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Germany
Brandon Nabors
McKendree University
Cross-Cultural Psychology
Fall 2015

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Germany
Cultural Information
Germany is a country located in North-central Europe and bordered by the following
countries: Denmark, Netherlands, France Luxembourg, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, and
Czech Republic. Also, the nation is a short trip across the sea away from Sweden and the United
Kingdom. Germany’s official language is German, but approximately half of the country is able
to speak English as a second language. The population is 80.8 million people and the capitol city
(also, the largest city in Germany) is Berlin. Once known as the German Empire, Germany was
established as a sovereign state in 1871 by Emperor Wilhelm I, the King of Prussia. In 1914,
World War I began and Germany had the vision to annex powerful neighboring countries, but
their objective was never reached due to their defeat. The result of their defeat was the Treaty of
Versailles, which caused Germany to lose territory, financial reparations, and a large portion of
their military strength. This peace agreement began the road to World War II, along with the rise
of Hitler as chancellor. However, after a totalitarian rule and a mass genocide known as the
“Holocaust,” Germany was once again defeated by the Allied Powers. Following the war,
Germany was left in the control of the Allied powers and, in consequence to the Cold War, was
split into two states: East and West Germany; West Germany was controlled by the U.S and
other Western powers, while the East section was controlled by the Soviet Union. When
Germany was reunited in 1990 the country reestablished itself as an economic power in Europe.
Germany’s economy, in terms of the purchasing power parity, is the fifth largest in the world
and the largest in Europe. The government of Germany is declared as a federal republic. The
main exports for this country include: machinery, vehicles, chemicals, and household equipment.
Imports include: machinery, data processing equipment, vehicles, chemicals, oil and gas, metals,

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electric equipment, pharmaceuticals, food, agricultural products. Also, the German economy
booms due to a large and highly-skilled work force that ensures quality product for efficient
labor. However, similar to other European powers, Germany’s booming economic power is not
without issues within the system. The nation is experiencing certain population problems
regarding demographics; for instance, the country is posting low fertility rates and a decline in
average immigration. These problems are grounds for social reform and furthering difficulty
with their welfare system’s operations.
The German education system is far more advanced and complicated than the standard in the
United States; for instance, there are five different types of schooling and three different tracks of
education. The three paths that a student has the chance to take include: the Gymnasium (for the
highest measure of intelligence, usually extend to universities) Realschule (the average students
attend these institutions), and Hauptschule (the lower part of the spectrum, typically attend trade
schools or go into lower class workforce). Students are placed into one of these programs by the
age of 10 (around fifth grade) and typically remain in the track until completion. Also, class
attendance is required by law from ages six to fifteen, which does not allow for much
homeschooling (it is actually illegal). In the case of special needs individuals, which includes
learning disabilities, sensory impairment, and physical incapacities, the system has separate
establishments for specialized learning; these schools include: Förderschulen or Sonderschulen.
Germany is immersed in cultural significance and has made major contributions to the arts;
for instance, the country hosts about 6,200 museums (630 of which are art exhibits), 820
theatres, 130 orchestras, and approximately 8,800 libraries. Berlin contains a large amount of this
culture in itself, boasting 120 museums, 50 theatres, and 3 opera houses. Some prominent figures
in German history include: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (writer), Friedrich Schiller (poet),

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Johann Sebastian Bach (composer), Ludwig van Beethoven (composer), Immanuel Kant
(philosopher), and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (philosopher). Also, Germany is the site for
one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world, the Berlin International Film Festival.
Compared to the United States, Germany is not very diversified in its population, with 91.5% of
its citizens consisting of Germans; the other 8.5% is a combination of neighboring European
natives, most of which include: Turkish, Greek, Italian, and Polish. In addition, the two most
prominent religions in the region are Protestant (34%) and Catholic (34%); there is a small
percentage of Muslims (3.7%) and the remaining individuals are unaffiliated/other. Germany has
impacted American culture in other aspects of life than just the arts and entertainment. For
instance, the tradition of setting up a tree for Christmas and placing presents under the tree was
originally a German practice.

