Task & People-orientation Compared
The Hungarian culture is not a collectivist culture, unlike most CEE countries; rather, it is a
moderately individualistic culture; however, significantly less so, than Anglo-Western or
even German cultures.
The West is, by in large, a goal-oriented society while the East is a relationship-oriented
society. In other words, a Westerner gains value from the product, while the Easterner
gains value from the relationship.
Hungarians by and large fall in the middle, with growing individualistic tendencies. We are
becoming selfish, like the rest of the "successful" world.
The majority of Hungarians still value relationships above all other sources of
happiness. So building relationships of trust takes top priority. Nothing of significance is
likely to happen if there is little trust.
Most Anglo-Westerners try to build trust by showing themselves competent in completing
tasks, whereas Hungarians - and other CEE’s even more - tend to build trust by spending
time, including work time, together.
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The Hungarian culture is not a collectivist culture, unlike most CEE countries; rather, it is a
moderately individualistic culture; however, significantly less so, than Anglo-Western or
even German cultures.
The West is, by in large, a goal-oriented society while the East is a relationship-oriented
society. In other words, a Westerner gains value from the product, while the Easterner
gains value from the relationship.
Hungarians by and large fall in the middle, with growing individualistic tendencies. We are
becoming selfish, like the rest of the "successful" world.
The majority of Hungarians still value relationships above all other sources of
happiness. So building relationships of trust takes top priority. Nothing of significance is
likely to happen if there is little trust.
Most Anglo-Westerners try to build trust by showing themselves competent in completing
tasks, whereas Hungarians - and other CEE’s even more - tend to build trust by spending
time, including work time, together.
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Hungarian Mentality: Values, Behavior and Thinking
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Hungarian
Culture, Language & Relocation Resources
Culture, Language & Relocation Resources
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American Culture (highly individualistic)
Key ideas: Competence, product, project,
task = “what I accomplish”
Everyone grows up to look after himself
and his immediate (nuclear) family only
Identity is based in the individual
Children are encouraged to think in terms
of ‘I’
Speaking one’s mind is a characteristic of
an honest person (low-context
communication) – they expect a high level
of detail in their visual, verbal, and written
communication.
Purpose of education is learning how to
learn practical skills for personal success
Education increase economic worth and/or
self-respect
Task prevails over relationship
Individual interests prevail over collective
interests
“I do this for me” – is considered a positive
statement; it is a legitimate reason for
doing good
Everyone has a right to privacy
Everyone is expected to have a private
opinion
Restrained role of the state in the
economic system
Ideologies of individual freedom prevail
over ideologies of equality
Self-actualization by every individual is an
ultimate goal
Key ideas: Competence, product, project,
task = “what I accomplish”
Everyone grows up to look after himself
and his immediate (nuclear) family only
Identity is based in the individual
Children are encouraged to think in terms
of ‘I’
Speaking one’s mind is a characteristic of
an honest person (low-context
communication) – they expect a high level
of detail in their visual, verbal, and written
communication.
Purpose of education is learning how to
learn practical skills for personal success
Education increase economic worth and/or
self-respect
Task prevails over relationship
Individual interests prevail over collective
interests
“I do this for me” – is considered a positive
statement; it is a legitimate reason for
doing good
Everyone has a right to privacy
Everyone is expected to have a private
opinion
Restrained role of the state in the
economic system
Ideologies of individual freedom prevail
over ideologies of equality
Self-actualization by every individual is an
ultimate goal
Hungarian Culture (moderate, but
gradually emerging individualistic traits)
Key ideas: Relationships “who I am, who I
belong to
People are traditionally expected to put the
interest of their family or group where they
belong, before their own interest.
Identity is based on whom you belong to
(“Madarat tolláról, embert barátjáról…” –
you recognize the birds by its feathers, you
know who a person is by the friends he
has)
Children are encouraged to think in terms
of ‘we’
Tell it like it is, be ‘honest’ is a value, but
harmony should be maintained (to avoid
stress and change) and direct
confrontations avoided (high-context
communication) - they pay a lot of attention
to surrounding details and content, for
example: physical location, attire, the
individual, organization of the information.
Purpose of education is becoming
‘cultivated’ (knowledge creates who you
are) and learning how to do
Knowledge is highly valued
Education provides entry to higher status
groups (social respect) and increase self-
respect
Relationship prevails over task
Traditionally, you are supposed to give
collective interests a higher priority than
your own. You are expected to do
something just because it helps your
group, even though it is not taking you
ahead in fulfilling your personal goals.
“I do this for me” – sounds selfish to those
raised in a Hungarian family
Privacy is highly valued, but family and best
friends are free to invade
Hungarians are big on forming their own,
unique, different opinions (2 Hungarians 3
opinions).
State is expected to play a balancing role
and help out in crisis. Practically, the state
is still seen as a pain in the neck and not
as an institution that serves our combined
interests.
Ideologies of equality still prevail over
ideologies of individual freedom
Personal happiness comes from
relationships: maintaining a happy family,
creating a progressing society, having
fulfilling personal relationships, and being
able to "look in the mirror" with self-respect
(have not over-compromised personal
values).
gradually emerging individualistic traits)
Key ideas: Relationships “who I am, who I
belong to
People are traditionally expected to put the
interest of their family or group where they
belong, before their own interest.
Identity is based on whom you belong to
(“Madarat tolláról, embert barátjáról…” –
you recognize the birds by its feathers, you
know who a person is by the friends he
has)
Children are encouraged to think in terms
of ‘we’
Tell it like it is, be ‘honest’ is a value, but
harmony should be maintained (to avoid
stress and change) and direct
confrontations avoided (high-context
communication) - they pay a lot of attention
to surrounding details and content, for
example: physical location, attire, the
individual, organization of the information.
Purpose of education is becoming
‘cultivated’ (knowledge creates who you
are) and learning how to do
Knowledge is highly valued
Education provides entry to higher status
groups (social respect) and increase self-
respect
Relationship prevails over task
Traditionally, you are supposed to give
collective interests a higher priority than
your own. You are expected to do
something just because it helps your
group, even though it is not taking you
ahead in fulfilling your personal goals.
“I do this for me” – sounds selfish to those
raised in a Hungarian family
Privacy is highly valued, but family and best
friends are free to invade
Hungarians are big on forming their own,
unique, different opinions (2 Hungarians 3
opinions).
State is expected to play a balancing role
and help out in crisis. Practically, the state
is still seen as a pain in the neck and not
as an institution that serves our combined
interests.
Ideologies of equality still prevail over
ideologies of individual freedom
Personal happiness comes from
relationships: maintaining a happy family,
creating a progressing society, having
fulfilling personal relationships, and being
able to "look in the mirror" with self-respect
(have not over-compromised personal
values).
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| - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - HUNGARIAN CULTURE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
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Hungarian Culture Blog
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Hungarian Culture Blog
Share your experiences,
frustrations,
questions and advice!
www.hunreal.com