time orientation

time orientation Time orientation When Shakespeare wrote “The inaudible and noisiness foot of Time,” he was putting into words what we all know but often overlook. Although we cannot hold or see time, we respond to it as if it had command over our lives. Because time is such a personal phenomenon, all of us perceive and treat it in a manner that expresses our character. If we arrive thirty minutes late for an important appointment and offer no apology, we send a certain message about ourselves. Telling someone how guilty we feel about our belated arrival also sends a message. A culture’s use of time can also provide valuable clues to how members of that culture value and respond to time. In America, we hear people saying, “Time is money” and “He who hesitates is lost.” All Chinese know the Confucian proverb “Think three times before you act.” Reflect for a moment on how differently each of these cultures perceives time. A culture’s conception of time can be examined from this perspective: perceptions of past, present, and future. Past-oriented cultures believe strongly in the significance of prior events. History, established religions, and tradition are extremely important to these cultures, so there is a strong belief that the past should be the guide for making decisions and determining truth. Past-oriented cultures such as the British place much emphasis on tradition and are often perceived as resisting change. A statement one often hears in England when people ask about the monarchy is “We have always done it this way”. The Chinese, with their tradition of ancestor worship and strong pride in the culture’s persistence for thousands of years, are another culture that uses the past as a guide to how to live in the present. As a Chinese proverb advises, “Consider the past and you will know the present.” Native Americans also value tradition and look to the past for guidance when confronting new situations. These cultures – like the Greek, Japanese, French, and Chinese – have histories that date back thousands of years, so they find it normal to take a long-range view of events and are less likely to be rushed when they face decisions. Cultures that value the past are also more likely to respect and venerate the elderly than are cultures that value the future. Present-oriented cultures hold that the moment has the most significance. For them, the future is vague, ambiguous, and unknown and what is real exists in the here and now. For these cultures, enjoyment comes in the present. People of the Philippines, Mexico, and Latin America usually have these beliefs. These cultures, emphasizing living in the moment, tend to be more impulsive and spontaneous than others and have a casual, relaxed lifestyle. This somewhat cavalier approach to life is often confusing to Westerners, who frequently misinterpret a concern with the present as a sign of indolence and inefficiency. Cultures with a strong Islamic tradition, because they believe that future events belong to Allah, also tend to perceive the present as a place what past, present, and future come together. They have little desire to chart events that they believe are out of their control. Future-oriented cultures, such as the one found in the United States, emphasizing the future and expect it to be grander and nicer than the present. What is coming next hold the greatest attraction for most Americans because whatever we are doing is not quite as good as what we could be doing. The “next” thing can happen in one minute, one week, one month, on year, or in heaven, but the future is where happiness is to be found. Many cultures believe that most Americans are always planning for the future instead of experiencing the moment. This does not mean that Americans have no regard for the past or no thought of the present, but it is certainly true that most of us, in thought or action, do not want to be “left behind.” We all want to wear the most current fashions and to drive a brand new car. We have a very low tolerance for extension and postponements. What we want, we want now, so we can dispose of this moment and move on to the next. In addition, future-oriented cultures welcome innovation and change and “have less regard for past social or organizational customs and traditions.”