Globalization Lecture Notes

Definition of Globalization

• Globalization: The process by which businesses or organizations develop international influence or start operations on an international scale.
• Involves interaction and integration among people of different nations.
• Driven by international trade and investment, aided by technology.

Factors Driving Globalization

• Increased travel.
• Transnational companies adhering to labor standards.
• International marketing and access to goods.
• Social media facilitating the flow of information.

Cultural Aspects

• Local culture: The immediate culture one is born into.
• Global culture: Cultures apart from one's own.
• Biculturalism: The coexistence of two cultural identities that one can mix and interchange in different situations.

Changes Caused by Globalization

• Changes in self-perception and perception of others.
• Shifts in gender roles and attitudes towards marriage and sexuality.
• Increase in consumerism and changes in cuisine.
• Loss and combination of cultures and languages.

Effects of Globalization

1. Identity Globalization: Difficulty integrating one's values and place in society.
2. Delocalization: Strong global identity but lack of identification with local culture.

Examples and Case Studies

Hikikomori

• Definition: A culture-bound syndrome primarily in Japan, characterized by social withdrawal.
• Causes: Clash between global influences and traditional societal expectations leading to feelings of disconnection and alienation.
• Symptoms: Lack of motivation for school or work, persistent withdrawal for at least six months.
• Statistics: In 2016, the Japanese government estimated 540,000 people aged 15-39 were affected.
• Impact: Loss of self-esteem and increased difficulty reintegrating into society.

Study by Ogihara & Uchida (2014)

• Investigated the impact of individualistic workplaces on Japanese women.
• Sample: 34 Japanese women working in an international, achievement-oriented company.
• Findings: Lower subjective well-being and fewer close friends among participants.
• Conclusion: Globalization promotes individualism in workplaces, conflicting with traditional collectivistic values.
• Evaluation:
  • Strength: High testability and construct validity.
  • Weakness: Potential social desirability bias in self-reported data.

Norasakkunkit and Uchida (2014)

• Applied Berry and Sam’s acculturation model to explain hikikomori origins.
• Aim: To compare views on social harmony between high-risk and low-risk students for hikikomori.
• Sample: 195 Japanese university students.
• Method: Standardized tests on social harmony, conformity, and cultural identity.
• Results:
  • High-risk students valued social harmony less than low-risk students.
  • High-risk students scored lower on both local and global identity.
• Conclusion: Globalization may lead to cultural dissonance and identity confusion.
• Evaluation:
  • Strength: Methodological rigor highlighting cultural dissonance patterns.
  • Weakness: Challenges in understanding psychological impacts of globalization across cultures.