Culture is fascinating! Did you know that what might be logical to you may not be logical to someone from another culture? Notions of logic are culturally based and lie deep in the layers of cultural conditioning. When working with another culture, have you ever said to yourself: "Where is he coming from?" We must be aware that U.S. linear thought might not match a more "holistic" style. In his book The Geography of Thought, Richard Nisbett and coauthors conducted experiments which involved showing underwater animated scenes to Japanese and Americans. The first observations often made by Americans referred to the focal fish: "There was a big fish swimming to the right.", but most often the first statements made by the Japanese referred to background elements: "There was a lake or a pond". Although both groups made some comments about the focal fish, the Japanese made about 100% more statements about the environment and the relations involving the inanimate aspects of the background. In subsequent viewings the Japanese recognition performance was harmed by showing the focal fish with the wrong background, indicating that the perception of the object had been "bound: to the field in which it appeared." The Americans' recognition of the object was unaffected by the wrong background. What is the predominant thinking style of the members of your organization? Global LT’s Cultural Training Programs - Thought Process: Japan