10  Perception of Conflict

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10.1 Indirect Communication

📖 Japanese people often avoid direct confrontation and prefer to communicate indirectly to maintain harmony.

10.1.1 item 0

• belief:
  • Honne and Tatemae
• rationale:
  • Japanese society values harmony and politeness, and direct confrontation can be seen as disruptive.
• explanation:
  • Honne refers to one’s true feelings or intentions, while tatemae refers to the socially acceptable facade one presents. This distinction allows Japanese people to maintain harmony while still expressing their true thoughts indirectly.

10.1.2 item 1

• belief:
  • Saving Face
• rationale:
  • Japanese culture places great importance on preserving one’s social standing and avoiding shame.
• explanation:
  • Indirect communication helps individuals avoid putting others in a position where they lose face. By expressing criticism or disagreement in a subtle manner, Japanese people can maintain relationships and social harmony.

10.1.3 item 2

• belief:
  • Wa (Harmony)
• rationale:
  • Japanese society prioritizes collective well-being over individual desires.
• explanation:
  • Indirect communication fosters a sense of unity and cooperation. By avoiding direct conflict, Japanese people can work towards consensus and maintain a harmonious group dynamic.

10.1.4 item 3

• belief:
  • Ambiguity and Nuance
• rationale:
  • Japanese language and culture encourage subtlety and open interpretation.
• explanation:
  • Indirect communication allows for messages to be conveyed through hints, gestures, and unspoken understandings. This ambiguity gives individuals the flexibility to interpret messages based on context and relationships.

10.1.5 item 4

• belief:
  • Contextual Communication
• rationale:
  • Japanese communication heavily relies on context and shared experiences.
• explanation:
  • Indirect communication often relies on shared cultural norms and expectations. Japanese people may communicate indirectly to avoid explicitly stating something that is already understood or implied within the context of the situation.

10.2 Group Orientation

📖 Japanese society emphasizes collectivism, leading to a strong sense of belonging and prioritizing group goals over individual interests.

10.2.1 item 0

• belief:
  • Harmony is a fundamental social value.
• rationale:
  • Maintaining group harmony promotes a sense of belonging, fosters cooperation, and reduces potential conflicts.
• explanation:
  • Japanese culture emphasizes the importance of maintaining harmonious relationships within groups. People strive to avoid causing disruption or discomfort to others, prioritizing group cohesion over individual self-expression.

10.2.2 item 1

• belief:
  • The group’s needs come before individual desires.
• rationale:
  • Prioritizing group goals fosters a sense of shared purpose, strengthens collective bonds, and promotes the overall well-being of the community.
• explanation:
  • In Japan, individuals are expected to subordinate their personal interests to the needs of the larger group. This belief extends to various aspects of life, such as making decisions, setting priorities, and allocating resources.

10.2.3 item 2

• belief:
  • Consensus-building is essential for effective decision-making.
• rationale:
  • Involving everyone in the decision-making process fosters a sense of ownership, promotes trust, and ensures that diverse perspectives are considered.
• explanation:
  • Japanese decision-making often involves extensive consultations and discussions among group members. The goal is to reach a consensus that accommodates the interests and concerns of all parties involved.

10.2.4 item 3

• belief:
  • Indirect communication and non-verbal cues are important.
• rationale:
  • Being too direct can be seen as impolite or confrontational, while subtle cues allow for more nuanced and context-dependent interactions.
• explanation:
  • Japanese communication often relies on indirect language, gestures, and facial expressions to convey messages. This allows people to express themselves respectfully, maintain harmony, and avoid causing offense.

10.2.5 item 4

• belief:
  • Saving face is crucial for maintaining social status and relationships.
• rationale:
  • Preserving one’s reputation and avoiding embarrassment is essential for maintaining social standing and fostering positive relationships within the group.
• explanation:
  • Japanese culture places great importance on saving face, both for oneself and for others. People take steps to avoid situations that could lead to embarrassment or damage their reputation.

10.3 Emphasis on Harmony

📖 Preserving social harmony is paramount in Japanese culture, influencing behavior and decision-making to avoid causing disruption or embarrassment.

10.3.1 item 0

• belief:
  • Confrontation is generally seen as a negative occurrence, and should be avoided if possible.
• rationale:
  • Japanese culture values the maintenance of harmonious relationships and a peaceful social environment, and direct confrontation can disrupt that harmony.
• explanation:
  • In Japan, it is considered rude and disrespectful to engage in open conflict or express strong disagreement with others. Instead, people are expected to be polite and respectful, even when they have differing opinions.

