logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2022
20m 20s

67. What Is Normal? How Culture Affects ...

Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart
About this episode

Why do we drive on only one side of the road? Why don’t we sing in libraries? Why wear a swimsuit?

For Professor Michele Gelfand, it all comes down to culture. As a cross-cultural psychologist, Gelfand is fascinated by social environments and their effects on human behavior, particularly, how strictly people adhere to social norms.

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Gelfand joins host and lecturer of strategic communications Matt Abrahams to explain why some cultures are “tight” and “have strict social norms,” while others are “loose,” with “more permissibility of behavior.”


Connect:


Episode Reference Links:

Up next
Aug 21
224. Make Your Messages Epic: The Evolution of Words and the Stories They Carry
Why modern communication still relies on ancient words and narratives.All communication and connection depend on one thing: language. That’s why Laura Spinney says understanding language — where it comes from and how it evolves over time — can help us use it more effectively.“Lan ... Show More
23m 29s
Aug 19
223. Laughing Matters: Levity, Leadership, and Lasting Connection
By lightening up your communication, you can build serious connections.Humor in communication isn’t all fun and games. According to Alison Wood Brooks and Naomi Bagdonas, levity is one of the most serious tools we have in building successful connections.Wood Brooks and Bagdonas, ... Show More
23m 41s
Aug 12
222. Discussing Through Discomfort: Why the Conversations You Avoid Cost You the Most
Some conversations are uncomfortable, but avoiding them comes with a cost.You want a more successful career, a more fulfilling relationship, a more meaningful life? What if all that’s standing in your way — are the conversations that you’re avoiding?“Most things that we want in l ... Show More
24m 31s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2023
Cultural Appropriation
What do Gwen Stefani, Iggy Azalea, and Camille Monet have in common? They are all blonde women who are probably guilty of cultural appropriation. In episode 73 of Overthink, Ellie and David tackle cultural appropriation, starting with the kerfuffle over Claude Monet’s painting La ... Show More
59m 21s
Aug 2019
Workplace Culture Conflicts
Are you at odds with your company’s culture? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Alicia Tillman, the CMO of SAP. They talk through what to do when your company celebrates one kind of worker and ignores others, everyone seems to fit in but you, or a hard-charging ... Show More
30m 51s
Jan 2024
Culture Differences...British vs Spanish
Embark on a cultural journey with Caroline Stanbury and Sergio Carrallo as they delve deep into the differences that bring them closer together in this captivating podcast. From diverse backgrounds, they explore the rich tapestry of their individual cultures, weaving a narrative ... Show More
37m 39s
Oct 2023
L'exception culturelle française
En 1993, à l’occasion des négociations sur le GATTE, l’accord général sur les tarifs douaniers et le commerce mondial, s’est posée la question d’inclure les produits culturels dans le champ du libre-échange des biens et services. Naturellement, cela a soulevé une opposition de l’ ... Show More
31m 50s
Dec 2019
Episode 6 - If You Don't Like The Culture, Don't Buy It
Do you ever feel like the world, the country, your neighborhood and even your workplace, are all going in a cultural direction that you don’t always feel comfortable with? What do you do? How do you buck the trend? How do you go against the tide and stand up without the fear of b ... Show More
51m 2s
Dec 2019
Social Interactions - Comfort, Messaging and Life Enjoyment
In this episode, we discuss our favourite topic - Social Interaction - from the lenses of (1) comfort, (2) etiquettes of messaging and (3) the pinnacle of the human condition. We wonder about the value of a minimalist messaging policy, and try and figure out why we find it easier ... Show More
48m 33s
Mar 2022
75. ALOK: How do we interrupt trauma? How do we heal?
1. How do we make a new thing with our life?2. What is your fingerprint on the world?3. Who does history try to erase and why?4. What does pain do to our bodies?5 .What is our capacity for transformation? About ALOK:ALOK (they/them) is an internationally acclaimed writer, perform ... Show More
40m 21s
Mar 2024
Why we should question everything | Michael Della Rocca on radical philosophy
Is standard philosophy too conservative, overly relying on common sense? Can rationality and reason actually lead us to mysticism? Looking for a link we mentioned? It's here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesJoin philosopher Michael Della Rocca as he defends his radical int ... Show More
16m 29s
Mar 2022
74. ALOK: What makes us beautiful? What makes us free?
“The days that I feel most beautiful are the days that I am most afraid.”“What feminine part of yourself did you have to destroy in order to survive in this world?”“Why have we been taught to fear the very things that can set us free?” About ALOK: ALOK (they/them) is an internati ... Show More
1h 5m
Mar 2019
Why do we like to be correct?
In this pilot episode of Not Overthinking, we discuss our reasons for starting the podcast, and then have a chat about why we feel the urge to be correct in everyday conversation. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/p ... Show More
40m 1s