How Culture Shapes our Perception of Reality: An Introduction to Culture Cognition
Do you think that what you see, hear or experience is objective reality? Well, it’s not entirely accurate. Our perception of reality is significantly influenced by our culture. Culture cognition helps us understand how our cultural backgrounds shape our thought processes. This article explores how culture shapes our perception of reality and delves deeper into the concept of culture cognition.
What is Culture Cognition?
Culture cognition refers to the relationship between culture and our cognitive processes. Our culture shapes the way we perceive, think, and interact with the world around us. The culture we grow up in significantly influences how we view the world, our beliefs, values, and attitudes. Culture cognition started as a subfield of social psychology, but now it has become an essential branch of cultural studies.
Cultural Differences in Perception
Cultural differences in perception are evident in many aspects, such as language, visual perception, and interpretation of facial expressions. For example, in an experiment conducted by Richard Nisbett and his team, it was found that Westerners focus on objects in their surroundings, whereas Asians tend to pay more attention to the context. Thus, Westerners are more likely to overlook details that do not seem relevant, while Asians are more likely to acknowledge the broader context in which the objects are situated.
Another study found that English speakers could recognize differences between shades of blue more effectively than other languages, while Amazonian languages were more effective in detecting subtle differences in green compared to English. These studies highlight how language and culture shape our perception of the world around us.
Culture and Social Norms
Culture influences our social norms- the unwritten rules that govern our behavior. These unwritten rules are often different for each culture. For example, in some cultures, it is customary to bow as a greeting, while in others, it is customary to shake hands. These cultural norms play an essential role in shaping our actions, attitudes and understanding of the world around us.
Culture and Language
Our language reflects our cultural background, and it shapes our perception of the world. For example, in some languages, there are different words for different types of snow, while others have fewer terms for snow. This difference in language influences how speakers of each language perceive snow. Similarly, different languages require different levels of specificity when describing objects in the world. For instance, some languages may require more precise descriptions of color than others.
Takeaways
Culture cognition helps us understand how our cultural background shapes our perception of the world. Cultural differences in perception, social norms, and language are some of the aspects that shape our perception of the world. Acknowledging these cultural differences can help us to understand the perspectives of others better and build more inclusive communities.
In conclusion, our perception of reality is greatly influenced by our culture. Cultural cognition provides us with a framework to understand how culture shapes our thought processes. By considering cultural differences, we can improve our communication and understanding of the cultural backgrounds of others. Cultivating a culturally aware mindset can be a first step towards building more inclusive and respectful communities.
