Summary
Highlights
Uncertainty avoidance refers to the degree to which members of a society try to avoid risky and uncertain situations. Societies with high uncertainty avoidance prefer fixed regulations and organizational structures to minimize risk, while those with weaker uncertainty avoidance are more likely to accept and welcome uncertainty.
Uncertainty avoidance influences the perception of expected behavior at specific ages. For example, Japanese preschool children have freedom to express emotions but are expected to conform to school regulations later, while American society has stricter rules at preschool but more freedom in higher education.
Short-term oriented societies value freedom, achievement, self-care, and analytical thinking, focusing on present results. Long-term oriented cultures prioritize learning, adaptiveness, self-discipline, and thinking about the abstract future, often investing in lifelong projects. This influences understanding of time and motivation for achievement.
Indulgence versus restraint measures social factors related to happiness and life satisfaction. Indulgent societies strive for free gratification of basic needs and desires, associated with enjoyment and pleasure. Restrained societies control gratification to save for the future. Research indicates higher indulgence in Western cultures compared to Eastern Europe and Asia.
In restrained societies, expressing personal opinions may be undesirable. Conversely, a higher degree of indulgence can signify a desire for self-expression and more active involvement in communication processes.