Core Beliefs: How I Was Raised
Joseph McNair (1998)
Read each statement thoughtfully, and register the strength of your feeling about each item as it pertains to your beliefs. If you don't know what some of the words mean, look them up. Make sure you understand what you are agree or disagreeing with. This survey is for discussion purposes only. Copyright © 1996 Joseph D. McNair.
| Name | Ethnicity |
| Gender: Male Female | Nationality |
| Age: 20 and under 20-3030-40 Over 40 | Occupation |
Check the appropriate box for each statement that corresponds to your attitude toward that particular statement.
SA-Strongly Agree, A-Agree, U-Uncertain, D-Disagree, SD-Strongly Disagree
1. In my culture (the way that I was raised) when you shake someone's hand, you look them straight in the eye.
SA A U D SD
2. In my culture (the way that I was raised) it is permissible for people to greet each other with an "abrazo" a warm hug, often accompanied by two hearty slaps on the back.
SA A U D SD
3. In my culture (the way that I was raised) when you shake someone's hand, you give them a good, firm grip.
SA A U D SD
4. In my culture (the way that I was raised) when greeting an elder or someone older than you must prostrate yourselfranging from a bow, touching the ground to falling on your face, depending on their importance.
SA A U D SD
5. When I am talking to someone other than a family member or significant other, I (sometimes unconsciously) touch him/her in some wayeven someone I don't know that well. I put a hand on his/her arm or shoulder etc., to make a point, to make a contact.
SA A U D SD
6. In my culture (the way that I was raised) I am expected to formally greet my father every morning that I am in his house.
SA A U D SD
7. When I am talking to someone other than a family member or significant other, if I "feel good vibes" coming from that person, I am comfortable moving closer to her/him.
SA A U D SD
8. In my culture (the way that I was raised) because a man is forbidden to touch an unrelated woman, men do not shake hands with women.
SA A U D SD
9. In my culture (the way I was raised) it is permissible to greet someone with a hug and/or a kiss.
SA A U D SD
.10. When I am talking to someone other than a member of my family or a significant other, I get really uncomfortable if that person moves too close to me. "Too close" means closer than:
SA A U D SD
11. When I am talking to someone other than a family member or significant other, I get close enough to "be with them," to "get" what they're saying or to see their reaction to what I'm saying. I like to either look them in the eyes or look into their face.
SA A U D SD
12. In my culture (the way that I was raised) looking someone directly in the eye when talking to them, especially an elder, is considered rude or disrespectful.
SA A U D SD
13. In my culture, particularly in the workplace, an innocuous touch on someone's hand or arm can be construed as a sexual move, especially if one lets the touch linger.
SA A U D SD
14. In my culture (the way that I was raised) it is permissible for people to greet each other by sticking out their tongues at each other.
SA A U D SD
15. I like to keep a formal distance with those I am talking to. I get really uncomfortable if anyone, including a family member or significant other, moves close to me when we are talking.
SA A U D SD
16. In my culture (the way that I was raised) when you shake someone's hand, you use a gentle grip.
SA A U D SD
17. In my culture (the way that I was raised) shaking hands is a two-part gesture: you hook thumbs, closing your hand around the base of the thumb, you then slide your hand into a conventional handshake with a firm grip.
SA A U D SD
18. In my culture (the way that I was raised) shaking hands is a three-part ritual: you hook thumbs, closing your hand around the base of the thumb, you then slide your hand into a conventional handshake with a gentle grip, then on releasing that grip your hand slides backwards, curling one's four fingers into a hook, hooking the other's likewise curled fingers.
SA A U D SD
19. When I am talking to someone other than a member of my family or a significant other, I get really uncomfortable if that person moves close to me.
SA A U D SD
20. In my culture (the way that I was raised) it is impolite and a sign of disrespect to call adults or persons older than oneself by their first names, even when they say it is okay.
SA A U D SD
21. I get really uncomfortable when talking to someone other than a member of my family or my significant other if they put their hands on me in any way shape or form.
SA A U D SD
22. In my culture (the way that I was raised), close friends greet each other by rubbing noses.
SA A U D SD
23. In my culture (the way that I was raised) shaking hands is a four-part ritual: you hook thumbs, closing your hand around the base of the thumb, you then slide your hand into a conventional handshake with a gentle grip, then on releasing that grip your hand slides backwards, curling one's four fingers into a hook, hooking the other's likewise curled fingers, and then snapping middle fingers.
SA A U D SD
24. In my culture (the way I was raised) it is permissible to greet someone by touching each cheek, making the kissing sound when you do so.
SA A U D SD
25. In my culture (the way that I was raised) bowing to each other is the appropriate form of greeting. The person lowest in rank must bow first and bow deepest.
SA A U D SD
26. In my culture (the way that I was raised) to casually touch someone's hand or make direct eye contact, especially with a member of the opposite sex, has sexual connotations.
SA A U D SD
27. In my culture (the way that I was raised) greeting someone follows a certain form or ritual that must be completed. It is considered very bad manners to greet someone with just a "Hi."
SA A U D SD
28. In my culture (the way that I was raised) looking someone directly in the eye when talking to them is a sign of openness, honesty and forthrightness.
SA A U D SD
29. In my culture (the way that I was raised) it is permissible for heterosexual men to walk together hand in hand.
SA A U D SD
30. In my culture (the way that I was raised) it is permissible to call adults or persons older than oneself by their first names.
