Your 83-year-old grandmother has been using a computer for some time now. As a way to keep in touch, you frequently send e-mails of a few lines to let her know about your day. She calls after every mail to respond point by point, but she has never e-mailed a response back. This can be viewed as an example of:

 Options:

a. cultural lag b. innovation c. ethnocentricity d. xenophobia

The Correct Answer Is:

a. cultural lag

Correct Answer Explanation: a. cultural lag

The scenario presented here illustrates “cultural lag,” which refers to the delayed adjustment of cultural patterns to new circumstances.

In this case, your grandmother, though adept at using a computer for emails, seems to adhere to traditional modes of communication, such as making a phone call in response to your emails rather than replying through email itself.

This delay in adapting to the new method of communication (emailing a response back) despite being familiar with the technology represents a cultural lag. Cultural lag, in essence, reflects the time it takes for societal norms, behaviors, and practices to catch up with technological advancements.

In the case of your grandmother’s interaction, it’s not about a resistance to technology itself but rather a delay in adapting fully to its potential. Her willingness and ability to use the computer and email demonstrate her openness to embracing new technology.

However, her choice to respond via phone calls instead of replying through email showcases a slower adjustment in fully integrating this technology into her communication practices.

This exemplifies a gap between the adoption of a technological innovation and the complete assimilation of its use in everyday cultural behaviors—a classic instance of cultural lag.

Now, let’s delve into why the other options innovation, ethnocentricity, and xenophobia are not the correct answers in this context:

b. Innovation:

Innovation refers to the introduction of something new or the creation of a new method, idea, or product. In this scenario, your grandmother’s use of a computer and her ability to communicate via email does demonstrate a level of innovation as she has adopted a new technology.

However, the focus of the question is not on her initial adoption but rather her delayed adaptation or response within the same technological realm.

c. Ethnocentricity:

Ethnocentricity involves viewing one’s own culture as superior to others and judging other cultures based on one’s own cultural standards. The scenario described doesn’t explicitly suggest any judgment or superiority of one form of communication over the other.

It primarily highlights a delay in adapting to a new method of communication.

d. Xenophobia:

Xenophobia refers to an irrational fear or dislike of people from other countries or cultures. There’s no indication in the scenario that your grandmother’s behavior is driven by fear or dislike of the technology (email) itself or any cultural aversion to using it.

Instead, it’s about a delay in fully embracing the new communication method.

So, while the other options touch on different aspects of culture or adaptation to new technologies, they don’t directly address the specific scenario of a delayed adjustment or adaptation to a new mode of communication, which aligns with the concept of cultural lag.

Your grandmother’s preference for responding with a phone call rather than an email might be influenced by various factors, such as comfort levels, habits, or perceived efficiency of communication methods.

Cultural lag often occurs when technological advancements outpace changes in societal norms or practices, creating a gap between the adoption of new technology and its integration into daily life or cultural practices.

In this case, while your grandmother has embraced using a computer and email, her response pattern suggests a slower adjustment to fully utilizing email as a bidirectional communication tool.

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