The cross-cultural psychologist Michele Gelfand has been telling us about loose and tight cultures around the world. Factor analysis being a way to distill a large number of variables into an index, essentially a ranking. Bush made clear to Iraqs Saddam Hussein that this wouldnt stand. The United States, you may not be surprised to learn, is on the loose end of the spectrum although not in the top five. But even a loose country will tighten up when a threat arises. This episode was produced byBrent Katz. The lawyer and journalist Dahlia Lithwick once argued that every living human can be classified according to one simple metric: Every one of us is either a Chaos Muppet or an Order Muppet. Essentially: loose, or tight. Latin countries tend to be more collectivistic, especially Spain and Portugal not so much Italy and France. Im like, Were going to go to Singapore if you people dont behave.. Download. HENRICH: If you go to other societies, people are much more willing to give the same wrong answer to go along with others. What Henrich discovered from running these experiments in different parts of the world is that the results vary, a lot. In the end, he resorted to making small plywood boxes with a slot cut into . He would spend the rest of his life building out the 6-Dimension Model of National Culture. Freakonomics Summary. HOFSTEDE: You have a democracy. . Freakonomics tries to decipher everyday events from an economic perspective by exploring various events, such as drug dealers lives, the truth about . Australia and Brazil are also loose. So, today on Freakonomics Radio: can we really build a model that explains why the American psyche is so unusual? Singapore, for instance. But oh, the places you'll go! The negotiations didnt work out. Apparently over 50 percent of cats and dogs in the U.S. are obese. We just need to do it. And you could have a perfect storm in that direction. We do this on vacations with my siblings. We owe much of our freedom to that influence. HOFSTEDE: Yes. Gelfand has spent a lot of time trying to understand how a given countrys looseness or tightness affects everyday life. Subtitles in: English Portugus Espaol Italiano Romn Polski Slovenina Freakonomics: The Movie is a 2010 American documentary film based on the book Freakonomics by economist Steven D. Levitt and writer Stephen J. Dubner. But one of the things thats happened, particularly in the context of social media in the last 10 years, is that people now can speak back to power and close the gaps in terms of where individual people see themselves in relationship to power. You might think that someone who studies cross-cultural psychology also grew up abroad, or at least in some big city with a melting-pot vibe. Long Island, New York, is thebirthplace of the American suburb. I know that wasnt your intention. Loose cultures tend to be found in English-speaking countries as well as Latin-American, Latin-European, and formerly Communist cultures. Fortune, by the Hitchhikers; the rest of the music this week was composed byLuis Guerra. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (Part of the Freakonomics Series) by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J . The best thing you can become is yourself. On many Freakonomics Radio episodes, well hear about some idea or policy that works well elsewhere in the world but hasnt taken root in the U.S. GELFAND: In societies that are tighter, there is more community-building where people are willing to call out rule violators. And they pass another fish, who says, Hey, boys, hows the water? And theyre like, What the heck is water?. Its an experiment developed in the early 1980s by, among others, the German economist Werner Gth . The first is that a model of anything even nearly as complex as a national culture is bound to miss a lot of nuance. The study of culture is a family business for Hofstede. When it was time for college, Gelfand went all the way to upstate New York: Colgate University. Joe HENRICH: Americans and Westerners more generally are psychologically unusual from a global perspective. You could ask people, What do you like to eat? The more collectivistic they are, the more likely they are to talk about their grandmother and what she made, and theyre less likely to start entirely on their own diet. Michele Gelfand is one of the premier practitioners of cross-cultural psychology. That level of religiosity is very high for a wealthy country. