Читать книгу Going Abroad 2014 - Waldemar A. Pfoertsch - Страница 13

Misinterpretation can be caused by inaccurate perceptions of a person or situation that arise when what actually exists is not seen. It can be caused by inaccurate interpretation of what is seen; that is, by using my meanings to make sense out of reality. For example if a German (businessman) greets his American partner with “Mister” although they have seen each other already, the American categorizes the German as a businessman and interprets his formal behavior to mean that he does not like the American or is uninterested in developing a closer relationship because North Americans maintain formal behavior after the first few meetings only when they dislike or distrust the associates so treated. Culture strongly influences, and in many cases determines, your interpretations. Both the categories and the meanings you attach to them are based on your cultural background. Sources of cross-cultural misinterpretation include subconscious cultural “blinders”, a lack of cultural self-awareness, projected similarity, and parochialism (narrow-mindedness).