1. Intercultural Relationships:
The Social Science Approach
Differences in Notions of Friendship
 What are the characteristics of a friend?
 How do ideas of friendship vary across cultures?
Those two questions will be answered differently in every culture.
“Friendships are seen in many different ways across the world. For
example, in most Western cultures, these relationships are seen as
mostly voluntary and spontaneous, in contrast to family or work
relationships” (Martin & Nakayama, 2010). Glenda Cecil

2.  Cultural differences in notions about friendships are related to ideas about
identity and values, and every culture’s value system is different.
 In western societies that value individualism and interdependence, they view
friendships as voluntary. On the other hand, people in China who view the
self always in relation to others, collectivists, believe that friendship is long-
term, and involves obligations.
 “Friendship in China offered assurances and an intimacy that we have
abandoned in America; it gave the Chinese psychic as well as material
rewards that we have lost. We ourselves did feel close to the Wangs [their
Chinese friends], but as Westerners, the constant gift giving and obligations
left us uneasy” (Martin & Nakayama, 2010).
 The Social Science approach makes a unique contribution to our
understanding of how different cultures define relationships.
 In other words, whether it be through dealing with cross-cultural employees,
co-workers, relatives, or friends, knowing this information about how each
culture defines relationships differently is essential in order to create and
sustain those relationships.
Glenda Cecil