Uncertainty avoidance
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Uncertainty avoidance is a cultural index derived by Dutch sociologist Geert Hofstede. It measures a nation's preference for strict laws and regulations over ambiguity and risk. According the Hofstede's research. Greece is the most risk-averse culture, and Singapore the least.
Protestant and Chinese culture countries rank relatively low; Catholic, Buddhist, and Arabic countries tend to score high in uncertainty avoidance. Ironically, high uncertainty avoidance cultures tend to have a less efficient infrastructure than low uncertainty avoidance cultures.
Some characteristics of a low uncertainty avoidance culture:
- Typically the country is newer or more recently settled (but not always, as in the case of China).
- The population tends to be ethnically diverse.
- Risk is valued in business (i.e. U.S.A.)
- Frequent innovations.
- Citizens are proud of nation.
- Foreigners or minorities are encouraged to assimilate.
- Examples: U.S.A., Singapore, Jamaica, Ireland, Sweden, China
Some characteristics of a culture high in uncertainty avoidance:
- Generally older countries/cultures with a long history.
- The population is more ethnically homogeneous.
- Risk is avoided in business (i.e. Germany)
- Low tolerance for innovation, prefer to stick to traditional routines.
- Citizens are often critical of their own nation.
- People tend to be more superstitious.
- Smoking is more common.
- Higher maximum speed limits and a higher rate of motor vehicle accidents.
- Xenophobia is common and foreigners/minorities tend to be ostracized.
- Examples: Greece, Portugal, Japan, Israel, Spain, Latin America
Given the characteristics known to be associated with uncertainty avoiding societies, this dimension could also be conceptualized more broadly as "cultural paranoia" versus "cultural trust."
[edit] See also
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| This page uses content from the English-language version of Wikipedia. The original article was at Uncertainty avoidance. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Psychology Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License. |
