cultural relativism

"The degree to which an individual judges another culture by its context (as opposed to ethnocentrism which judges others by the standards of one's own culture)" (Rogers & Steinfatt, 1999, p. 266).   A person taking a strong cultural relativistic stance would judge the actions and beliefs of another culture not as right or wrong, but as different.  

See also ethnocentrism. 

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Rogers, E. M. & Steinfatt, T. M. (1999). Intercultural Communication. Prospect Heights, Illinois: Waveland Press.  

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Authors:

• William B. Hart, Ph.D.