconomic class, race, etc. it is a varied and fragmented country with a specific ideology that tends to distance others from each other and move away from authority figures. “If you think about how America was created, it was actually rebelling. “Tangredi explained, on a very different basis of “independence and individual rights”, from control companies. In fact, Hofstede Insights notes that America is the world’s highest socially individualistic culture, probably because of the determined coding of those attitudes. through the Constitution.
Emphasizing this ideological root, Tangredi noted that it is not unexpected that “America is in fact unique” in its reaction to COVID-19. According to a study through the Social Sciences Research Network, higher local degrees of individualism decrease compliance with state closure orders to 41% and pandemic-related fundraising to 48%. As a result, in the United States, masks, social estviation, and general caution about COVID-19 have become political statements, and fitness professionals have been discovered in While some Americans easily settle for government involvement in their lives in reaction to COVID-19, others reject it as a violation of their individual freedom , and both sides criticize each other for their reactions.
Individualistic cultures that are shaped to settle for government intervention
Germany is another country whose citizens have close ties not only to each other, but also to their government. Despite its individualistic characteristics, German society was an example of cultural flexibility at the time of COVID-19, as it remained true to the leadership of its Sandie Hanke, Microsoft’s vice president of strategic alliances at a small business in Germany, spoke to HPR about its united culture explained through regulations and structure. “We are this culture of discipline,” he said. This means that the values of life such as hard paintings, independence, overcoming and dependence on the circle of relatives are at Hanke’s heart. “I grew up in a scenario where he paints hard, does his best, complies with regulations. “
With COVID-19 threatening German society, these values of life directly influence the structured social procedure that allows Germans to accept each other as true. Hanke explained the acceptance of government procedures such as staying 1. 5 metres away, dressing up and estating society. He also described a symbol of social duty and solidarity, characteristics that correspond more strongly to a collectivist culture, among Germans in reaction to COVID-19. This hardening of social norms and expectations frames the way other Germans see their government. “I think that’s an explanation for why . . . we handled the total scenario pretty well [is] our discipline, to which we pay attention to our government,” Hanke said.
In essence, because procedure and design are essential frameworks of daily life, German citizens tend to be more susceptible to greater government regulation of their actions, which is more true than ever given the danger of the virus. in reaction to COVID-19 he also welcomed and even continued in Germany. Hanke highlighted the leadership of Markus Soder, the Prime Minister of Bavaria, because he “was very present” and presented a very clear, concise and emotionally sound political reaction – characteristics appreciated through German culture. “He was never the one who panicked,” he noted, explaining Sunder’s rise in politics by his reaction to COVID-19.
So what about the most fragmented and varied societies, which have a less coherent national composition?Individuals in these societies have found themselves at odds with each other and can therefore be strengthened through state initiatives. Sonja Johnson and his daughter Kaiya are citizens of Alberta, Canada, and are proud of their country’s “social safety net,” with features such as universal fitness care and maximum government aid, especially COVID-19. This is vital because it has created a positive belief in government among citizens, fostering Canada has also earned a reputation for embracing multiculturalism through government policies and initiatives for immigration. As a result, the government has played an active role in selling tolerant and appropriate attitudes in its society, definitively strengthening citizens’ relations.
Sonja and Kaiya represented Canada’s global diversity, calling it “a mosaic” with “focuses of other cultures. “For them, the emphasis is on accommodation than assimilation because multicultural legacies are adopted. Sonja cited the popularity of the public school system of several devoted festivals such as An Example and Kaiya spoke of the popularity of cultural events, which Sonja said are supported through government through public broadcasting in an interview with HPR. His examples illustrate the role of government in seeking to publicize tolerant attitudes among its citizens.
However, faced with the risk of COVID-19, Sonja stated that “relationships between other people are changing” because she personally experienced severe judgment while adapting to new life regulations, so she feels that accepting as true in government has Sonja described the government as a source of stability, offering daily data through briefings and assistance through payments and programs; however, this goes beyond Canada’s Prime Minister with the shift of leadership to leading provincial medical officials. While the federal government controlled aid, OMO controlled the procedural reaction in each local area, which led to a culture of multiple levels of acceptance as true that fosters team spirit even in conditions of tension.
