Ethnocentrism is a person's tendency to view a situation in terms of the viewers experiences. This ideology is why Americans view the Indian validation of cows as strange. Because of our past experiences and how we were raised in our American culture, this idea of an animal we eat daily being held as sacred is not rational. Those who can see that others have different views and be able to put themselves in someone else's shoes, practice Cultural Relativism.
Cultural Relativism is the ability of someone to see something like the cow beliefs in a different light because that person disconnects themselves from the norms of their past experiences. Being able to discard what you've been trained to think about anyone besides your own is difficult, but it is also healthy. The healthiest people in this respect, are also those who travel on a regular basis or have traveled since a young age. Being exposed to several other cultures opens up ones understanding that many people around the world believe many different things.
So the question is, are you guilty of Ethnocentrism? Do you view what others believe as strange or obscure without putting yourself in their place? The answer should be yes, because it is what we've been trained to do. Knowing about Cultural Relativism and the ability to stand outside your own shoes, is the first step to practicing it.
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