ABSTRACT
The inner core consists of a culture's beliefs and values, history, identity/ identities, and worldviews. These elements of culture are the most difficult to change, as they are the most central to individuals. The intermediate layer of culture consists of the group activities that make up the culture, such as art, literature, communication(s), rules, customs, stories, rituals, and other forms of expression. S. H. Schwartz identified seven types of values on which to compare cultures: conservatism, egalitarian commitment, harmony, hierarchy, mastery, affective autonomy, and intellectual autonomy. There are dimensions of culture that might be similar or different in Finland and the US that could explain the differences in communication styles. These dimensions are cultural variability. Two researchers in particular have shaped our understanding of cultural variability, G. Hofstede and Edward T. Hall. Hall described three distinct cultural factors: context, time, and space. Hall discussed how cultures fall on a continuum between high and low context.