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Meal
For my meal, I chose one that is considered a cornerstone of the German tradition: beer
glazed Bratwursts and Sauerkraut. The meal consists of 15 minutes of preparation and a cooking
duration of 30 minutes for a total of 50 minutes before the meal is ready to consume. The
ingredients required in the recipe include: 1/8 teaspoon (tsp) celery seeds, 1/8 tsp caraway seeds,
one pound (lb) fresh bratwurst sausages, one (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle lager beer, one
tablespoon (Tsp) light brown sugar, two tsp dry mustard powder, one tsp onion powder, 1/8 tsp
ground black pepper, 1/8 tsp dried dill weed, one lb sauerkraut (preferably barrel-aged, drained).
The process begins by crushing the celery and caraway seeds until they are finely ground. Then,
brown the bratwurst(s) in a skillet on medium heat and mix beer, brown sugar, dry mustard,
onion powder, black pepper, dill weed, and crushed celery and caraway seeds in a bowl; then,
pour this mixture on top of the brats, bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for ten minutes.
Next, bring the heat back to medium and boil for 20 minutes until the sauce is thick before tilting
the brats into the syrup to be covered; removed brats, but keep them warm. Finally, cook the
sauerkraut in the same skillet (to keep the flavor) for five to eight minutes and stir regularly; add
the sauerkraut to the same platter and serve.
For centuries, Germany has been known as one of the best countries to cure sausage and this
was actually a survivor tactic for past generations in the winter months; this is due to the
mountainous terrain and the cold, inland climate. These conditions had proven to produce the
best tasting and preserved sausage that is free of bacterial diseases, such as Botulism. The name
Bratwurst supposedly comes from the ancient word Brat (meat without waste) and Wirren
(mixture) which fits the description, because the most practical aspect of making this sausage is
that all of the meat is used. The method of sausage-curing has been evident dating back to 228

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A.D. when it was printed in the “Apicus Cookery,” which is considered the oldest cookbook on
record. Even though Apicus lived in Rome, history shows that the Bratwurst most likely
originated with the Celtics. The oldest, discovered recipe for bratwurst dates back to 1432 and
contains very strict, quality-based guidelines for preparation. In addition, there are more than 40
different types of bratwurst sausages in the German culture and these vary in size, as well; for
instance, the longest sausage in Germany is called the Mainfränkische Meterbratwurst and is one
meter long.
Sauerkraut is, like the bratwurst, another symbol of contemporary German cuisine and
culture. For many Americans, the term “Kraut” is a familiar one, but not in the context of food;
the name “Kraut” was used, first by British troops then by American fighters, to describe a
German soldier or Nazi Party member during World WarsI and II. However, Germans were not
the first to produce sauerkraut, which is fermented white cabbage. The people of Alsace, a
French territory that was controlled by Germany from 1871 until the end of World War I and
again for the duration of World War II, were the first to preserve cabbage in this manner. This
meal made with bratwurst and bacon was actually named the national dish of Alsace. Sauerkraut
was desirable, because when it was properly stored it could last for a very long time and is rich in
vitamin C; for instance, James Cook, an English sailor, brought barrels of sauerkraut onto his
boat for long journeys in order to protect his mean from scurvy (lack of vitamin C). Also, there is
another important component within this product that preserves the cabbage and causes the sour
smell: lactic acid. Lactic acid prevents decomposing bacteria from entering the food and has
been shown to have a correlation with increased health, characterized by prolonged life.
Before I was assigned this project, I knew quite a bit about the cuisine trends within this
country, but I had only consumed a small amount of these known dishes. I have eaten an

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American brat before, but I had never had a beer glazed bratwurst from an actual German recipe,
nor had I tried true sauerkraut. I expected the bratwurst to be even better tasting than an
Americanized one, but I thought the sauerkraut would have a more bitter taste than I noticed. The
ingredients were not that difficult to find due to the fact that bratwurst and sauerkraut have
become quite prominent in the United States. The taste of the sauerkraut was one of a salty,
pickled variety and the bratwurst had a sweetened meat taste; this texture was not exactly what I
had expected. The most interesting part of the preparation was the ease of the cooking. It did not
take very long to complete and was not strenuous on my low level of culinary skill. A nearby
restaurant that serves this dish is the Schlafly Tap Room located at 2100 Locust Street in St.
Louis, MO.

