What is indulgence vs restraint

A tendency toward a relatively weak control over their impulses is called “Indulgence”, whereas a relatively strong control over their urges is called “Restraint”. Cultures can be described as Indulgent or Restrained. The United States scores as an Indulgent (68) society on the sixth dimension.

Indulgence. The Indulgence dimension is a relatively new dimension to the model. This dimension is defined as the extent to which people try to control their desires and impulses, based on the way they were raised. Relatively weak control is called Indulgence and relatively strong control is called Restraint.

Indulgence is the last dimension in Hofstede’s cultural model. It refers to the degree to which a culture allows human nature to direct its behavior. … Indulgence is related to the enjoyment of life and having fun. On the contrary, some societies attempt to control these drives through social norms.

Among Asian countries on same survey, Singapore is top three Asian countries of high level of Indulgence and China is in top three countries with high level of Restraint. Therefore, these two countries were selected as to explore how the distinctive level of IVR can influence on a similar business case in each country.

INDULGENCE VERSUS RESTRAINT (IVR)

Indulgence stands for a society that allows relatively free gratification of basic and natural human drives related to enjoying life and having fun. Restraint stands for a society that suppresses gratification of needs and regulates it by means of strict social norms.

Cultures can, therefore, be described as Indulgent or Restrained. India receives a low score of 26 in this dimension, meaning that it is a culture of Restraint. Societies with a low score in this dimension have a tendency to cynicism and pessimism.

“Singapore, with a score of 20 is a collectivistic society. This means that the “We” is important, people belong to in-groups (families, clans or organisations) who look after each other in exchange for loyalty. … Singapore scores 8 on this dimension and thus scores very low on this (uncertainty avoidance) dimension.

Singapore scores 48 and is in the “middle” of the scale but more on the Feminine side. This means that the softer aspects of culture such as leveling with others, consensus, sympathy for the underdog are valued and encouraged.

Australia scores 61 on this dimension and is considered a “Masculine” society. Behavior in school, work, and play are based on the shared values that people should “strive to be the best they can be” and that “the winner takes all”.

Framework of Cultures

Hofstede’s five dimensions of cultures served as the framework of our study: power distance; collectivism versus individualism; masculinity versus femininity; uncertainty avoidance; and long – term versus short – term orientation.

Power Distance is defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organisations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally. Singapore scores high on this dimension (score of 74).

Singapore is a multi-ethnic society with Chinese around 77%, Indian around 6%, Malay around 15% and expatriates around 2%. Ethnocentrism is the presumption that the way of life of one’s own gathering is correct, good and judicious, and that different societies are substandard. …

Singapore served as a central point of trade between the East and West in the 19th century, coming under British colonial rule in 1826 until 1963. Today, it is independent of Britain and Malaysia. However, the influence of its past British governance means that it is one of the most Westernised countries in Asia.

Long Term Orientation

Cultures that score high in long-term orientation embrace future-oriented virtues such as thriftiness, pragmatism, persistence, and perseverance. Such cultures also tend to pay more respect to traditions. Singapore scores high in this dimension.

Power Distance Index (PDI)

This refers to the degree of inequality that exists – and is accepted – between people with and without power. A high PDI score indicates that a society accepts an unequal, hierarchical distribution of power, and that people understand “their place” in the system.

The most followed religion in Singapore is Buddhism, with 31.1% of the resident population declaring themselves as adherents at the most recent census (2020).

Singapore is a small but prosperous island nation that has a lot to offer when it comes to quality of life and individual growth. … Safe and secure environment – One of the things that is rare to any other country in Asia is the safe and secure environment that the Singapore offers.

Baju Kurung

Source Baju Kurung is a traditional costume as well as the national dress of Singapore and Malaysia. This traditional dress became fashionable in the late 19th century by Sultan Abu Bakar of Johar. Baju Kurung is a generic name given to the outfit for both male and female.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses, Unification Church and Christian Conference of Asia are outlawed in Singapore because they threaten public order and, therefore, are not protected by the constitution, a representative of the Home Affairs Ministry said in parliament Thursday.

Singapore is a secular state and has no state religion. It was named the most religiously diverse nation by the Pew Research Center in 2014. Singapore deregistered the Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1972 because of their opposition to military service which is obligatory for all male citizens.

Jehovah’s Witness members have been imprisoned in many countries for their refusal of conscription or compulsory military service. Their religious activities are banned or restricted in some countries, including Singapore, China, Vietnam, Russia and many Muslim-majority countries.

Religions that are not permitted to exist in China like the Falun Gong or Jehovah’s witnesses are not protected by the constitution. Religious groups that are not registered by the government, like Catholics who are part of an underground church or Protestant house churches, are not protected by the constitution.