Case1Inthiscase,thereseemedtobeprobIemsincommunicatingwithpeopleofdifferentculturesinspiteoftheeffortsmadetoachieveunderstanding.在这种情况下，尽管人们努力去理解，但在与不同文化背景的人交流时似乎出现了问题。WeshouldknowthatinEgyptasinmanycultures,thehumanreIationshipisvaIuedsohighIythatitisnotexpressedinanobjectiveandimpersonaIway.WhileAmericanscertainlyvaIuehumanreIationships,theyaremoreIikeIytospeakoftheminIesspersonaI.moreobjectiveterms.我们应该知道，在埃及，就像在许多文化中一样，人际关系被看得如此重要，以至于无法以客观和非个人的方式表达出来。虽然美国人的确重视人际关系，但他们更倾向于用不那么个人化、更客观的方式来谈论人际关系。Inthiscase,Richard'smistakemightbethathechosetopraisethefooditseIfratherthanthetotaIeveningrforwhichthefoodwassimplythesettingorexcuse.Forhishostandhostessitv/asasifhehadattendedanartexhibitandcompIimeritedtheartistbysaying,—WhatbeautifuIframesyourpicturesarein.在这种情况下，理查德的错误可能是他选择赞美食物本身，而不是整个晚上，因为食物只是设置或借口。对他的主人和女主人来说，这就好像他参加了一个艺术展，并恭维那位艺术家说：“你的画的画框多漂亮啊!”InJapanthesituationmaybemorecompIicated.JapanesepeoplevaIueorderandharmonyamongpersonsinagroup,andthattheorganizationitself—beitafamiIyoravastcorporation—ismorevaIuedthanthecharacteristicsofanyparticuIarmember.Incontrast,AmericansstressindividuaIityasavaIueandareapttoassertindividuaIdifferencesv/hentheyseemjustifiablyinconfIictwiththegoaIsorvaluesofthegroup.在日本，情况可能更为复杂。日本人重视群体中人与人之间的秩序与和谐，而组织本身一一无论是家庭还是大型企业一一比任何特定成员的特点更受重视。相反，美国人强调个性作为一种价值，当他们与群体的目标或价值观有合理的冲突时，他们倾向于主张个体差异。Inthiscase:Richard'smistakewasinmakinggreateffortstodefendhimseIf.LettheothersassumethattheerrorswerenotintentionaI.butitisnotrighttodefendyourseIf,evenwhenyourunstatedintentistoassistthegroupbywarningothersofsimilarmistakes.Asimpleapologyandacceptanceoftheblamewouldhavebeenappropriate.ButforpoorRichardtohavemereIyapologizedwouIdhaveseemedtohimtobesubservient,unmanIy.在这种情况下:理查德的错误在于努力为自己辩护。让其他人认为这些错误不是故意的，但是为自己辩护是不对的，即使你没有说明的意图是通过警告其他人类似的错误来帮助团队。一个简单的道歉和接受指责是适当的。但是对可怜的理查德来说，仅仅是道歉，在他看来就是卑躬屈膝，没有男子气概。WhenitcomestoEngland,weexpectfewerproblemsbetweenAmericansandEnglishmenthanbetweenAmericansandaImostanyothergroup.说到英国，我们认为美国人和英国人之间的问题比美国人和几乎任何其他民族之间的问题都要少。InthiscasewemightIookbeyondthegestureoftakingsugarorcreamtothevaluesexpressedinthisgesture:forAmericans,—Helpyourself;fortheEnglishcounterpart.—Bemyguest.AmericanandEnglishpeopleequaIIyenjoyentertainingandbeingentertainedbuttheydiffersomewhatinthevaIueofthedistinetion.TypicaIIy,theideaIguestatanAmericanpartyisonewho—makeshimselfathome,eventothepointofansweringthedoororfixinghisowndrink.Forpersonsinmanyothersocieties,includingatleastthishypotheticaIEnglishhost,suchguestbehaviorispresumptuousorrude.在这种情况下，我们可能会把目光从吃糖或奶油的手势转移到这个手势所表达的价值观上:对美国人来说，请自便;对于英国人来说，-请便。美国人和英国人同样喜欢娱乐和被娱乐，但他们在区别的价值上有所不同。一般来说，美国人聚会上最理想的客人是那些把自己当成自己家的人，甚至到了开门或自己准备饮料的地步。对于许多其他社会...