High-Context and Low-Context Cultures

High-context and low-context cultures describe how people communicate and interpret messages. In high-context cultures, much of the meaning relies on shared experiences, relationships, and non-verbal cues—people understand each other through context rather than words alone. These cultures tend to value closeness, harmony, and indirect communication. In contrast, low-context cultures emphasize explicit, clear verbal communication, expecting messages to be detailed and direct. They value individualism and clarity over shared understanding. Recognizing these differences helps improve cross-cultural interactions by understanding how people convey and interpret meaning.