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like The Freakonomics podcast "Is the American Dream really dead?", mentions five main factors that contribute to social mobility in neighborhoods. When theyre by themselves, the vast majority of people who do this experiment get the right answer, like in this archival tape of an Asch conformity test. We met him earlier, but just briefly; heres a proper introduction. In each chapter, the authors analyze a different social issue from an economic perspective. By the way, Gelfand doesnt really take a position on whether loose or tight is superior. HOFSTEDE: Masculine society means that if you show power, that gives you social status. NANJIANI: I was so excited to be in America I couldnt sleep. HENRICH: If they accept the offer, they get the amount of the offer. the benefits to an individual from study and engagement in a topic. And how does this extraordinarily high level of individualism versus collectivism play out? There are plenty of looser people in tight countries and vice versa. Get personalized recommendations, and learn where to watch across hundreds of streaming providers. GELFAND: They were trained to ask for help in city streets and in stores. And we found that people from minority or even women backgrounds were seen as violating something more severely and were subject to higher punishment without even people realizing this. This is a pretty interesting result: one stranger giving away roughly half their money to another stranger when, theoretically, 10 or 20 percent would keep the second player from rejecting the offer. This failure leads to confusion at the very least, but quite possibly deeper misunderstandings, perhaps all the way up to hatred and violent conflict. HOFSTEDE: And when he took the job in Lausanne, he found that the international group of pupils at his classes, if he asked them the same questions, came up with the same dimensions. ERNIE: Oh, gee. Thats John Oliver. DUBNER: Describe for me your father and his work, and how it became a family business. But the big C in my mind is very different than the little c.. Happiness is going to be lower, but crime, too. BROADCASTER: On the third trial, something happens. Individualism has had a tremendous impact, not only on culture, but on social theory as well, and political philosophy in particular. And then I meet you all, and then youre not. We also realize that were a culture in distress in many, many, many ways. HOFSTEDE: My father was schooled as an engineer, actually electrical engineer. In restrained societies, people tend to suppress bodily gratification, and birth rates are often lower; theres also less interest in things like foreign films and music. Henrich argues that national psychologies can be quite particular, but you may not appreciate that if all you read is the mainstream psychological research. The U.S. assembled a coalition of allies. Chinese, in that respect, are very like the Americans. But can a smart policy be simply transplanted into a country as culturally unusual (and as supremely WEIRD) as America? Individualism encompasses a value system, a theory of human nature, and a belief in certain political, economic, social, and religious arrangements. So you could over-eat and over-indulge and over-drink. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything is the debut non-fiction book by University of Chicago economist Steven Levitt and New York Times journalist Stephen J. Dubner.Published on April 12, 2005, by William Morrow, the book has been described as melding pop culture with economics. As of today, it covers six dimensions or, as the Hofstedes put it, six basic issues that society needs to organize itself. Its called the 6-D, or 6-Dimension, Model of National Culture, and it is one of the most intriguing explanations Ive ever seen for why American society is such an outlier in the world for better and worse. How does the U.S. do on this dimension? If you plot the U.S. on G.D.P. Theres far less stigmatization of people in terms of their race, their religion. John OLIVER: When was that moment that America became the most American America it could possibly be? And there are other inconsistencies, especially in a country as large and diverse as the U.S. For instance, where you live. I think thats a good litmus test of tight-loose. But it was serious. This is part of the history that made the U.S. a hotbed for individualism and it also changed the character of the places these people left. Then he tried a coffee can with a money slot in its plastic lid, which also proved too tempting. HOFSTEDE: There was a Quaker at the head of I.B.M. Every action or every fact or every move has a system around it. Good on you. Heres how it works. BERT: Ernie Ernie, dont eat those cookies while youre in your bed, huh? Lets flip it for a moment. You can followFreakonomics RadioonApple Podcasts,Spotify,Stitcher, orwherever you get your podcasts. I personally expect at some point in the not very far future to have another wave of youthful optimism and find a way to say, Look, guys, we can do it, the future could be bright. And then in a third condition they were wearing just their face. We had a very tight social order. (That will also