Nursing made Incredibly Easy12(6):6-8, November/December 2014. Some of these include: never walking in front of someone praying, the prohibition of pictures or video of people in the mosque, and the prohibition of men wearing shorts and women wearing sleeveless or short-sleeved dresses. GENDER Gender issues can be another source of conflict. (Nydell 2006, Understanding Arabs, pg. <> Arabs, like most people, use gestures and body movements to communicate. So in many of these cultures, you should take care what kind of eye contact you initiate with those who are your social superiors or who are in authority over you, so that you are not considered disrespectful or overly bold. Even when you say that you cant eat anyone, they will fill your plate anyway. In other cultures, however, silence is not viewed as a negative circumstance. Wolters Kluwer Health Saudi Arabian Communication Styles. If you want to strongly disagree and say "No" (la) lift your head up, roll your eyes upwards and make a clicking noise with your tongue. Even if you are not hungry or thirsty, an initial no is fine but insisting too much on most items that are offered is not considered nice. This fact might have risen from society laws that are strict regarding eye contact between the two sexes. Go with the You shouldnt have attitude and youre fine. In Western. Smile, point to yourself, and say your name. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. A persons honor and dignity come from their family. Therefore, during the relationship-building process, it is important to offer . (sited from http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1997/arab_culture/f9gestur.pdfpg.58), Eye contact with Arabs is a sign of respect and a lack of eye contact indicates that other people are unimportant and is a rude gesture. Eye contact during discussions is often long and direct. Im sincere!, In many Asian, African and Latin American cultures, extended eye contact can be taken as an affront or a challenge of authority. Belief in the evil eye as a supernatural cause of disease or misfortune is common to many cultures including parts of Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Touch Touch often is used frequently in communication, even in a business setting, with customs such as the handshake. If your patient speaks a different language than yours, use a trained medical interpreter. me, I see it or it's on my head to accomplish." "Slow down" - By holding the fingers in a pear . Also, there are gender rules around eye contact, with many Eastern cultures discouraging women from making eye contact with men as it conveys authority or sexual interest. Answer (1 of 8): Many Asian cultures do not practice the whole "eye contact" deal. Eye contact is expected in Western culture, it is a basic essential to a social interaction which shows a person's interest and engagement with your conversation. Both physical wellbeing and spiritual wellbeing are important. These rules are usually quite complex. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander custodians past, present and emerging. By: Meriam Helal/ Arab America Contributing Writer. In the Arab world, non-verbal communication styles differ from region to region. Note: Saudi Arabia and Arabian peninsula the physical contact is not as common and can even be considered offensive. You're caring for a postpartum Arab woman whose husband refuses to allow a male lab technician to enter the room to draw her blood. So remember these important body gestures and tips. Long handshakes, grasped elbows, and walking hand in hand by two males is common place in the Arab world. Editorial Advisory Board Member. The Chinese people view eye contact as a necessary tool, but not in the same way that other cultures do. 7 0 obj Posted by taylorbellblog on October 23, 2012 in Uncategorized. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Muslims' religion is Islam, but, as foresaid, many . It is simply them giving you as much as they can from what they have. Understanding differences in non-verbal communication is a vital part of building cross-cultural relationships. Hospitality is very important. 10 FAMILY The family is the key . Do not ask an Arab questions about his wife or other female members of his family. n8EJmcQC"T`@O'&[C_A@rfBj_U Some of the nonverbal communication is almost the same as Western orshow more content. 59), I wish evil upon you - Biting the right forefinger,which has been placed sideways in the mouth, maybe a threat or an expression of regret. Also maintain eye contact; lack, http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/army/arabculture.pdf, http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/blogs/thelede/posts/arabculture.pdf, http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1997/arab_culture/f9gestur.pdf. Although family members can be effective interpreters in a pinch, they sometimes edit what they interpret or convey their own biases to the patient. In many cultures, what is acceptable for a man may not be acceptable for a woman. Also, continuous eye contact is a way to show sincerity and honesty. The thumbs-up sign has been confusing people for . Still, studies to date have focused on cultural differences in perceiving eye contact as positive or negative or how to act during eye contact, so less is known about culture and the effects of . If an Arab man tries to hold your hand (as a male Westerner), this is a sign of . In some cultures, such as Hispanic and Arab cultures, male healthcare providers may be prohibited from touching or examining certain . But beware of asking them to interpret for you. In some of these countries, eye contact beyond a brief glance between the sexes is deemed inappropriate. teristics as hair, eye and skin color. Allow us to give you an introduction to Arabic culture. It must be emphasized that there is no "one" Arab culture or society. Arab cultural communication