SA A U D SD
31. In my culture (the way that I was raised) when you shake someone's hand, you try to avoid direct eye contact.
SA A U D SD
32. In my culture (the way that I was raised) communication is indirect and often formalized. What someone does or does not do (nonverbal cues) in the communication process reveals as much if not more than the words that are used.
SA A U D SD
33. In my culture (the way that I was raised) unpleasant information such as criticism or negative emotional responses is prefaced by the telling of a parable or proverb before delivering the bad news.
SA A U D SD
34. In my culture (the way that I was raised) it is permissible for males to kiss each other on the mouth.
SA A U D SD
35. In my culture (the way that I was raised) although respect for one's elders is considered important, such respect is largely a courtesy.
SA A U D SD
36. In my culture (the way that I was raised) the oldest member of the extended family, usually a male, is the head of the family. My grandfather is still the head of our clan. My father takes instructions from him.
SA A U D SD
37. In my culture (the way that I was raised) it is permissible to use expletives in certain social situations, especially among friends.
SA A U D SD
38. In my culture (the way that I was raised) other than perfunctory courtesies, business is the only thing talked about in business meetings.
SA A U D SD
39. In my culture (the way that I was raised) regardless of what we are doing at any given time, when it is time to pray, we pray.
SA A U D SD
40. In my culture (the way that I was raised) the way one dresses indicates such things as position, privilege, prestige and power. Formal occasions always require appropriate formal dress.
SA A U D SD
41. In my culture (the way that I was raised) we dress for success. There is a wide range of acceptable dress.
SA A U D SD
42. In my culture (the way that I was raised) religion plays an important role in the way one dresses.
SA A U D SD
43. In my culture (the way that I was raised) women are required to dress modestly i.e., covered.
SA A U D SD
44. In my culture (the way that I was raised) direct, explicit communication is valued i.e., no "beating around the bush."
SA A U D SD
45. In my culture (the way that I was raised) one is taught to be responsible for one's self.
SA A U D SD
46. In my culture (the way that I was raised) the use of expletives (bad words, profanity) at all times is considered terribly bad manners.
SA A U D SD
47. In my culture (the way that I was raised) considerable time is spent attending to courtesies i.e., inquiring about one's family, health, news from one's village, hometown or local government area, before getting down to business. To skip this necessary protocol is considered bad manners.
SA A U D SD
48. In my culture (the way that I was raised) one is taught to be conscious of time.
SA A U D SD
49. In my culture (the way that I was raised) one is taught that time is money.
SA A U D SD
50. In my culture (the way that I was raised) one is taught to be on time.
SA A U D SD
51. In my culture (the way that I was raised) one is taught that if something can not be done today, it can always be done tomorrow.
SA A U D SD
52. In my culture (the way that I was raised) one is taught that time is elastic; that there is always time to enjoy relationships.
SA A U D SD
53. In my culture (the way that I was raised) the nuclear family i.e., one's parents and siblings and/or spouse and children, are considered the only family of importance.
SA A U D SD
54. In my culture (the way that I was raised) the extended family i.e., one's parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, spouse, inlaws, children, nephews and nieces and grand children etc., is considered the real family.
SA A U D SD
55. In my culture (the way that I was raised) polygamy is permissible.
SA A U D SD
56. In my culture (the way that I was raised) it is preferred that one "comes straight to the point" when communicating unpleasant information such as criticism or negative emotional responses.
SA A U D SD
57. In my culture (the way that I was raised) one is taught to be loyal to and responsible for (and to) one's extended family.
SA A U D SD
58. In my culture (the way that I was raised) to become old is to become a burden and a liability to one's family.
SA A U D SD
59. In my culture (the way that I was raised) to become old is to become wise and deserving of respect.
SA A U D SD
60. In my culture (the way that I was raised) one is taught to be independent; to think for one's self and pursue one's economic self interest.
SA A U D SD
61. In my culture (the way that I was raised) one is taught to conform to the customs and traditions of my people.
SA A U D SD
62. In my culture (the way that I was raised) one is taught to never run away from a fight.
SA A U D SD
63. In my culture (the way that I was raised) one is taught to seek harmony at all costs.
SA A U D SD
64. In my culture (the way that I was raised) one is taught to challenge authority.
SA A U D SD
65. In my culture (the way that I was raised) one is taught to respect authority and social order.
SA A U D SD
66. In my culture (the way that I was raised) one is taught that it is better to control one's destiny.
SA A U D SD
67. In my culture (the way that I was raised) one is taught that it is better to know and accept one's destiny.
SA A U D SD
68. In my culture (the way that I was raised) women are equal to men.
SA A U D SD
69. In my culture (the way that I was raised) men are superior or more important than women.
SA A U D SD
70. In my culture (the way that I was raised) one is taught that work has intrinsic value.
SA A U D SD
71. In my culture (the way that I was raised) one is taught that work is a necessity of life.
SA A U D SD
72. In my culture (the way that I was raised) one is taught that rewards should be based on individual achievement.
SA A U D SD
73. In my culture (the way that I was raised) one is taught that rewards are based on seniority.
SA A U D SD
74. In my culture (the way that I was raised) one is taught the importance of solving problems.
SA A U D SD