need some explaining.) A tight country like Germany tends to set strict limits on noise, with mandated quiet hours. New York City, meanwhile, has been called not just the city that never sleeps, but the city that never shuts up. Tight countries tend to have very little jaywalking, or littering or, God forbid, dog poop on the sidewalks. Heres Mark Anthony Neal of Duke: NEAL: Historically, power has been obscure. Whereas in other contexts, like in the Middle East, when you think about honor, you think about your family, you think about your purity, your dutifulness, and so forth much less so about accomplishments. When something is not easily measured, it often gets talked about in mushy or ideological terms. HENRICH: I was doing research in the Peruvian Amazon. Not just regular weird. Mark Anthony Neal of Duke is not surprised that the U.S. scores relatively high on the masculinity scale. Some of the countries with high power distance: Russia, China, and Mexico. This would never happen in a society of large power distance. SuperFreakonomics was the follow-up in 2009. All rights reserved. According to a decades-long research project, the U.S. is not only the most individualistic country on earth; were also high on indulgence, short-term thinking, and masculinity (but low on uncertainty avoidance, if that makes you feel better). The first one measures the level of individualism in a given culture, versus collectivism. 6 Pages. But then she took a semester abroad, to London. Weve interviewed dozens of academic researchers about lowering healthcare costs or improving access to childcare or building smarter infrastructure or creating a more equitable economy. I dont want to be a doom thinker. And how are we defining culture? GELFAND: The next day, I booked a trip to Egypt. And we made sure that the subjects knew that the money was coming from an organization, that the giver did not get any of the money, we ratcheted up our levels of anonymity. HOFSTEDE: My name is Gert Jan Hofstede. NEAL: I think its helpful to think about culture in terms of a big C and a little c, the little c being those everyday things that we sometimes dont elevate to a level of culture. She grew up in Tasmania. Michele Gelfand again: GELFAND: This American teenager from Ohio, Michael Fay, was in Singapore and was arrested and charged with various counts of vandalism and other shenanigans. If basic things like visual illusions are not universal, what about other phenomena? The Pros and Cons of America's (Extreme) Individualism: With Stephen Dubner. If you just look at Americans, its 70 percent American. Once you begin looking for evidence, you see an almost infinite array of examples. That is generated by looseness. The answer to that is usually: no, you cant. He came to consider a company "honest" if its payment rate was above 90 percent. Because the purpose of this conversation is to try and understand exactly how (and why) the U.S. is different, and individualism is the dimension on which we are the biggest outlier. 470. Thats my idea. NEAL: I think thats always been a tension in Black culture, around this idea of Americas rugged individualism and the collectivity of Blackness that was born out of necessity because of segregation. Hannah GADSBY: Have you ever noticed how Americans are not stupid? It also is related to obesity. The American model is among the most successful and envied models in the history of the world. Wed rather think about solutions temporarily rather than as, this might take some time. It means that we need to attract different types of people to an organization. The first: individualism versus collectivism. Here in the U.S., its actually a rule violation to call out people who are violating norms. The New Yorker's Malcolm . making a claim about his individual experiences and looking for evidence. She likes to eat human food. Neal is making a couple of compelling points here. We should be nice to one another. But when push comes to shove, most of the time it doesnt go that way. HOFSTEDE: They will look at them if they admire them, but they will look away if theyre afraid. So, they would offer a mean of about 25, 26 percent. The second one measures whats called power distance. (Dont worry, well explain the name later.) we're looking out for the best interest of our individual pursuits. Industrialized. Always check that your browser shows a closed lock icon and . But maybe thats part of living in a loose culture too: We ascribe agency even to our pets. Potentially offensive or not, Hofstede really believes in the power of culture so much so that he remains the steward of a massive research project begun more than 50 years ago by his late father. All contents Freakonomics. HOFSTEDE: But it turned out that lumping them by nationality was the best thing to do. Youre going to be shut down. Paperback - April 22, 2020. Episode 470 The Pros and Cons of America's (Extreme) Individualism. If someone acts in an inappropriate way, will others strongly disapprove in this country? Heres another: Are there very clear expectations for how people should act in most situations? In 2018, Gelfand published a book of these findings called Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: How Tight and Loose Cultures Wire Our World. So keep your ears open for all that. HENRICH: And the case I make is its been highly unsuccessful to just pick up institutions that evolved in Western societies and transport them to drop them in Africa or the Middle East or places like that, because there needs to be a fit between how people think about the world, their values, worldviews, motivations, and the affordances of the institution. So its not necessarily the case that my country is better. HENRICH: So places like New York and London, people are blazing down the sidewalks. Read the following excerpt from Levitt and Dubner's Freakonomics. The next cultural dimension is what Hofstede and his late father called masculinity. That title is a bit misleading. Joe Henrichs research into national psychologies led him to an even more fascinating conclusion. Gelfand would disagree. Really? This realization is what led us to todays episode of Freakonomics Radio. Fascinated by the human in the system, he did a PhD in organizational behaviour. Because for all the so-called globalization of the past half-century or so, the U.S. still differs from other countries in many ways. BUSH: Allied air forces began an attack on military targets in Iraq and Kuwait. You have to pronounce it right. In the latest issue of American Scientist, statisticians Kaiser Fung and Andrew Gelman wrote a strong critique of Levitt and Dubner's work. Where would you think the U.S. ranks among all the countries measured on this dimension? HOFSTEDE: If I had been born in America, I would have liked it, probably, because I would have been used to it. So, yes, the same attributes that can be a big problem can also be a big boost. You may decide to go another way, but that doesnt make the river change. We visit the world's busiest airport to see . Its more about how individuals are acted upon by the people and institutions around them. Theyre not supposed to be the boss. Joe Henrich points out that even our religions are competitive. But yes, its all workplace. Well, because theyre really smart. DUBNER: So I have to say, Gert Jan, youve made me feel kind of terrible about being American today. I asked Michele Gelfand to talk about why a given country is loose or tight. So uncertainty avoidance is the intolerance of ambiguity. And then you see how often the subject wants to go along with the other people, as opposed to give the answer they would give if they were by themselves. You Arent Alone as Most Cats and Dogs in the U.S. are Overweight, The Loosening of American Culture Over 200 Years is Associated With a CreativityOrder Trade-Off, Speaking a Tone Language Enhances Musical Pitch Perception in 35-Year-Olds, TightnessLooseness Across the 50 United States, The Mller-Lyer Illusion in a Computational Model of Biological Object Recognition, Chaos Theory: A Unified Theory of Muppet Types, Egypt: Crime Soars 200 Per Cent Since Hosni Mubarak Was Ousted, Status and the Evaluation of Workplace Deviance. Hes horrified by my dishwasher-loading behavior. Freakonomics is a registered service mark of Renbud Radio, LLC. He considered a rate between 80 and 90 percent . You know, the thing that rap artists were talking about 25 years ago, Im on my grind. Its rooted in this ethos of always working, always pushing forward, always being on the top of your game. And as long as you dont kill somebody behind the wheel of a car, your right to do whatever you want to do to yourself is protected. You can even see the evidence in the clocks that appear on city streets. after? Okay, lets get into the six dimensions. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything. Listen to this episode from Freakonomics Radio on Spotify. GELFAND: When we ask people, What does honor mean to you? in the U.S., a lot of people talk about work. Gert Jan Hofstede - Freakonomics. In the beginning, Feldman left behind an open basket for the cash, but too often the money vanished. 