Comparison of Slovak and Arabic culture III. Opinions about life

Geert Hofstede is a widely recognized expert whose work established a major research tradition in cross-cultural psychology and communication. He developed six dimensions model along which cultural values could be analysed. Some of these dimensions were studied in our research. We also focused on the family background and individual´s self-perception within the society. Both cultures agreed that parents should encourage their children to have good manners, be tolerant and responsible. Most differences occur in that Arabic respondents consider very important to educate their children on the religious faith, hard work and obedience, and Slovaks emphasize the independence, perseverance and imagination. Although the majority of the two cultures tended to make parental responsibility to do the best for their children even at the expense of their own well-being we can assert that Arabic respondents have a significantly more intense view on this issue and are therefore more willing to sacrifice for their children than Slovaks. Most Slovak and Arabic respondents believe that the role of children is to take care of their parents, even at the expense of their own well-being while Arabic respondents have more intense view on this issue as Slovaks. Another comparison showed that Arabic respondents have more intensive feeling of failure and of very little chance to show how capable they are but also more intensive feeling of respect in local area, of what they do in their life is valuable and also of self-confidence. But on the other side they are less optimistic about the future of the world and they more consider that for most people in their country life is getting worse rather than better.