A little on High Context and Low Context Cultures

 

Hi friends, today we will take a look at high context and low context cultures. The United States has always been a mix of cultures from all over the world. High context and low context are as we shall see are broad categories. Keep in mind there have been entire books written on this subject so the idea of this post is just to give a brief introduction, some examples and hopefully peak your interest a little. These are important concepts to understand as our world grows smaller through economics and technology. Knowing more about culture can help us avoid misunderstandings, make for better communications and reduce conflict. Full disclosure, I grew up and live in the United States. This is considered a low context culture. So I'm more familiar with it and understand it better. I don't think anyone can say one is objectively better than the other. They are just different.What is meant by context anyway?

 Context, as I understand it, means setting and relationships. Are you in a formal business meeting, hanging out with friends in the park or at home with loved ones? Who are you with? Your grandmother, a colleague at work, your study group from school or a close friend you've known for years- all have different expectations. This is especially true in a high context culture where settings, relationships and expectations matter deeply.

 High context cultures strive for harmony, unwritten understanding and place the needs of the group over the needs of the individual. What does this look like? Communications are less direct and often depend less on words alone. Along with the situation you are in (family setting, business meeting, a place of worship, etc.) facial expressions and body language also play important roles. They are often subtle and can easily be missed by those unfamiliar with the culture. Silence is seen as peaceful and not disagreeable. The idea of time may also be more flexible. Here in the US, 10:00 a.m. means exactly that. While in a more high context culture time is less exact, rather than 10:00 a.m., it's just morning.   Things move slower. Low context culture is different.

 In our western low context culture, words are the main way of communicating. We are more direct and value efficiency more than group harmony. Subtlety and common understandings are still there but play less of a role. Sure, I may make 10th grade fart jokes with a friend I've known for a long time but not with my boss! We also put the needs of the individual above the needs of the group. On the surface this may sound bad but it also gives us a lot of individual freedom, freedom to disagree for example. We are also free to fail. Right or wrong, we blame lack of success on the individual. The same is true for those who are successful. This gives space for overlooking larger more systemic problems. Cultures also evolve.

Culture can change along with us to meet the new needs and challenges of a given society. The culture of the United States has changed tremendously over our 250 year history. It will continue to evolve and grow along with changing technological and economic realities. The clock does not go backwards. Be mindful of those who want to return to some bygone golden age. Rather, embrace a future where flexibility, better understanding and reverence for all thrive.

More reading...

Now here's a Taboo Topic, Death

 

Death is a topic we avoid at all costs. We tend to use any number of euphemisms to try and tread lately around the topic. Here are a few of my favorites;  he expired (like a magazine subscription- thank you George Carlin), he transitioned (like changing from a solid to a gas? This one is still kind of cool).We even use euphemisms for our pets, fluffy has crossed the Rainbow Bridge. There are many more; she has moved on to the next world, and for the cruelest deah of all, suicide, so and so has unsubscribed from life. I am sure you have heard many more. Euphemistic language can be a coping mechanism for difficult situations and times. I'm not saying death is an easy topic, clearly it is not easy. However, I think it would be helpful if we put a little more thought into death and the dying process.

Death is a part of life. Dr. David Suzuki once said and I'll paraphrase here, it is our biological duty to die. We need to make room for the next generation and return to the Earth from where we all came. Our minds understand death on an intellectual level but cannot quite accept the idea of nothing. So we invented “the afterlife.” Reincarnation, going to heaven or hell, or hanging out here as a ghost haunting run down and abandoned places. Surely after a while scaring vagrances and urban explorers would get boring after a while. Maybe it's something more akin to a video game, where we “level up?” I have learned to be comfortable with the words “I don't know.”

There is no scientific evidence for a soul or something similar. So-called near death experiences can be explained via biological processes. Our minds create the world around us and I see no reason they cannot create a pleasant dying experience with bright lights, long dead pets and loved ones. Nonetheless, it's fun to entertain ideas of what comes next.  My rational mind says I'll return to wherever I spent the last 13 and 1/2 billion years in this universe. The more whimsical part of my mind tells me  we are only just beginning to understand reality. I think Don Rumsfeld would put it this way, “There are still many more unknown unknowns than known knowns.” A bartender once told me we humans don't even know the right questions to ask yet. I think he has a point. It's hard to imagine what we will learn if we don't destroy ourselves. Instead of our knee-jerk reaction of fear, maybe we should take a more curious approach.

Let's lose our fear around the topic of death. In addition to all the biological, religious and spiritual questions, let's also add in the things we can control. Here we get to the reason I posted this on a conflict resolution blog. I can think of almost no better way to create conflict than not discussing what you want to happen after you are gone. Your family and other loved ones can quickly find themselves in turmoil arguing over everything from  burial versus cremation to who gets your stuff and even your legacy. These conflicts can root apart families for years if not decades. That's why it's so important to talk about what happens after you are gone. My dad wanted a keg party instead of a funeral. He made this widely known among family and friends. Those he left behind made it happen. 

I think it is better to be curious than afraid. Being clear with those around you about what you want as well as what happens to your stuff can go a long way to avoiding divisive and long-lasting family disputes. A good practice is to have these conversations every so often  to keep up with your changing views and expectations. Create a Will and update your Hospital DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) documentation as you see fit. Avoiding these issues  will only put them on your loved ones at the worst possible time. Be open about your wishes as you prepare to find out what, if anything, comes next.

Readings 7.5.2026

 

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