Cultural stereotype

Are you relying on a cultural cliché?

Punctual Germans, polite Japanese, argumentative Italians: Generalizations can be well-intentioned. But they fuel prejudice and discrimination, because they reduce people to arbitrarily ascribed characteristics. Cultural stereotypes can also be an expression of ethnocentrism - a way of seeing the world solely from the perspective of one's own culture, customs and values. This can isolate and alienate people - and adversely affect the working relationship.