UNCERTAINTY AVOIDANCEThe extent to which the culture feels threatened by ambiguous, uncertain situations and tries to avoid them by establishing more structure.

Relaxed, less stressHard work is not a virtue per seemotions not shownconflict and competition seen as fair PlayAcceptance of dissentFlexibilityLess need for rules

Low Uncertainty Avoidance

Traits of Uncertainty Avoidance

High Uncertainty Avoidance

Low Uncertainity Avoidance

social norms conservatism, law and order

openness to change, innovation

xenophobic tolerance of diversity

express emotions supress emotions

politics / legal system

weak interest in politics high interest in politics

citizen protest repressed citizen protest accepted

more and specific laws and regulations

fewer and general laws and regulations

religion Catholic, Islam, Judaism, Shintoism

Protestant, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism

aggressively fundamentalist

little persecution for beliefs

Ritualized / ceremonial Avoid ritualization and ceremony

school teachers have all answers

teachers may say

structured learning open-ended learning

family traditional gender roles fewer gender roles

children taught world is hostile

children taught world is benevolent

Countries of Low Uncertainty Avoidance

Arab Countries MoroccoEcuadorGermanyThailandBangladesh

PHILIPPINES

661-7-11-28

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Referenceshttp://www.andrews.edu/~tidwell/bsad560/HofstedeUncertainityAvoidance.htmlhttp://www.laits.utexas.edu/orkelm/kelmpub/uncertainty.pdfLudwig, M., & Koester, J., (2006). Intercultural Competence : Interpersonal Communication Across Cultures. Boston: Pearson A and B.Martin, J. (2007). Intercultural communication in contexts. Boston: McGraw - Hill Companies.

Referenceshttp://www.andrews.edu/~tidwell/bsad560/HofstedeUncertainityAvoidance.htmlhttp://www.laits.utexas.edu/orkelm/kelmpub/uncertainty.pdfLudwig, M., & Koester, J., (2006). Intercultural Competence : Interpersonal Communication Across Cultures. Boston: Pearson A and B.Martin, J. (2007). Intercultural communication in contexts. Boston: McGraw - Hill Companies.