Chronemics

Chronemics is an anthropological, philosophical, and linguistic subdiscipline that describes how time is perceived, coded, and communicated across a given culture.

"[1] A person's perception and values placed on time plays a considerable role in their communication process.

The use of time can affect lifestyles, daily agendas, speed of speech, movements, and how long people are willing to listen.

Further, chronemics involves the study of human communication as it relates to interdependent and integrated levels of time-experiencing.

[12] As communication scholar Edward T. Hall wrote regarding the American's viewpoint of time in the business world, "the schedule is sacred."

John Ivers, a professor of cultural paradigms, agrees with Edward Hall by stating, "In the market sense, monochronic people consume time.

"[13] The result of this perspective is that monochronic cultures place a paramount value on schedules, tasks, and "getting the job done.

[full citation needed] Monochronic time orientation is very prominent in core Germanic-speaking countries, Finland, France, Japan and the "Asian economic tigers".

[14][15] If, for example, a businessperson from the United States has a meeting scheduled, they may grow frustrated if they are required to wait an hour for their partner to arrive.

[18] A scenario would be an Inuit working in a factory in Alaska where the superiors blow a whistle to alert for break times, etc.

Polychronic societies have no problem being late for an appointment if they are deeply focused on some work or in a meeting that ran past schedule, because the concept of time is fluid and can easily expand or contract as need be.

[12] Bluedorn, Allen C., Carol Felker Kaufman, and Paul M. Lane concluded that "developing an understanding of the monochronic/polychronic continuum will not only result in a better self-management but will also allow more rewarding job performances and relationships with people from different cultures and traditions.

"[19] Researchers have examined that predicting someone's polychronicity plays an important role in productivity and individual well-being.

As discussed by Alexander Gonzalez and Phillip Zimbardo, "every child learns a time perspective that is appropriate to the values and needs of his society" (Guerrero, DeVito & Hecht, 1999, p. 227).

Individuals with a present orientation are mostly characterized as pleasure seekers who live for the moment and have a very low risk aversion.

In contrast, present-oriented consumers prefer near-future ads that highlight secondary product attributes.

The future-focused orientation attributes to at least some of the concerns that Americans have with "addressing immediate issues and moving on to new challenges" (Cohen, 2004, p. 35).

Noting the difference in time perceptions between the two countries, former ambassador to Tokyo, Mike Mansfield commented "We're too fast, they're too slow" (Cohen, 2004, p. 118).

"[This quote needs a citation] Improving prospects for success in the global community requires understanding cultural differences, traditions and communication styles.

The monochronic-oriented approach to negotiations is direct, linear and rooted in the characteristics that illustrate low context tendencies.

The low context culture approaches diplomacy in a lawyerly, dispassionate fashion with a clear idea of acceptable outcomes and a plan for reaching them.

A monochronic culture, more concerned with time, deadlines and schedules, tends to grow impatient and want to rush to "close the deal."

The polychronic approach to negotiations will emphasize building trust between participants, forming coalitions and finding consensus.

High context Polychronic negotiators might be charged with emotion toward a subject thereby obscuring an otherwise obvious solution.

[full citation needed] Researchers Insel and Lindgren[26]: 325  write that the act of making an individual of a lower stature wait is a sign of dominance.

A superior – regardless of whether or not they are running the actual meeting – lead discussions, ask questions, and have the ability to speak for longer periods of time without interruption.

Albert Mehrabian noted that deviation from this pattern led to negative perceptions of the subordinate by the superior.