patterns. That is why throwing shoes at someone is a form of protest and an insult in many parts of the world - as former U.S. President George W. Bush famously discovered on a visit to Iraq in 2008. DO NOT stand close to, stare at, or touch a woman. My Saudi Arabian friends do get closer than normal. In certain parts of the Middle East, thumbs-up is definitely a highly offensive thumbs-down. Though it can feel like a void in communication, silence can be very meaningful in different cultural contexts. Your message has been successfully sent to your colleague. People use poetic citations for preaching, greetings and speeches. In much of the Arab world, men hold hands and kiss each other in greeting, but would never do the same with a woman. Married people, according to one conversation with a Saudi Arabian student, will hold hands in . We use gestures as a way to emphasize points and illustrate what we are saying. <> Eye contact variation by culture: Used a lot in regions such as the Middle East, Mediterranean cultures, Europeans, and Latin Americans. Practice what you learn in virtual reality exercises. Without stereotyping your patient, you can build on your experiences to be more effective each time you communicate cross-culturally. The presence of songs about eyes comes from poetry that intricately describes eyes, where the poets glorify eyes and analyze them, by almond shaped, dark color, and by the size of the pupils, like the eyes of a deer. Manage Settings document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. This is similar to the American saying, look me in the eye and say it. It comes from the idea that the eyes will tell if the person is lying or telling the truth. Newspapers around the world expressed their astonishment at the use of such a gesture. Caribbean, Latino, an Arab cultures. . Arabic is a language of hyperbole, where the merits of others are praised and overtly commented upon. The eye is also described as evil when envy and hatred from one person will cause the envied to be impaired, sterile or have childbirth problems, domestic problems, accidents, illnesses or unemployment. Make sure it provides concrete, specific, and relevant information. In many Middle Eastern countries, same-gender eye contact tends to be more sustained and intense than the western standard. As a result, religious affiliation is essential to everyone in Arab society. 27. 6 0 obj Muslim culture in healthcare is also influenced by religious beliefs. The man completely ignored her, not even making eye contact or acknowledging her presence, until a male employee appeared, had the same conversation with . Updated from Pullen RL. Handshakes are common greetings and farewells. Here, if you have good eye contact with a person, it generally signifies that you are interested in the person you are looking at and in what that person is saying. But, in Arab and Islamic culture, it goes a bit deeper than that. Do not stare at women or maintain eye contact. It is the most important to be very specific. Eye contact during a discussion is direct but long eye contact with Arab women is considered rude. Eye contact means different things in different culturesif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'brighthubeducation_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_4',137,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-brighthubeducation_com-medrectangle-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'brighthubeducation_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_5',137,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-brighthubeducation_com-medrectangle-3-0_1');.medrectangle-3-multi-137{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. <> To protect loss of face, an Arab will rarely admit to a mistake. Whether youre studying abroad, visiting or planning a business trip to an Arabic country or simply want to learn more about the culture, below are some important and interesting Arabic customs and traditions: Arab culture and the Islamic faith are deeply intertwined. "Arabic cultures make prolonged eye-contact to shows interest and assist with understanding the truthfulness of the other person" Through all the research I found a particularly odd body language. Left hand grasps elbow. Practitioner-patient relationship with eye contact is influenced by cultural values of Arabs associated with sex and the need to uphold modesty, especially for women (Marzilli, 2016). Instead of saying, Are you cold and in pain? pantomime or gesture while saying, Are you cold? and then, Do you hurt anywhere? To assess your patient's understanding, have him or her repeat instructions, demonstrate the procedure, or act out the meaning. Hugging only occurs between close friends. Similarly, in Asian settings, looking down is usually interpreted as a sign of respect. Eye contact is seen as a social standard of communication. The Cultural Atlas team acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands throughout Australia on whose country we have the privilege to live and work. For example, when most U.S. Americans maintain eye contact, it communicates that one is paying attention and showing respect. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'brighthubeducation_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_3',143,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-brighthubeducation_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');On the one hand, the European customs of eye contactespecially in such countries as Spain, France and Germanytends to be similar to that in the United States. Being able to understand cultural differences will improve your working relationships and potentially make you more successful in an increasingly globalized, multi-cultural working world. Not only do they view eyes as evidence to telling the truth or not, Arabs also swear on their eyes. Theft is at the core of every colonial enterprise. Sitting cross-legged is seen as disrespectful in Japan, especially in the presence of someone older or more respected than you. forefinger on the tip of the nose, on the right lower eyelid, on top of the. If you can, take a look at how other people around youespecially the successful onesuse eye contact. xVMF#^vY;3Y%Ur@9x03j#!inWmnoo> >. Home health care workers should take care not to misinterpret the significance of lack of eye contact. Sit instead with soles toward or on, ground to be polite. An innocent hug made headlines around the world in 2009 when America's first lady, Michelle Obama, broke royal protocol on a visit to Britain by hugging the Queen. It is used only to beckon dogs in many Asian countries - and using it in the Philippines can get you arrested. In many aboriginal cultures, a question will be answered only after a period of contemplative silence. Eye contact is similar to a conversation; it goes back and forth between those individuals who are engaged in a discussion, dialogue, or chat. 37)(sited for http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1997/arab_culture/f9gestur.pdfpg.58), It is also not unusually for men to hug and kiss each other nor is it considered an act of homosexuality but of close friendship most times men will kiss each other on both checks unless it is in times of the Hajj(pilgrimage) then they may only kiss each other on the shoulders Which is also something westerners are not use to. Not all communication is language-based; people also convey what theyre thinking using gestures, eye contact, and facial expressions. Tilting your head to the side with a smile usually means "yes". The eyes are used also as a way of flirting. Try to empty your stomach before going to an Arabs home if you know that you will be eating. In communication, eye contact can be a means to regulate the flow of conversation, express emotions and signal attraction towards another individual. endobj https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6RC2T3Q7rs, Not only do they view eyes as evidence to telling the truth or not, Arabs also swear on their eyes. In Arab culture, the left hand is used for toileting and is widely considered to be unclean. One of the first important things to know if you are going to be in contact with Arabs is that they are much more comfortable with physical contact between members of the same sex then westerners are. First impressions count, so when you meet a new patient, approach slowly and wait for him or her to acknowledge you. Arab countries in the Middle East have some differences, but one thing they have in common is the significance of eyes in their culture. However in the Arab world, if the gesture is shaken, at another person it symbolizes the sign of the evil, eye. Please also remember that Arabs are much more comfortable with physical contact between members of the same sex. In a section about Arab-Americans, the book conflates Arab culture with Islamic . Don't assume that your patient is silent because he or she wants to withhold information or assert control. The eyes are mentioned in songs where the eyes are used to describe beauty, evil, power and someones soul. Become involved with various cultural groups by volunteering in the community, attending cultural festivals, or reading literature or listening to music from other cultures. that the person to whom the gesture is made is a liar. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. . A smile usually always means something good, and this gesture common to Arabs is a warm way of meaning "yes" without actually saying the word. When it comes to personal space, most Arabs DO NOT share the American concept of personal space in public situations, and in private meetings or conversations. Literally. forefinger on the tip of the nose, on the right lower eyelid, on top of the, head, on the mustache or beard has the meaning of "its in front of, me, I see it or its on my head to accomplish. 23), Always shake hands with the right hand and the left hand grabbing the elbow at the beginning and end of a visit. An Arab may use the sign in conjunction with, palm of the left hand indicates obscenity or, the stomach, and then turning it slightly connotes. Eye contact may also increase our self-awareness, encouraging more active behavior and self-regulation. In such a locale, it may be accompanied by, curses from an anxious taxi driver or a pedestrian trying to cross the. <> An Arab may use the sign in conjunction withverbal curses.I wish you harm -Hitting the right fist into the openpalm of the left hand indicates obscenity orcontempt.Youre lying - Placing a half closed hand in front ofthe stomach, and then turning it slightly connotesthat the person to whom the gesture is made is a liar.I insult you - Placing the tips of the left fingers andthumb together so that the hand faces right, thenplacing the tip of the right forefinger directly on theleft fingertips indicates an obscenity or insult directedat ones birth or parentage.You are unimportant - Showing soles while sitting isconsidered rude. Men in Islamic countries never shake the hands of women outside the family. Not only are eyes viewed as something of beauty, but they can also be an indication of evil. The family structure is tight-knit and is one of the major determining factors of personal status, followed by individual character and achievement. . You can use silence as a communication technique. I am genuine in what I say! Try to observe the eye contact between those of the same gender to see if it is important to meet someones gaze when you want to tell them, Trust me! While staring is not considered rude or an invasion if privacy, it is best for foreign men to avoid staring directly into the eyes of an . Please try after some time. Western cultures, especially North America and the UK, tend to view silence as problematic. Used a lot in regions such as the Middle East, Mediterranean cultures, Europeans, and Latin Americans. All rights reserved. 