Invisible Culture (iC) refers to the intangible aspects of culture that influence how people behave. At the core of iC are values, beliefs and assumptions. Groups create rules to reinforce what is considered good or bad, polite or rude, admirable or contemptible. The rules are often implicit and require the newcomer to develop a different lens for interpreting unfamiliar conduct.
Revealing the invisible side of a new culture not only provides tools for living and working more effectively, but also can illuminate one’s own cultural preferences.
“Culture hides much more than it reveals and, strangely enough, what it hides, it hides most effectively from its own participants.” – Edward T. Hall