Final answer:
Individuals in countries like China or Iraq, which prioritize background knowledge and relationships over spoken words, belong to collectivistic cultures. These cultures are contrasted with individualistic cultures, where personal independence is emphasized. Research and globalization trends support these cultural classifications.
Step-by-step explanation:
In many countries, like China or Iraq, individuals focus more on background knowledge and their relationship with their conversational partner than on the spoken words. These are collectivistic cultures. Collectivistic cultures prioritize group harmony and interconnectedness over individual achievement. In such cultures, understanding the context, including the relationship between speakers and their roles within a group, is essential for effective communication. This contrasts with individualistic cultures, which are more prevalent in Western countries like the United States, England, and Australia, where personal autonomy and self-expression are valued more highly.
Masuda and Nisbett's research helps illustrate these differences by showing that members of collectivistic cultures tend to focus on context and relationships more than members of individualistic cultures do when processing information. Furthermore, global trends like increased communication and trade are contributing to intercultural exchanges and could eventually lead to a more global culture, though this is still a subject for further observation and research by sociologists and anthropologists.