The document discusses how notions of friendship vary across cultures from a social science perspective. In Western cultures, friendships are seen as voluntary and spontaneous relationships, unlike family or work. However, in Chinese culture where collectivism is valued, friendships are viewed as long-term relationships that involve obligations. Understanding these cultural differences in how relationships are defined, such as viewing friendships as more voluntary in the West versus based on obligations in China, is important for sustaining cross-cultural relationships.

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
Glenda Cecil
about how each culture defines relationships differently is essential in
order to create and sustain those relationships.