Discuss and give examples of the cultural influence on the use of time. Include a discussion of formal and informal time, monochronism and polychronism, and the social clock.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The ideal answer should include:
- Cultural influences on the use of time include formal and informal time; monochronism and polychronism; and the social clock.
- In the United States and in most of the world, time is divided formally. This includes seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years. Some cultures, however, may use seasons or phases of the moon to demarcate their most important time periods. Informal time divisions are more general and more ambiguous; they involve such informal time terms as "forever,""immediately,""soon," etc.
- Monochronic people or cultures schedule one thing at a time. In these cultures, time is compartmentalized and there is a time for everything. Polychronic people or cultures, on the other hand, schedule multiple things at the same time.
- Your culture maintains a social clock-a time schedule for the right time to do various important things, such as finishing college, buying your own home, or having a child. The social clock tells you if you are keeping pace with your peers, are ahead of them, or are falling behind.
- Student examples may vary.