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Does Hong Kong culture decide your vices?

Writer's picture: Frank DooganFrank Doogan

Updated: Dec 18, 2024

Ever wondered why if you go into your Hong Kong Jockey Club almost everyone's Asian?

And if you go to a Hong Kong bar, the people who are drinking are most likely non-Asian?

And both groups think the other one may have a problem.😊


Hong Kongers in a bar

Hong Kongers ready to gamble

The ‘gamblers’ group will be able to quite clearly identify that the ‘drinkers’ group has major issues around health and social relationships; and the ‘drinkers’ group will think the ‘gamblers’ group has major issues around debt and financial costs for family and friends.


How much control do we have over ourselves and our lives, and how much of who we are and what we do is a result of our culture?


Hofstede https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hofstede%27s_cultural_dimensions_theory an expert in culture, has identified six dimensions that can be used to describe culture differences, and in this blog we will outline how some of these can influence our addictions.


Hofstede’s Dimensions are: Power distance; Individualism (think some Western cultures) vs. Collectivism (think Asian); Uncertainty avoidance; Motivation towards Achievement and Success; Long-term orientation vs. Short-term orientation; and Indulgence vs. Restraint.


These (and much more) are covered in Simon Gillow’s new Cultural Awareness course for international students. You will be able to get that full knowledge-set and practice in the near future. Message me +852 92791395 if you would like to go on the waiting list.


Knowledge of a weakness in your culture is a strength because that awareness that can lead to change.


Knowledge of internet and social media addiction can be a help for us personally and for our families. Take, for example, a totally fascinating meta-analysis of culture and internet addiction which has shown that there is a strong cultural factor in internet addiction. We have a working definition of addiction from https://www.addictioncenter.com/behavioral-addictions/internet-addiction/ and it describes internet addiction as a problem if the user

1.   Is preoccupied with the internet (thinks about previous online activity or anticipates next online session).

2. Needs to use the internet with increasing amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction. 3. Has made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop internet use.

4. Has stayed online longer than originally intended.

5. Is restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop internet use.

6. Has jeopardized or risked the loss of a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of the internet.

7. Has lied to family members, therapists, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the internet.

8. Uses the internet as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g. feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression).


That’s a fairly big list of problems that really get in the way of doing something genuinely useful or enhancing in our lives.


Can you guess which cultural group is prone to the internet addiction: Collectivist or Individualist (see above)?


This meta-analysis https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460321000307 identifies that social media addiction is much more common if you are in a collectivist culture: 31% for collectivist countries and 14% for individualist countries.


As Hong Kongers, the message is clear – you are more likely to be addicted to social media, and you are less likely to notice it (see my point about ‘drinkers’ and ‘gamblers’). But if you become more aware of it on the MTR, the bus, in your own behaviour or that of your family, friends, or colleagues, you can learn to react sooner.


If an addiction seems to be a big problem, it very probably is, and seeking advice from a counselor is an important first step.



For your TESOL teaching needs visit us for the Trinity CertTESOL, The Cambridge CELTA and the Train The Teacher Certificate in TESOL at www.traintheteacher.org or email frank.doogan@traintheteacher.org


For your tutorial needs from school exams to boardroom hk.myittutor.org  +852 92791395 WhatsApp or service@myittutor.org



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