The Culture of Honor
What does "culture of honor" mean?
A culture where people strongly defend their reputation.
What is Harlan, Kentucky?
A small town in Appalachia
What is a big reason why plane crashes happen?
Miscommunication between pilots and copilots.
What is "power distance"?
How much people respect and obey authority in a culture
Why did Korean Air have a bad safety record in the 1990s?
Because pilots and copilots didn't communicate well.
Where did cultures of honor originally come from?
They often come from herding societies, like the Scotch-Irish settlers in America.
What two families had a biq feud in Harlan?
The Howard and Turner families.
What is "mitigated speech"?
Speaking too politely or indirectly instead of giving clear instructions.
Do high-power-distance cultures encourage questioning authority?
No, people are expected to respect their leaders without question.
What language did Korean Air start using in the cockpit?
English
How do people in honor cultures usually respond to insults?
With anger or even violence
Why did the families in Harlan fight so much?
They believed in defending their honor.
Why is mitigated speech a problem in the cockpit?
Pilots may not realize how serious a problem is if it's said too gently.
Why can high power distance be dangerous in aviation?
A copilot might not speak up if a pilot makes a mistake
How did speaking English help Korean Air?
It forced copilots to speak more directly.
What part of the U.S. has a history of the culture of honor?
The South, especially places like Appalachia.
What kind of work did early settlers in Harlan do?
Herding animals like sheep and cattle.
What does Gladwell mean by the "Ethnic Theory of Plane Crashes"?
That cultural differences in communication can lead to accidents.
What kind of culture has low power distance?
One where people feel comfortable challenging authority.
What big change did Korean Air make to improve safety?
They trained pilots to communicate more openly.
Why do cultures of honor still affect people today?
Traditions and behaviors are passed down through generations.
What lesson does Gladwell teach with the story of Harlan?
That cultural traditions influence how people behave, even generations later.
What happens when a copilot is afraid to correct the pilot?
Mistakes might not get fixed, leading to a crash.
How can pilots overcome communication problems?
By using clear, direct language and teamwork training.
What happened to Korean Air after these changes?
It became one of the safest airlines in the world.