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Movie
The German movie that was assigned to me is titled Der Wald vor lauter Baumen, or The
Forest for the Trees, directed by Maren Ade. After researching the verbal and nonverbal
communication styles that are characteristic of Germany, I found a trend in direct, distant
encounters. For instance, in conversation, especially among strangers or over the phone,
Germans speak bluntly and say what is on their mind; this behavior is sometimes confused by
foreigners as rudeness, but this manner of conversing is simply the norm. Moreover, eye contact
is an absolute must in this culture; failure to sustain eye contact is interpreted as distrustworthy.
Also, proximity is another important part of German etiquette and is causes significant
discomfort when violated. Germans tend to remain an arm’s length away from others and do not
desire physical contact beyond the required, firm handshake. Intimate contact, such as hugs and
greeting kisses, are reserved for close friends and family. In addition, when someone has a title
(e.g. Dr. Kemp, Mr. Nabors) you are required to use this name and are not allowed to refer to
business partners/coworkers by their first name.
I noticed the lack of physical contact at the beginning of the film; Melanie is departing from
her parents and who I thought to be her brother when she kisses her mother goodbye. However,
she has a very awkward hug farewell with the person I assumed to be her sibling and she
proceeds to shake her father’s hand in parting. Also, I witnessed the proximity characteristic of
keeping uninvaded space between others when her colleague continued to get close to her as he
talked despite her constant movements away from him. Another example of verbal
communication is when I thought that Melanie and the same colleague were using their last
names, they were actually using each other’s first names, instead.

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My first mistake in thinking occurred at the very beginning of the film when Melanie was
moving into her new apartment (the scene where I thought she was bidding her brother farewell).
I committed a cognitive bias by mistaking her ex-boyfriend for her brother and this mistake
completely changed my view of her situation. I saw her social awkwardness and assumed that
this was due to never having anyone; however, she is making a new start after losing someone
and is trying to make connections. Also, I made a fundamental attribution error regarding her
difficulty to contain and discipline her students. I thought that she was simply an inadequate
teacher whom had not been taught any disciplinary skills. The truth was that she was put in
charge of the most problematic class and was trying to use innovative teaching methods inspired
by her enthusiasm for learning. In addition, after learning about the privacy of Germans and
distant behavior, I viewed her actions of getting to know people, as well as meeting all her new
neighbors, as a negative difference. I used a naturalistic fallacy because I viewed her abnormal
actions as bad instead of infrequent. During the entire film, I carried a representative bias
within my viewing of the German culture presented by thinking that the people seemed rude, as a
whole; in actuality, Germans are simply blunt and direct in conversation.
Overall, I understood the main plot of the story, but I misinterpreted some character details
which changed the way that I viewed Melanie. The plot includes a young teacher starting out in a
new city at a high school, she is having trouble fitting in with her colleagues, she cannot control
her class, and then she tries to make a friend with her neighbor but quickly becomes overly
clingy, pushing the friend away. Also, she cannot make any romantic connection besides with
the creepy coworker of hers, Thorsten. I did not realize that she had completed a teaching
internship prior to this job and I did not think that she would be 27 years old; I thought she was

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younger. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and I wish that I could have viewed this film without
the biases that I bring from my experiences within American society.

