One concept that I found to be most interesting in this chapter was the concept of monochromic time versus polychromic time. Americans value time and speed and therefore have a monochromic sense of time. A polychronic sense of time consists of changing plans often and considering schedules as objectives to be met rather than definite commitments.
What interested me most about this concept was how absolutely true I found it to be! I cringed and my body started getting tense when I was just reading about the polychronic sense of time. I have an extremely busy schedule (as most of us do) and feel like I am constantly running from one place to the next to meet deadlines, all the while making sure I am on time. When make plans with someone I expect them to be there at the exact time we agreed upon otherwise I tend to get upset. We make plans and schedules for a reason: to be followed!
This really is an interesting concept since generally we focus on the basic factors of culture: language, rituals, communal behaviors, beliefs about the world and how people should act. However, we do not tend to focus on how people may view time, especially as it affects how we set up our plans and how we plan our schedules. For monochronic time, we separate time and arrange it so that plans can be meet and completed on schedule. When time is set up, it is a solid commitment where there are little changes, and when changes do happen, it does not happen quite as easily as in polychronic cultures. We value speed and are committed to the schedules. In contrast, for polychromic time, there is less of a commitment to planned schedules, rather plans may easily change based on circumstances and schedules are not definitively set commitments but are rather guidelines and objectives. Also, it is great that you examine how the perception of time personally affects how you think.
ReplyDeleteWow crushedvelvet, I totally feel the same way as you. I can not stand to be late anywhere. I try to arrive early for classes, meeting,doctors appointments, and arranged visits with friends. I have so much going on in my life that I can not operate on change based on circumstance. On the other hand my boyfriend feels that he should just go with the flow and he will arrive when he arrives and when he gets done doing other things. I have such a hard time trying to get him anywhere on time. I feel that maybe I should try polychronic time, and see if that makes me more stressed or less stressed!
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