PHI PHI 1101 1101 Individual and Individual and SocietySociety

Instructors: Reggie Kwan and

Carole Chen

Course ObjectivesCourse Objectives

This course This course aims to enable students to have aims to enable students to have a a better understandingbetter understanding of of themselvesthemselves, to , to develop appropriate ways of dealing with develop appropriate ways of dealing with problems, to become responsible and self-problems, to become responsible and self-directing individuals with independent directing individuals with independent thinking, to have thinking, to have reflective examination reflective examination of issues of social concernof issues of social concern and to realize and to realize more on the more on the relationshiprelationship between between individualsindividuals and and societysociety..

Learning OutcomesLearning Outcomes have better understanding of self identity, have better understanding of self identity,

strengths and weaknesses;strengths and weaknesses; identify the relation between individuals identify the relation between individuals

and society;and society; become more responsible and self-become more responsible and self-

directing individuals;directing individuals; demonstrate critical awareness of social demonstrate critical awareness of social

and ethical issues.and ethical issues.

TextbookTextbook

Human Relations: The Art and Science of Building Effective Relationships

Course StructureCourse Structure1. Lectures (14)1. Lectures (14)

2. Quizzes (10%: 14: 252. Quizzes (10%: 14: 25thth minute – minute – 3030thth minute minute, best , best 1010 out of out of 1414))

3. Tutorials (14: 2 hours each)3. Tutorials (14: 2 hours each)4. Presentation (10% last 4. Presentation (10% last threethree weeks) and report weeks) and report

(15% during revision week)(15% during revision week)5. Debates (15% through out the semester)5. Debates (15% through out the semester)6. Assignments (6. Assignments (20%:20%: once a week, best once a week, best 1010 of of 1313))7. final test (30%: 7. final test (30%: last weeklast week))

Learning resourcesLearning resources

Lecturers (Lecturers (ReggieReggie and and CaroleCarole)) TextbookTextbook Supplementary readings (library)Supplementary readings (library) Internet and WebInternet and Web Wiki (1Wiki (1stst tutorial) tutorial)

Web resourcesWeb resources Be aware of false informationBe aware of false information Be selectiveBe selective Watch out for accidental Watch out for accidental plagiarismplagiarism Dictionary Answers on the Web 粵語審音配詞字庫 Search engines (Search engines (google + + yahoo))

Who are we?Who are we?

What is human relations?What is human relations?

HUMAN RELATIONS HUMAN RELATIONS (p. 5)(p. 5): : The ability The ability to interact effectively with diverse to interact effectively with diverse others in a variety of situations.others in a variety of situations.

Why Study Human Why Study Human Relations?Relations?

Effective interpersonal skills are key to Effective interpersonal skills are key to successful personal relationshipssuccessful personal relationships

Success in relationships is nested in Success in relationships is nested in effective patterns of communicationeffective patterns of communication

Interpersonal skills are highly valued in Interpersonal skills are highly valued in workforce today workforce today

Skills must be paired with an understanding Skills must be paired with an understanding of the context of interactionsof the context of interactions

What is Context?What is Context?

CONTEXT CONTEXT (p. 2): (p. 2): Personalities, cultural Personalities, cultural background, situational factors in each background, situational factors in each interaction.interaction.

How does context apply How does context apply to human relations to human relations activities?activities? ListeningListening

SituationSituation

Recognition of diversityRecognition of diversity

Listening Listening Listening is an important aspect of Listening is an important aspect of

human relations.human relations. Why this is true? Why this is true? How do you know? How do you know? Why does listening effectiveness differ Why does listening effectiveness differ

from situation to situation?from situation to situation?

Situation or ContextSituation or Context What is the What is the contextcontext for success in this for success in this

class?class? As a successful college As a successful college studentstudent in this class in this class As a successful college As a successful college teacherteacher in this class in this class

How are these contexts different and alike?How are these contexts different and alike?

Context (Business)Context (Business)e.g. World’s local banke.g. World’s local bank

Recognition of diversityRecognition of diversity Increasing diversity in Increasing diversity in ChineseChinese culture culture

and society influences relations with and society influences relations with others.others.

Cultural backgrounds play significant Cultural backgrounds play significant role in beliefs, expectations, and role in beliefs, expectations, and interpretations that influence interpretations that influence interactions with others.interactions with others.

What is the “art” of What is the “art” of human relations?human relations?

There is more to effective human There is more to effective human relations than listening (or any other relations than listening (or any other skill). skill).

The “art” of human relations emerges The “art” of human relations emerges as one becomes more proficient in as one becomes more proficient in knowing what, when, and how to use knowing what, when, and how to use skills (p. 3).skills (p. 3).

What is psychology?What is psychology?

PSYCHOLOGY PSYCHOLOGY (p. 4) (p. 4) is the scientific study is the scientific study of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Why use psychology to Why use psychology to study human relations?study human relations?

The study of PSYCHOLOGY is best The study of PSYCHOLOGY is best suited to understand context using suited to understand context using empirical evidence. empirical evidence.

Psychology considers Psychology considers internalinternal (personality) and (personality) and externalexternal (social and (social and cultural) factors.cultural) factors.