10.3.2 item 1

• belief:
  • Indirect communication is often used to avoid causing offense or embarrassment.
• rationale:
  • Direct confrontation can cause shame or loss of face for the parties involved.
• explanation:
  • Japanese people often use indirect language and subtle hints to convey their thoughts and feelings, rather than being direct and assertive. This is done to avoid causing discomfort or embarrassment to others.

10.3.3 item 2

• belief:
  • Saving face is important for maintaining social status and relationships.
• rationale:
  • In Japanese culture, one’s social standing and reputation are highly valued.
• explanation:
  • Japanese people are very conscious of how their actions and words are perceived by others. They strive to maintain a positive reputation and avoid any behavior that could damage their social status.

10.3.4 item 3

• belief:
  • Group consensus is highly valued, and individual opinions are often suppressed in order to maintain harmony.
• rationale:
  • Japanese society places a strong emphasis on collectivism and cooperation.
• explanation:
  • In Japan, decisions are often made through consensus, where everyone’s opinions are taken into account. Individual opinions may be downplayed or suppressed if they deviate too much from the group’s view.

10.3.5 item 4

• belief:
  • Harmony and cooperation are essential for a well-functioning society, and individual needs should be sacrificed for the greater good.
• rationale:
  • Japanese culture values the well-being of the group over the needs of individuals.
• explanation:
  • Japanese people are expected to prioritize the needs of their family, community, and society as a whole, even if it means sacrificing their own personal desires or interests.

10.4 Saving Face

📖 Maintaining one’s honor and reputation is crucial, leading to a strong aversion to admitting mistakes or losing face in public.

10.4.1 item 0

• belief:
  • “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.”
• rationale:
  • Individuals who stand out or challenge the status quo may face social disapproval or ostracism.
• explanation:
  • This belief emphasizes the importance of conformity and avoiding behaviors that could bring shame upon oneself or one’s group.

10.4.2 item 1

• belief:
  • “It is better to be silent than to speak ill.”
• rationale:
  • Unkind or critical words can damage relationships and harm reputations.
• explanation:
  • This belief promotes respectful and harmonious interactions, as it discourages gossip or speaking negatively about others.

10.4.3 item 2

• belief:
  • “A broken mirror brings seven years of bad luck.”
• rationale:
  • Superstitions and beliefs in the supernatural can influence people’s perceptions and behaviors.
• explanation:
  • Such beliefs can shape decision-making and lead to certain actions or avoidances in order to prevent misfortune.

10.4.4 item 3

• belief:
  • “Saving face is more important than admitting a mistake.”
• rationale:
  • Honor and reputation are highly valued, and losing face can have severe consequences.
• explanation:
  • This belief can lead to a reluctance to apologize or acknowledge errors, as it could damage one’s social standing.

10.4.5 item 4

• belief:
  • “Group harmony is paramount.”
• rationale:
  • Maintaining social cohesion and avoiding conflict are seen as essential for the well-being of the group.
• explanation:
  • This belief fosters a sense of collectivism and cooperation, as individuals prioritize the needs of the group over their own personal interests.

10.5 Conflict Avoidance

📖 Open confrontation is generally discouraged, with a focus on finding consensus and resolving conflicts through negotiation and compromise.

10.5.1 item 0

• belief:
  • Harmony is paramount.
• rationale:
  • Japanese culture places a high value on social harmony, and open confrontation is seen as disruptive to the group.
• explanation:
  • This belief leads to a tendency to avoid direct conflict and instead focus on finding consensus and resolving conflicts through negotiation and compromise.

10.5.2 item 1

• belief:
  • Honesty is essential.
• rationale:
  • Trust is very important in Japanese culture, and honesty is seen as a key component of trust.
• explanation:
  • This belief leads to a tendency to be upfront and honest in communication, even when it may be difficult.

10.5.3 item 2

• belief:
  • Saving face is important.
• rationale:
  • In Japanese culture, it is important to avoid causing someone to lose face, and this can lead to a tendency to avoid direct confrontation.
• explanation:
  • This belief can make it difficult to have open and honest conversations about difficult topics.

10.5.4 item 3

• belief:
  • Hierarchy is important.
• rationale:
  • Japanese culture is hierarchical, with clear lines of authority and respect for elders.
• explanation:
  • This belief can lead to a tendency to avoid challenging authority figures, even when they are wrong.

10.5.5 item 4

• belief:
  • Groupthink is important.
• rationale:
  • Japanese culture values consensus and group harmony, which can lead to a tendency to suppress individual opinions.
• explanation:
  • This belief can make it difficult to make decisions that are not in line with the group’s consensus.