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Understanding National Psychology: How Culture Shapes Values

When we travel abroad or watch movies from other countries, we often notice that people live very different lives. These differences may include values, family dynamics, and lifestyle choices.

The term for this is national psychology. It describes how people from a certain nation or ethnic group share a unique mix of attitudes, emotions, motivations, and abilities.

Why National Psychology Matters in Language and Translation

National psychology is important because culture shapes how people use language. Language connects to many things, such as:

• Family traditions
• Schooling
• Government influence
• The media

Each of these areas helps build a country’s unique “national context.” This context influences how words are used and what they mean in local settings. When translating, understanding this context is key to providing accurate and sensitive results.

That’s why it’s important to use skilled translators who know both the source and target languages well. These experts can translate meaning—not just words. At GoTranscript, our text translation services are designed to meet this cultural need.

What Do People Value Most? Learnings from the World Values Survey

The World Values Survey is a major global project that collects information about what people in 94 nations value most (World Values Survey, 2022). Researchers focus on four main values:

• Work
• Leisure
• Friends
• Religion

Let’s look at which countries prioritize each value and why this matters.

Work: The Top Value in Many Countries

• For nearly 50 percent of the countries, work is the most important value.
• Many South American nations place work above friends or religion.
• In India, both religion and work are rated as very important, but work comes first.
• Exceptions: In Trinidad and Tobago, religion is top; in Chile, leisure wins.

Friends: Highly Valued in Nordic Nations

• In 25 out of 94 countries, friends are chosen as the most important value.
• Norway and Sweden especially value friendships.
• Despite this, studies show that people in Nordic countries often find it hard to make new friends, especially if they move to a new country (Statista, 2021).

Religion: Essential in Many Asian and African Nations

• Fewer than a quarter of the countries studied said religion was their primary value.
• This value is most important in Asia and Africa, especially in mostly Islamic countries.
• Trinidad and Tobago, which is largely Christian, is unique in its region for putting religion first.

Leisure: A Top Value in Unexpected Places

• Only five countries picked leisure as the highest value—Japan, Canada, Andorra, Chile, and Finland.
• This may go against common beliefs, since Japan is often thought to have a strong focus on work.
• Ottawa and Helsinki rank high in work-life balance worldwide, supporting the focus on leisure.

Can National Values Truly Define a Country?

Labeling a country by one main value might seem too simple. Research offers mixed views:

• Some studies say national values shape behaviors (Inglehart, 2022).
• Other experts claim no single value defines everyone in a country (Smith, 2020).

Human experience is diverse. Even in the same country, people have different priorities, goals, and ways of seeing the world. There is no single “mold” for all citizens.

Why Cultural Sensitivity Is Needed in Translation

Local knowledge of both language and culture helps translators provide the best results. Culturally aware translators ensure that translations are:

• Accurate
• Respectful
• Easy to understand
• Free of cultural misunderstanding

At GoTranscript, we select translators who are deeply familiar with both cultures involved. This leads to more effective text translation services and higher satisfaction for clients.

Solutions That Match Your Global Communication Needs

Understanding national psychology helps businesses, educators, and creators connect across borders. At GoTranscript, we offer a full range of services to support your communication, including:

• Transcription services for accurate text from audio and video
• Automated transcription for fast, AI-powered results
• AI transcription subscriptions to streamline your workflow
• Closed caption services for better accessibility
• Subtitling services for multilingual video content
• Proofreading services for error-free transcripts
• Text translation and audio translation services to reach audiences worldwide

We also offer competitive transcription pricing and captioning rates. Ready to get started? Order transcription or order captions with GoTranscript today. Our expert teams ensure your message is clear, accurate, and culturally sensitive—every time.