What is empirical What is empirical evidence?evidence?

EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE (p. 4): (p. 4): Based on Based on data that has been collected through data that has been collected through precise measurement under carefully precise measurement under carefully controlled conditionscontrolled conditions..

Empirical evidence is Empirical evidence is science-basedscience-based..

Why does this matter Why does this matter when studying human when studying human relations?relations?

What problems might occur if you use What problems might occur if you use only your own personal experience or only your own personal experience or that of another to understand and/or that of another to understand and/or interpret why people think or act in interpret why people think or act in certain ways? certain ways?

And so…what is human And so…what is human relations?relations?

HUMAN RELATIONSHUMAN RELATIONS (p. 5) (p. 5) ability to interact effectively with diverse ability to interact effectively with diverse

others in a variety of situations.others in a variety of situations. process that begins early in life and process that begins early in life and

continues to develop in formal and informal continues to develop in formal and informal ways.ways.

Assessing Your Current Assessing Your Current Human Relations AbilitiesHuman Relations Abilities

Activity 1.1: Assessing your current Activity 1.1: Assessing your current strengths and areas of improvement in strengths and areas of improvement in relations with others.relations with others. Take a few minutes to complete the exercise Take a few minutes to complete the exercise

on pages 26-27 of your text.on pages 26-27 of your text. What are your greatest strengths?What are your greatest strengths? What are your most significant areas for What are your most significant areas for

improvement?improvement? Personal Statement (Assignment 1) Personal Statement (Assignment 1)

What is culture?What is culture?

CULTURECULTURE (p. 7) (p. 7) is a set of values, shared is a set of values, shared by a group of people, which shape and by a group of people, which shape and influence norms, attitudes, beliefs, influence norms, attitudes, beliefs, expectations, perceptions, and expectations, perceptions, and behaviors of group members.behaviors of group members.

Individualism-Individualism-CollectivismCollectivism

Dimension is characterized on continuumDimension is characterized on continuum

Individualism (higher value on the individual)

Collectivism (higher value on the group or family)

Examples in Hong Kong

Culture and DiversityCulture and Diversity Culture is steeped in diversity.Culture is steeped in diversity.

Diversity involves a long, enduring history.Diversity involves a long, enduring history. A wide degree of diversity in acceptable A wide degree of diversity in acceptable

behavior among different people comes behavior among different people comes from different value systems.from different value systems.

And so…And so… Culture influences basic values related Culture influences basic values related

to a wide range of things:to a wide range of things: Group normsGroup norms BeliefsBeliefs Situational expectationsSituational expectations PerceptionsPerceptions AttitudesAttitudes

How are values defined?How are values defined?

VALUES (p. 9) VALUES (p. 9) are guiding principles.are guiding principles.• Terminal valuesTerminal values

─ Refer to overall life goalsRefer to overall life goals• Instrumental valuesInstrumental values

─ Refer to types of behavior that we strive for or Refer to types of behavior that we strive for or preferprefer

Dimensions of CultureDimensions of Culture Four main dimensions are used to Four main dimensions are used to

compare cultures:compare cultures: Individualism-Collectivism (IC)Individualism-Collectivism (IC) Power Distance (PD)Power Distance (PD) Uncertainty Avoidance (UA)Uncertainty Avoidance (UA) Masculinity-Femininity (MAS)Masculinity-Femininity (MAS)

Culture

Masculinity-Femininity

(MAS)

Uncertainty Avoidance

(UA)Power Distance

(PD)

Individualism-Collectivism

(IC)

Dimensions of Culture

What is Power Distance What is Power Distance (PD)?(PD)?

POWER DISTANCE (PD)POWER DISTANCE (PD) (p. 17) (p. 17) examines examines how a culture deals with the basic issue how a culture deals with the basic issue of human inequality.of human inequality.

Societies differentially create Societies differentially create mechanisms to reinforce dominance.mechanisms to reinforce dominance.

What is Uncertainty What is Uncertainty Avoidance?Avoidance?

UNCERTAINTY AVOIDANCEUNCERTAINTY AVOIDANCE (p. 20) (p. 20) is the is the extent to which the members of a culture extent to which the members of a culture feel threatened by uncertain or unknown feel threatened by uncertain or unknown situations.situations.

The best explanation for variance in The best explanation for variance in uncertainty avoidance is probably rooted uncertainty avoidance is probably rooted in historical and religious traditions.in historical and religious traditions.

Masculinity-FemininityMasculinity-Femininity

MASCULINITY-FEMININITY (MAS)MASCULINITY-FEMININITY (MAS) (p. 21) (p. 21) refers to the degree of differentiation refers to the degree of differentiation between the roles of men and women in between the roles of men and women in a culture.a culture.

Conclusion (lecture 1)Conclusion (lecture 1) Course InfoCourse Info Learning resourcesLearning resources Basic thinking skillsBasic thinking skills ContextContext Culture –What, how?Culture –What, how?

Individualism-Collectivism (IC)Individualism-Collectivism (IC) Power Distance (PD)Power Distance (PD) Uncertainty Avoidance (UA)Uncertainty Avoidance (UA) Masculinity-Femininity (MAS)Masculinity-Femininity (MAS)