In most discussions of cultural diversity, attention has focused on visible, explicit aspects of culture, such
language, dress, food, religion, music, and social rituals. Although they are important, these visible expressions
of culture, which are taught deliberately and learned consciously, are only the tip of the iceberg or culture.
Much of culture is taught and learned implicitly, or outside awareness. Thus, neither cultural insiders nor
cultural outsiders are aware that certain "invisible" aspects of their culture exist.
Invisible elements of culture are important to us. For example, how long we can be late before being impolite,
what topics we should avoid in a conversation, how we show interest or attention through listening behavior,
what we consider beautiful or ugly. These are all aspects of culture that we learn and use without being aware of
it. When we meet other people whose invisible cultural assumptions differ from those we have learned
implicitly, we usually do not recognize their behavior as cultural in origin.
Differences in invisible culture can cause problems in cross-cultural relations. Conflicts may arise when we are
unable to recognize others’ behavioral differences as cultural rather than personal. We tend to misinterpret other
people's behavior, blame them, or judge their intentions or competence without realizing that we are
experiencing cultural rather than individual differences.Formal organizations and institutions, such as schools, hospitals, workplaces, governments, and the legal system
are collection sites for invisible cultural differences. If the differences were more visible, we might have less
misunderstanding. For example, if we met a man in a courthouse who was wearing exotic clothes, speaking a
language other than ours, and carrying food that looked strange, we would not assume that we understood his
thoughts and feelings or that he understood ours. Yet when such a man is dressed similarly to us, speaks our
language, and does not differ from us in other obvious ways, we may fail to recognize the invisible cultural
differences between us. As a result, mutual misunderstanding may arise.
The author implies that institutions such as school and workplaces _______.
A. are aware of cultural differences
B. teach their employees about cultural differences
C. reinforce invisible cultural differences
D. Share a common culture
