Cultural Nuances,Assumptions, and the Butterfly Effect: Addressing the Unpredictability Caused by Unconscious Values Structures in Cross‐Cultural Interactions

Cultural values, cross‐cultural interaction patterns that are produced by dynamical (chaotic) systems, have a significant impact on interaction, particularly among and between people from different cultures. The butterfly effect, which states that small differences in initial conditions may have severe consequences for patterns in the long run, serves as a creative way of drawing attention to a particularly challenging aspect of such chaotic systems. Forty‐six accounts of cross‐cultural situations involving the interface of Asian and Western cultures were examined for underlying nuances (using Kluckhohn values orientations; F. R. Kluckhohn & F. L. Strodtbeck, 1961) and their possible effects. The discrepant relational perspective contributed the most to interaction difficulties but was not independent of other spheres.