Socially collective cultures that settle for government participation
Other societies have discovered the strength of their fellow citizens and their government, and the ERA of COVID-19 only reflects, if not amplifies, this. Members of those states are collective and have coherent attitudes that tend to conform and settle for as is the case with their government’s movements in reaction to COVID-19, Japanese citizen Miho Suzuki and Canadian Rob McLaughlin of Shizuoka, Japan, take into account that their society is strongly connected to social etiquette and unwritten social norms. a vital linguistic component of formal Japanese culture that denotes an underlying hierarchical structure, regularly discovered by age or status. Tangredi explained this facet of Japanese culture to HPR, noting “language settings to reflect who you’re talking to. “
Even in his higher education professional environment, McLaughlin sees cultural norms as “a vital component of the social fabric” that defines his interactions with his colleagues. Under pressure that “the norms of social conduct will have to be followed” because “everything is Japan-oriented organization,” and that by not adhering to it, it is basically more likely to be noted. Suzuki painted a similar image of a narrow culture, describing the importance of the ideological acquisition of the cultural principles of his childhood, such as respect for the elderly. and school success. The spirit of social equipment is fundamental to other people in Japanese culture. “It’s a culture of organization, organizationalism, I’m the organization,” McLaughlin said.
This facet of Japanese culture proved essential in its reaction to COVID-19. Masks have been used in Japan when a user gets sick, indicating a fashionable tradition of taking steps to improve or protect others. Its use has become fundamental now, that they play a key role in preventing the transmission of COVID-19. Everyone expects the other to wear a mask, because otherwise, “if I don’t wear a mask, that says it’s for me,” McLaughlin said. a sign of disrespect and, as Suzuki explained, interrupts the “wa” or concord that Japanese society values. “Japan is so targeted at others,” he added. If you don’t wear a mask, you feel under pressure from your peers. . . There will be comments, I know there will be. “
The mutually established Japanese tradition of dressing with the mask is attractive to Tangredi, as it is shown through nonverbal communication. Another attractive phenomenon that derives from the collectivist nature of Japanese society is what Suzuki calls a “culture of misfortune”, derived from the precept of “Jishuku” or self-control. A typical practice of other people who hire COVID-19 is to publicly apologize for disturbing those around them. Because COVID-19 transmission can be prevented through hygiene measures, Tangredi explained, though possibly not their fault, Americans feel a sense of shame and apologize for appearing remorse and respect for those around them.
Unlike the French, whose social unification is a force opposed to the state, Japanese culture embraces their government’s reaction to COVID-19. As a native, Suzuki is “accustomed to his way of being” and felt that the government’s occasional communication technique was appropriate. Having lived in Canada before, McLaughlin had a very different perspective. He felt that he “did not get much data or instructions from the Japanese government” and that “there was no specific position of government,” so he turned to Canadian news sites. to obtain “concissive, transparent and direct” data. He recalled how the government had addressed the public in April, emphasizing Japanese principles such as self-limitation for protection, but provided few medical recommendations or evidence data. -19 a “slow shutdown” because the government has little authority over business. For example, the government may simply “request” the closure of potential COVID hotspots such as Pachinko Parlors.
Culture as a muscle of social fabric
Ultimately, society’s responses to the responses of its governments and fellow citizens to COVID-19 are deeply influenced by classical and recently adhered cultural attitudes and expectations, which is vital to consider because social responses to COVID-19 demonstrate how culture is a muscle of social interaction that, in addition to returning to entrenched habits , is also able to adapt to new struggles and tensions. We shape our cultures both one day and another through our interactions with each other. But demanding situations like COVID-19 are putting a new tension into our cultures, and our responses to that tension can, in fact, shape our world in a difficult way. If a culture of collectivism inspires a faster and more effective COVID-19 response, as studies and empirical evidence have shown, then the governments of individualistic countries have a duty to follow in the footsteps of Canada and Germany and inspire cultural replacement in this direction.
Image credit: Gordon Johnson’s symbol is authorized through Pixabay.