We often tend to judge other cultures than our own. It is not
logically possible and proper to underestimate or overestimate or judge other
cultures by a cultural norm. Ethnocentrism general attitude to take their own
culture and way of life, the best and the center of all and also with regard to
other ethnic groups and cultures as inferior, evil, full of errors, etc. It is
tendency to add to their own cultural values apply to the assessment of the
behavior and beliefs of people raised in different cultures. It is a cultural
universal. Everywhere people think that famous statement, opinion, and habits
such as true, correct, ethical and moral. They see different behavior as
strange or wild.
Cultural relativism
Every society has its own culture, which is more or less unique. Every
culture has its own unique pattern of behavior that seem strange to people from
different cultural backgrounds. We do not understand the habits and beliefs
from the wider culture to which they belong. A culture should be examined on
its own meaning and value. Cultural relativism describes a situation where
there is an attitude of respect for cultural differences rather than judge the
culture of other people as uncivilized and backward.
Regards respect for cultural differences:
• Valuing cultural diversity;
• The acceptance and respect for other cultures;
• Try to understand the culture and the elements in terms of its own
context and logic;
• Accept that every body has adapted the inherent dignity and
importance as the way of life of a group, which was worked out in its
environment, the biological needs of its members, and the relationship with the
group;
• Knowing that the culture of a people is just one of many; and
• Recognizing that some immoral, ethical, acceptable, and others, in
one culture may not be so in other cultures.
Cultural relativism can be considered the opposite of ethnocentrism.
However, there is a problem with the argument that behavior in one culture
should not be judged by the standards of another. This is due to its extremity,
it maintains that no superior, international or universal morality.
Summing involved in the problems of ethnocentrism and cultural
relativism, concepts tough choices, dilemmas and contradictions about cultural
exchange and relations between and within societies. The dilemmas and
contradictions are evident when we see that the traditional anthropological
position maintains that all the cultural beliefs and practices, including
examples of which are designated as "harmful traditional practices"
in Ethiopia ,
is an important part of the overall cultural system of a society and therefore
they should not be judged and undermined by an outsider. otherwise challenging
conditions of extreme cultural relativism appears to lead to a misconception,
because it means that there is no universal moral culture or so should be
evaluated in action and belief. and yet, even cultural anthropologists accept
the idea that there are some cultural norms universally found everywhere, for
example reflected in the major religions of the world. In any case, there is to be no ready-made solution to the problem; But
what can we maintain today is that cultural diversity should be respected, yet
international standards of justice and human rights should be considered.
Culture Shock
Culture Shock is the psychological and social maladjustment in micro
or macro levels experienced for the first time the people of the new cultural
elements like new things, new ideas, new concepts, encounters seem strange
beliefs and practices . Nobody is protected form of culture shock. However,
people vary in their ability to adapt and overcome the effects of culture
shock. Strong ethnocentric people are widely exposed to culture shock.
Alternatively cultural relativists can easily adapt to new situations and
overcome culture shock.
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