Social behaviour

 Socially acceptable behaviors can differ from culture to culture and change over time. Women wearing pants were once considered taboo in the United States, but now completely normal. Observing the people around you can help to provide the cues and unwritten rules to what is socially acceptable. These social cues provide order and predictability within a society. When someone’s actions fall outside of what’s socially acceptable, it can be considered rude. For instance,  Handshakes are acceptable for meeting someone for the first time in a business setting. Touching someone’s hand or face may be considered too intimate for casual acquaintances. 

Eye contact is significant in the United States. In some countries, it is a sign of respect to avoid eye contact. However, in the US, maintaining eye contact signifies that you are interested in the conversation, sincere, and trustworthy. 

In the US, it’s rude not to look directly at someone when they are talking to you. In some other countries, it’s the opposite.

My mother-in-law, Ginny, lived in the Middle East for over 30 years, even though she grew up in America. When she returned, and started going to job interviews, she never got the job. Even when she seemed almost over-qualified.

She finally called one of the interviewers back to see why she had been passed over. He explained that at no point during the interview had she ever made eye contact with him. He thought it was quite weird and quite rude.

Americans favor more personal space than many other cultures. When talking with someone, if they step back to widen the area, it’s not meant to be an insult; instead, it’s an American social norm to keep a distance of at least an arm’s length. This distance is usually dependant on your relationship with the person. If you are a stranger or an acquaintance, arm’s length is the standard. If you have a more intimate relationship, the closeness may vary. 

In the U.S., not tipping is the easiest way to become the least popular person at any restaurant or bar, equally hated by friends, significant others, servers, and restaurant owners alike. But in Japan, tipping at restaurants is actually considered rude—superior service is expected without an added incentive and is calculated into the bill. Japanese and South Korean workers would take your generosity the wrong way. Workers here generally take pride in doing their jobs well and don't want added incentives.