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Religion
I was assigned to research the religion of Zoroastrianism for my country of Germany.
Zoroastrianism is a monotheistic religion, meaning that the followers believe in one, all powerful
deity whom created and controls the Universe. This doctrine was founded approximately 3500
years ago by the prophet, Zoroaster, in ancient Iran, which makes Zoroastrianism one of the
oldest monotheistic religions in the world. The role that Zoroaster has in this belief is similar to
the role of Jesus in Christianity with one significant difference: Zoroaster is not worshipped as a
deity, himself. However, his teachings are regarded as the way in which to love their creator and
become one with Him. The timeframe that Zoroastrianism was formed is considered to be
between 1200 and 1500 BCE. Zoroaster was born unto the Bronze Age in either Iran or
Afghanistan, which was represented by polytheistic practices (multiple gods). These traditions
were characterized by animal sacrifices and drinking alcoholic substances as rituals.
The deity that is worshipped within Zoroastrianism is the god, Ahura Mazda, which means
“Wise Lord.” Ahura Mazda is omniscient (all knowing), omnipotent (all powerful), omnipresent
(is everywhere), inconceivable, unchanging, the creator of life, and the source of all
goodness/happiness. Followers believe that everything that has been created by their God should
be treated with equal love and respect; this includes the environment and, therefore, Zoroastrians
are ecologically focused. The origin of Ahura Mazda within this religion began with Zoroaster
having a vision of a “Shining Being,” called Vohu Manah, which appeared as light and took him
to God. Also, Vohu Manah introduced Zoroaster to four other deities which are regarded as the
Amesha Spentas. He had several other visions of the same kind and, during these sequences, he
asked questions; the answers to these inquiries are the foundations behind the doctrine of
Zoroastrianism. In addition, an important aspect of this system is the concept of both cosmic and

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moral dualism. Dualism is the idea that there is an existence of good and evil, but there is a
complete separation between the two. Cosmic dualism is the opposition of Ahura Mazda (good
or creative energy) to Angra Mainyu (evil or destructive energy. However, Angra Mainyu is not
God’s equal opposite within the Universe.
In order to daily practice this view of living as one with Ahura Mazda, Zoroastrians have a
proverb that completely sums up their beliefs: “Good thoughts, good words, good deeds.” There
are certain traditions that characterize this religion and distinguish Zoroastrianism from other
belief systems. One of these customs is to present a believer with asudreh (shirt) and kusti (cord)
as a rite of passage, signifying there initiation into the body. They tie the cord three times around
the child to represent each one of the three phrases in their signature maxim. In addition,
Zoroastrianism focus on the goodness of family and service to the community. They believe that
worship should be underwent as a familial unit and should also be based in a strong community
setting. Followers are action-oriented when it comes to community service and improvement;
they typically give generous donations to various charities and rally behind desired improvement
plans. The final important characteristic of Zoroastrianism is the depiction of man as God’s
helper rather than child/servant. Man is supposed to vanquish evil through positive choices and
establish God’s paradise kingdom on Earth. Also, all believers are equal under God; the rich,
poor, men, and women are all one and the same.
Zoroastrianism is an interesting religion to study and seems to produce a peaceful existence
for those who follow. For me, growing up as a Christian, it is intriguing to understand another
belief and see the similarities between the two. For instance, both practices feature one God
whom is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. Also, each one focuses on a family-oriented,
community-based worship. Each tradition has a characteristic teacher whom shows them how to

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live according to God. This research supplies me with evidence to support the argument that
persecution of other religions is not justified due to the substantial similarities between them.
Zoroastrianism is not much different from Christianity and the main variances are within the
individual customs.

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References
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http://www.goethe.de/ins/gb/lp/prj/mtg/typ/sau/en5653632.htm.

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. "Schlafly Tap Room." Riverfront Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.
http://www.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/schlafly-tap-room/Location?oid=2956966.
Turner, Rachel. "German Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Styles." EHow. Demand
Media, n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2015. http://www.ehow.com/info_7979609_german-verbal-
nonverbal-communication-styles.html.
"Zoroastrianism." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/zoroastrian/.