The Role of Beliefs And Customs in Sanitation Programs

Abstract

There is a common tendency to misconstrue the meaning of observed cultural differences. Three kinds of misinterpretation are common. The 1st is to suppose that "they" have more odd beliefs and habits than we have. However, all cultures combine rational and nonrational elements. A 2d is that our ways and ideas are more advanced than theirs. This assumption represents a partial truth: scientific and technological aspects of culture can be measured and ranked; but many aspects of culture, including language, aesthetics, and moral values, lie beyond objective rating for want of a culture-free standard of measurement. A 3d tendency is to view customs and beliefs as isolated elements rather than as parts of a cultural system. People often cling to a practice or belief not merely because it is familiar but because it is linked to other elements of the cultural system. If we could separate the technological means for im-. proving health from our American cultural values, we might have more success in exporting the former. To do this, we must learn to understand our own cultural assumptions as well as those of the country we strive to help.