Habits and Behaviour: How We Interpret Them

Imagine a in Thailand socialized person and a Russia socialized person meeting for the first time.
The Thai person smiles warmly, because in their culture, a smile is a sign of respect, harmony, and kindness.
The Russian person doesn’t smile, because in their culture, smiling at strangers can be seen as insincere or even foolish.

What do they think of each other?
One might feel ignored. The other might feel misunderstood.

Neither is wrong. Neither is rude.
They’re simply acting according to what they’ve learned.

Our Culture Influences Our Perspective

Where we come from shapes how we see the world and how we interpret others. These habits, beliefs, and expectations are not neutral. They’re deeply rooted in history, language, and lived experience.

And sometimes, what we learn includes ideas that are unfair. Biases. Stereotypes. Assumptions.

These can distort how we see others and how others see us.

Consider how many people in, so called, “industrialized nations” view Africa. The image of mud huts, poverty, and “tribal” simplicity is widespread.
Rarely is Africa seen as what it truly is: a vast continent with 54 countries, thousands of cultures, and bustling metropolises like Lagos, Nairobi, and Johannesburg.

This narrow lens affects how people perceive individuals from African nations. It can lead to assumptions: less educated, less advanced, less capable. These biases are not just inaccurate, they’re harmful.

They shape policies, media narratives, and interpersonal dynamics. And they often stem from colonial histories that framed Africa as a place to be “civilized” or “saved.”

Perspectives In History Influences Our Perspectives

Take a moment to reflect on this: In 1493, Christopher Columbus wrote that the Indigenous peoples of the Americas traded gold for trinkets. To him, this was a sign of naivety. But what if they simply valued gold differently? What if they had no concept of wealth as accumulation?

That single interpretation rooted in a European, capitalist worldview helped shape a narrative that still lingers today.

That Indigenous peoples were “simple,” “primitive,” or “foolish.”

But perspective is not truth. Columbus is seen by some as a heroic explorer. By others, especially Indigenous communities, he is remembered as a violent conqueror.

This is the power of perception. It can build bridges or reinforce walls. It can honor difference or erase it.

When we begin to question what we’ve learned, we open the door to deeper understanding. Not just of others, but of ourselves.