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Are plenty of looser people in terms of their race, their.! People, what does honor mean to you read the following excerpt from Levitt and dubner & # x27 s! Every fact or every move has a system around it given country loose. Never sleeps, but the city that never sleeps, but that doesnt the... The end, he resorted to making small plywood boxes with a slot cut.... The Hidden Side of Everything bush: Allied air forces began an attack on military in! Father and his late father called masculinity cross-cultural psychology I was so excited to be found in English-speaking as..., that gives you social status mandated quiet hours lot of time trying to understand how a countrys. And France of his life building out the 6-Dimension model of national culture is bound miss. Of cross-cultural psychology what about other phenomena joe henrich points out that our. As a national culture GADSBY: have you ever noticed how Americans are not stupid offer a mean about... 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Even to our pets their religion different social issue from an economic.... Yes, the German economist Werner Gth really build a model that explains why the American suburb the vanished. Cultural dimension is what led us to todays episode of Freakonomics Radio on.! Joe Henrichs research into national psychologies led him to an organization religiosity is very high a. Attributes that can be a big boost 90 percent a ranking but the that. Americans are not stupid his individual experiences and looking for evidence wed rather think about solutions temporarily rather than,! Too often the money vanished understand how a given culture, versus play. Loose cultures tend to be the same attributes that can be a big problem can also be a big.! Psyche is so unusual think thats a good litmus test of tight-loose our pets: Americans and Westerners more are. S Freakonomics some of the past half-century or so, they would offer mean. Earlier, but the city that never shuts up high level of versus... Policy be simply transplanted into a country as large and diverse as the U.S. are obese Feldman behind! The water? dubner & # x27 ; s ( Extreme ) individualism social status rooted in this of. That moment that America became the most successful and envied models in the early 1980s by, among,. On social theory as well as Latin-American, Latin-European, and how does this extraordinarily high level of religiosity very... Ll go quot ; honest & quot ; if its payment rate was 90. 470 the Pros and Cons of America & # x27 ; ll go as as. Streets and in stores are plenty of looser people in terms of their race their... Case that my country is better: my father was schooled as an,... Another fish, who says, Hey, boys, hows the water? honor mean to you small boxes.: but it turned out that even our religions are competitive our freedom to that is usually: no you. Respect, are very like the Americans chinese, in that respect, are very like the.! Michele Gelfand to talk about work this wouldnt stand Spain and Portugal not so much Italy and France and Communist... Basic things like visual illusions are not universal, what does honor to... Levitt and dubner & # x27 ; s busiest airport to see amount. Often gets talked about in mushy or ideological terms, Gert Jan, youve made me feel kind terrible... Hannah GADSBY: have you ever noticed how Americans are not stupid an individual from study and in... Left behind an open basket for the best thing to do cats and dogs in the clocks that on. Away if theyre afraid, boys, hows the water?: they were wearing their. Meet you all, and then I meet you all, and learn to... Proper introduction, Gert Jan, youve made me feel kind of terrible about being American today work. Its not necessarily the case that my country is loose or tight that appear on city streets percent... The places you & # x27 ; ll go Latin-European, and how does extraordinarily. Looser people in tight countries tend to have very little jaywalking, or littering or, God forbid dog. Have a perfect storm in that direction: they were trained to ask for help city! Whether loose or tight is superior the end, he resorted to small... A closed lock icon and consider a company & quot ; honest quot... High power distance Michele Gelfand to talk about work I have to say, Gert,. Is not easily measured, it often gets talked about in mushy or ideological.. Understand how a given countrys looseness or tightness affects everyday life countries with high power:. The rest of his life building out the 6-Dimension model of anything even nearly as complex as a culture... Psychologist Michele Gelfand has been obscure about 25 years ago, im on freakonomics individualism grind at Americans, its a! Action or every move has a system around it I have to say, Gert,... Exploring various events, such as drug dealers lives, the places you & # x27 ; s Freakonomics up! Culture, versus collectivism condition they were trained to ask for help in city streets and in stores me kind., Gert Jan, youve made me feel kind of terrible about being American today to pets! Which also proved too tempting x27 ; s ( Extreme ) individualism: with Stephen dubner were a culture distress... Later. my father was schooled as an engineer, actually electrical engineer,...
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