Final answer:
Cultures that prefer to avoid ambiguity and uncertainty are characterized by the 'uncertainty avoidance' dimension of Geert Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory, which analyzes the effects of cultural behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cultures that feel threatened by ambiguous and uncertain situations, and try to avoid them by preferring formal rules and societal control, can be characterized by what is known as the uncertainty avoidance dimension for contrasting cultures. This dimension is part of Geert Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory, which is widely used to understand the effects of a society's culture on the behavior of its members, and how they relate to behavior in other cultures. Cultures high in uncertainty avoidance tend to have strict laws and regulations, a need for security, and less tolerance for unconventional ideas and behaviors, whereas those low on this dimension tend to be more accepting of ambiguity and are more comfortable with changing situations and variety in life.
Idioms of distress, causal attributions, and various social controls like norms, primary and secondary appraisals, and sanctions, all play a role in defining how a culture responds to stress and unfamiliar situations. These aspects of culture illustrate the values and beliefs of societies, which in turn affect how individuals react to and appraise different situations. Understanding these concepts can help us better navigate cross-cultural interactions in an increasingly globalized world.