Discuss the role of one or more cultural dimensions on human behaviour.

Refer to the paper 1 section B assessment criteria when awarding marks.

The command term “discuss” requires candidates to offer a considered review of the role of
one or more cultural dimensions on human behaviour.

Cultural dimensions include, but are not limited to:

• power distance: the way people perceive power differences and how they react to
  power relations
• individualism versus collectivism: how much people define themselves apart from their group memberships
• masculinity versus femininity: differences between “masculine” and “feminine” cultures
• uncertainty avoidance: society’s tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity
• long-term versus short-term orientation (Confucian dynamism): time perspective in a society for the gratification of people’s needs
• monochronous versus polychronous time orientation: another form of time perspective in which punctuality, deadlines, and future orientation affect behaviour.

It is important that candidates make a link between cultural dimension(s) and human behaviour, demonstrating how the selected cultural dimensions affect human behaviour. For example, when discussing the role of individualism and collectivism, responses may address human behaviour such as conformity, attribution, compliance or depression. When discussing the role of masculinity and femininity, responses may refer to gender roles, competitiveness, materialism or human relationships. When discussing the role of Confucian dynamism, responses may refer to how it affects management leadership, creative behaviour, identification with workplace, perseverance, and/or respect for tradition.

If a candidate addresses one or more cultural dimensions but does not explicitly link any of these to human behaviour, the response should be awarded up to a maximum of [5] for criterion A, knowledge and comprehension, up to a maximum of [3] for criterion B , critical thinking, and up to a maximum of [2] for criterion C, organization.

Discussion may include but is not limited to:

• methodological and ethical issues
• empirical evidence
• application of the findings
• alternative explanations.

Candidates may discuss one cultural dimension in order to demonstrate depth of knowledge, or may discuss a larger number of cultural dimensions in order to demonstrate breadth of knowledge. Both approaches are equally acceptable.