To begin to assess where your own culture falls on the scale, ask yourself the question, “If someone in my culture disagrees strongly with my idea, does that suggest they are disapproving of me or just of the idea?” In more confrontational cultures, it seems quite natural to attack someone’s opinion without attacking that person. In avoid-confrontation societies, these two things are tightly interconnected (If you attack my idea, I feel you are attacking me also).

In many avoid-confrontation cultures, it may be possible to disagree openly with a peer, but disagreeing with a boss, superior, or elder is taboo.

When placing a culture on the Disagreeing scale, don’t be fooled by how emotionally people express themselves. Instead, focus on whether an open disagreement is likely to have a negative impact on a relationship. Yes the French are emotional expressive and are openly confrontational but, the Arabic cultures are also emotional expressive it may even appear as if they are fighting when they speak loudly and move their bodies expressively. But when it comes to disagreeing they are a avoid confrontation society.

Bridging the Gap