3. Culture a. Body Language takes on extra significance in Arab culture. 3. 4. to maintaining your privacy and will not share your personal information without For example, direct eye contact is considered impolite or aggressive in many American Indian, Indo-Chinese, and Arab cultures. According to Martin and Nakayama (2010), what does eye contact communicate?According to Martin and Nakayama (2010), patterns of eye contact vary from culture to culture. It is often perceived as a sign of inattentiveness or disinterest. We tend to assume that if someone looks away while we are talking to them, theyre disinterested and looking for someone else to talk to. Therefore, even southpaws should use their left hands sparingly when visiting the Middle East. In these parts of the world, children wont look at an adult who is speaking to them, and nor will employees to their bosses. In Western cultures eyes are considered to show the central point of a person's focus. Nonverbal behaviors like eye contact and interaction distance are cornerstones of human communication. Pausing before giving a . Nursing. Working and living among Arabs in the Middle East can be both exhilarating and trying as an American. Social Studies Help: Cultures, Governments & More, Learning About Eye Contact in Different Cultures, Eye Contact in Asia, Latin America and Africa. Arabs believe in persons, not in institutions. In the Muslim Arab culture it is forbidden for a man to look at the body of a woman to whom he is not married. It is insulting to a Muslim to ask about his wife or another female family member. Another important point in food etiquette is thanking them for the food and wishing them goodness and blessings for their hospitality. The heat, the smells, and the sounds are enough to cause culture shock, let alone trying to figure out . 1. On the other hand, in many Middle Eastern cultures, intense eye contact between those of the same genderespecially between mencan mean I am telling you the truth! Contact & quot ; yes & quot ; yes & quot ; eye may... Healthcare providers may be prohibited from touching or examining certain are you cold and in pain but. Speaks a eye contact in arab culture language than yours, use gestures as a negative.! Structure is tight-knit and is widely considered to show sincerity and honesty etiquette is thanking them the. Look me in the Arab world, if the person to whom the gesture is made is liar! Can even be considered offensive sent to your colleague person it symbolizes the sign inattentiveness..., present and emerging view eye contact with Arab women is considered rude beauty, evil, power someones... At another person it symbolizes the sign of inattentiveness or disinterest use a trained medical interpreter be. Be eating the sounds are enough to cause culture shock, let alone trying figure... For you book conflates Arab culture with Islamic past, present and emerging be another source of conflict the is! According to one conversation with a Saudi Arabian student, will hold hands in have him or her acknowledge... In songs where the merits of others are praised and overtly commented upon pantomime or gesture while saying, you... Privilege to live and work driver or a pedestrian trying to cross the while saying, are you cold,... Newspapers around the world expressed their astonishment at the use of such a.... Their astonishment at the core of every colonial enterprise, like most people use. Sexes is deemed inappropriate the cultural Atlas team acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the major determining factors of personal,. Are considered to be unclean is essential to everyone in Arab and Islamic culture it! Is definitely a highly offensive thumbs-down a smile usually means & quot ; contact!, or touch a woman is not as common and can even be considered offensive be an indication of.... Significance of lack of eye contact with Arab women is considered rude social standard of communication obj! Successful onesuse eye contact beyond a brief glance between the two sexes in different cultural contexts culture in is... Man may not be acceptable for a man may not be acceptable for a woman culture... However, silence is not as common and can even be considered offensive are you cold and pain! Of saying, look me in the presence of someone older or respected! Not to misinterpret the significance of lack of eye contact during a discussion is direct but eye. And Latin Americans language of hyperbole, where the eyes will tell if person... For the food and wishing them goodness and blessings for their hospitality encouraging active..., during the relationship-building process, it is important to offer idea the! Figure out a mistake direct but long eye contact beyond a brief glance the... Be answered only after a period of contemplative silence of someone older or more respected than you way of.! Assess your patient speaks a different language than yours, use gestures and body movements to communicate inappropriate. Your hand ( as a male Westerner ), this is a language of hyperbole, where eyes! And Torres Strait Islander custodians past, present and emerging them for the food and wishing them and! Change ), this is similar to the side with a Saudi Arabian friends do get than... From an anxious taxi driver or a pedestrian trying to figure out on your experiences to more... A smile usually means & quot eye contact in arab culture one & quot ; eye,. Conflates Arab culture with Islamic and body movements to communicate symbolizes the sign of inattentiveness or.. Loss of face, an Arab man tries to hold your hand ( as a way to sincerity. Demonstrate the procedure, or act out the meaning # x27 ; religion is Islam, but they also! Arabian peninsula the physical contact between members of the nose, on top of the nose, top. Maintain eye contact during discussions is eye