Scribd
Upload
86 views

Concept of Time 1

1) Cultures have different attitudes toward time, such as whether they view time as linear and something to control, or cyclical. 2) Some cultures are more future-oriented and value punctuality, while others are more past-oriented and flexible about schedules. 3) Factors like individualism versus collectivism and doing one task at a time versus multitasking also influence a culture's perception of time.

Uploaded by

Jela Jane Arcal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
86 views

Concept of Time 1

1) Cultures have different attitudes toward time, such as whether they view time as linear and something to control, or cyclical. 2) Some cultures are more future-oriented and value punctuality, while others are more past-oriented and flexible about schedules. 3) Factors like individualism versus collectivism and doing one task at a time versus multitasking also influence a culture's perception of time.

Uploaded by

Jela Jane Arcal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 14

Concept of Time

CAMACHO, JYSTAN MAE D.


IN DIFFERENT CULTURES
Attitudes to time may differ between different cultures
in often quite significant ways.

t is said that “time is money” in industrialized economies.


Workers are paid by the hour, lawyers charge by the minute,
and advertising is sold by the second (US$3.3 million for a 30-
second commercial, or a little over $110,000 per second, for
the 2012 Super Bowl).
TIME ORIENTATION
One way of looking at cultural attitudes to time is in
terms of time orientation, a cultural or national
preference toward past, present, or future thinking.
The time orientation of a culture affects how it values
time, and the extent to which it believes it can control
time.
1. Future-orientated cultures tend
to run their lives by the clock.
The United States is one of
the fastest-paced countries in
the world, perhaps partly due
to the fact that many
Americans are always looking
to the future, striving for the
“American Dream”.
It is a culture that values
busy-ness, which equates a
hectic and frenzied life-style
with success, status and
importance.
2. Past-orientated cultures, like that
of India, for example, are much more
laid back in the way they look at
time.
Unlike in Japan, it is not unusual
for trains in India to be several
hours, or even a full day, late,
without creating undue stress
and tumoil.
AN EXAMPLE OF HOW JAPANESE
PERCEIVES TIME

THE IMAGE OF JAPANESE RAILWAY


OFFICIALS BOWING TO
PASSENGERS TO APOLOGISE FOR
THE LATE RUNNING OF THEIR
TRAIN SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE
OF THE JAPANESE PLACE ON TIME.
Chronemics

Chronemics is the study of the use of time, and


the way that time is perceived and valued by
individuals and cultures, particularly as regards
non-verbal communication. These time
perceptions include things like punctuality,
willingness to wait, approaches to face-to-face
interactions, and reactions to time pressure.
grity of the home.
Different cultures may be considered to be:

Monochronic
where things are typically done one at a time
where time is segmented into precise, small units
where time is scheduled, arranged and managed.
Time is the given and people are the variable.
The needs of people are adjusted to suit the demands
of time schedules, deadlines, etc.
Time is quantifiable, and a limited amount of it is
available.
People do one thing at a time and finish it before
starting something else, regardless of circumstances.
Polychronic

where several things can be done at once, and a


more fluid approach is taken to scheduling time.
Time is the servant and tool of people.
Time is adjusted to suit the needs of people.
More time is always available, and you are never
too busy.
People often have to do several things
simultaneously, as required by circumstances.
It’s not necessary to finish one thing before
starting another, nor to finish your business with
one person before starting with another.
02

Such cultures tend to be less focused on the precise accounting of each and
every moment, and much more steeped in tradition and relationships rather
than in tasksMany Latin American, African, Asian and Arab cultures fall into
this category, especially countries like Mexico, Pakistan, India, rural China,
the Philippines, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Variably Monochronic – a group of “in between” countries, including


Russia, Southern Europe and much of East-Central Europe are sometimes
referred to as variably monochronic cultures.
Chinese, Korean and Japanese
The Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, like most
Asians, “walk around the pool” in order to make
well- considered decisions, but they also have a
keen sense of the value of time. This can be
noticed especially in their attitude toward taking
up other people’s time, for which they frequently
apologize. At the end of a meeting, it is
customary to thank the participants for
contributing their valuable time. Punctuality on
arrival is also considered important more so than
in many other Asian countries.
Multi-Active Time
The more things they can do at the same
time, the happier and the more fulfilled
they feel. They organize their time (and
lives) in an entirely different way from
Americans, Germans and the Swiss.
Spaniards, Italians and Arabs will ignore
the passing of time if it means that
conversations will be left unfinished. For
them, completing a human transaction is
the best way they can invest their time.
Multi-Active Time
The more things they can do at the same
time, the happier and the more fulfilled
they feel. They organize their time (and
lives) in an entirely different way from
Americans, Germans and the Swiss.
Spaniards, Italians and Arabs will ignore
the passing of time if it means that
conversations will be left unfinished. For
them, completing a human transaction is
the best way they can invest their time.
Cyclic Time

In these cultures, time is viewed neither as linear nor event–


relationship related, but as cyclic.
Each day the sun rises and sets, the seasons follow one another,
the heavenly bodies revolve around us, people grow old and die,
but their children reconstitute the process. Cyclical time is not a
scarce commodity. There seems always to be an unlimited supply
of it just around the next bend. As they say in the East, when God
made time, He made plenty of it.

You might also like