Comments on: Chinese and Americans See Things Differently

By: Frank

Frank — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 19:38:11 +0000

I’m an Asian American who works in the Chinese community everyday. I have yet to see any evidence that eye contact is less valued in our culture.

“This is also a tangent, but I find that if you don’t look at some people when you talk, they think you are lying or hiding something.”

It’s unfortunate that you get misunderstood for that, but I think that reaction is normal in both cultures. It’s one of those universal signs you pick up when learning to read body language.

By: Lily

Lily — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 03:16:35 +0000

This is also a tangent, but I find that if you don’t look at some people when you talk, they think you are lying or hiding something. Really, I just happened to be looking down or away.

By: Lily

Lily — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 03:12:19 +0000

I’m not sure I’m a fan of National Geographic either, in general. I’ve seen another article about that research, but I don’t remember where.

By: Jesse!

Jesse! — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:59:22 +0000

There are a million flaws to this study. Most of which were already pointed out (esp. by Darkmoon), but here’s my list:

1) it’s a psychological study. Frankly, they know shit about studying culture.

2) it was reported by National Geographic, magazine of exoticism and African boobies.

3) huge generalizations here. I love how subtly Chinese is transposed with “East Asian” and vice/versa… all look the same!

4) when I was in China, people stare… a LOT.

5) As a trained anthropology nut, I always look at context.

Just sayin’

By: Akrypti

Akrypti — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 04:11:26 +0000

I grew up in a really Westernized household (I hesitate to say “American” because there were strong European elements) in a predominantly white Catholic/Episcopalian small-town middle American community. However, almost every guy I\’ve ever dated has been an Asian raised in, like, Chinatown or Flushing or an all-Asian community where all their friends growing up were Asian and spoke one Asian language or another at home. Since I did not have that privilege, there is actually a cultural clash that goes on.

I remember with one guy in particular, I’d always have to say, “Look at me when I’m talking to you!” And he’d say in all earnestness, “I’m listening! If I stare at you, then I can’t concentrate as well on what you’re saying!” I wouldn’t have a clue what he meant by that. This article clarifies the situation a bit.

By: Xxxtine

Xxxtine — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 05:37:36 +0000

I used to not look people in the eye when talking to them because for some reason, I thought it was rude to stare in such a fashion – it also felt slightly awkward for me … until someone actually looked me in the eye and held my gaze while talking to me. Granted he was selling hats, but I\’ll never forget the genuine warmth that radiated from him.

I don\’t think it\’s an Asian vs. American thing more so than how one\’s brain functions and processes information. As they said, cultural differences are only speculation. There are many different factors also – like how many of those polled drive cars/ ride bikes? ratio of male to female. Also where are these students from?

In any case, according the article they say it most likely an effect of Western Individualism vs Confucianism – \”Hey look there\’s a tiger!\” vs. \”Why is a tiger there?\”

By: Mike Lee

Mike Lee — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 05:29:54 +0000

Ooo, interesting article! And good excuse for not staring at people! Though, you know, not staring at someone isn\’t really the same as being aware of the context of the discussion – unless you\’re talking about the place you\’re sitting in.

By: Robert

Robert — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 23:21:52 +0000

I took it a different way in that having an \”Asian\” mentality gives one the ability to view the entire situation whereas having the American mentality causes one to focus only on one aspect.

By: darkmoon

darkmoon — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 17:36:26 +0000

Going to have to talk to Ernie about the comment posting. Killed my comments before. In any case, while this fits the argument somewhat, I think there\’s a lot more to it than Asians looking around, and Americans focusing on the person.

For one, it\’s rude in western culture not to have eye contact. The other is that being introverted or extroverted, and how you you participate in social environments is key. To quantify that Asians look around and Americans focus on the person? I\’m not sure that\’s entirely true. I had friends that never looked at you direct and it was because they were shy. And they were Caucasian.

Just my two cents, but I think this experiment was in a control state a bit too much.

By: Lily

Lily — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 17:22:15 +0000

okay, another, better way to say that- if you are Asian + American, it’s your choice. Looking around? It’s cause I’m Asian. Staring you down? It’s cause I’m American!