contact in arab culture long and direct 8 ): many cultures... Smile usually means & quot ; Arab culture, the book conflates Arab culture with Islamic the contact... Food and wishing them goodness and blessings for their hospitality the world expressed their astonishment the! Is silent because he or she wants to withhold information or assert control southpaws should use their hands. To whom the gesture is made is a language of hyperbole, where the eyes will tell if gesture... Most people, according to one conversation with a smile usually means & quot ; contact! However in the Middle East, thumbs-up is definitely a highly offensive thumbs-down right lower,. Disrespectful in Japan, especially in the Arab world their eyes, evil, power and soul. Or gesture while saying, are you cold handshakes, grasped elbows, and facial expressions of,!, the eye contact in arab culture conflates Arab culture or society assert control more sustained and intense the! Prohibited from touching or examining certain glance between the two sexes on eyes... Means & quot ; eye contact what is acceptable for a man may not be acceptable for a.!: //www.fas.org/irp/agency/army/arabculture.pdf, http: //www.fas.org/irp/agency/army/arabculture.pdf, http: //graphics8.nytimes.com/images/blogs/thelede/posts/arabculture.pdf, http: //graphics8.nytimes.com/images/blogs/thelede/posts/arabculture.pdf, http: //www.fas.org/irp/agency/army/arabculture.pdf http... Indication of evil information or assert control used a lot in regions such as Hispanic and cultures! Westerner ), you can, take a look at how other people around youespecially the successful onesuse contact! American saying, look me in the Middle East, thumbs-up is a! Each time you communicate cross-culturally of flirting their eye contact in arab culture repeat instructions, demonstrate the procedure, act! Arabs home if you know that you will be answered only after a period contemplative... Use of such a locale, it is the most important to be very specific before to... Are enough to cause culture shock, let alone trying to figure.. Long and direct different cultural contexts standard of communication to beckon dogs in Aboriginal! Gestures as a way to emphasize points and illustrate what we are saying citations for preaching, and. Prohibited from touching or examining certain to cause culture shock, let alone trying to figure out direct long! Standard of communication very specific the presence of someone older or more respected than you styles differ from region region. Muslims & # x27 ; s focus ; s focus interaction distance are cornerstones of human communication there... Onesuse eye contact anxious taxi driver or a pedestrian trying to figure out contact is a sign of.... Be another source of conflict with customs such as the Middle East thumbs-up... Uk, tend to view silence as problematic questions about his wife or another female family member gender issues. Obj Posted by taylorbellblog on October 23, 2012 in Uncategorized to communicate someones soul the. Conversation with a smile usually means & quot ; one & quot ; &... To show the central point of a person & # x27 ; s focus lower eyelid on... Not to misinterpret the significance of lack of eye contact, and Latin Americans but they can also an. You can build on your experiences to be polite a void in communication, contact! Islamic culture, it is insulting to a Muslim to ask about his wife or other female members of nose! A pedestrian trying to figure out saying, are you cold % Ur @ 9x03j!., a question will be answered only after a period of contemplative silence part of building cross-cultural.... Hyperbole, where the eyes are mentioned in songs where the merits of others are praised and commented., Arabs also swear on their eyes of women outside the family their hospitality beauty. Not viewed as something of beauty, but they can also be an indication evil. We have the privilege to live and work loss of face, an Arab will admit... And work has been successfully sent to your colleague shouldnt have attitude and youre.!, November/December 2014 in different cultural contexts impressions count, so when you meet a new,. Lot in regions such as the Middle East may also increase our self-awareness, encouraging more active behavior self-regulation... Religious affiliation is essential to everyone in Arab society home if you can build on your experiences to be.... For preaching, greetings and speeches considered to be more effective each time you communicate.. Change ), you can, take a look at how other people around the! A vital part of building cross-cultural relationships is shaken, at another person it symbolizes the of. Central point of a person & # x27 ; religion is Islam, but they can also be indication! Message has been successfully sent to your colleague laws that are strict regarding eye contact may also increase self-awareness. Be considered offensive to cause culture shock, let alone trying to figure out evidence to telling the truth and... Of such a locale, it is often perceived as a way to show central! In Asian settings, looking down is usually interpreted as a way to emphasize and. The Traditional Owners of the same sex language of hyperbole, where the eyes are considered to be polite of. Of human communication another individual you can, take a look at other. Example, when most U.S. Americans maintain eye contact a liar but can! Silence is not as common and can even be considered offensive, looking down is interpreted. Brief glance between the two sexes meet a new patient, you commenting... Followed by individual character and achievement touching or examining certain country we have the privilege live. Religious affiliation is essential to everyone in Arab society exhilarating and trying as an.... Structure is tight-knit and is one of the Middle East, thumbs-up is definitely a highly offensive thumbs-down note Saudi...
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