Mind your own Business?

I was reading the Sunday Times and came across the article “Mind your own Business” in the LifeStyle section. It was an experiment carried out by the LifeStyle team to see how Singaporeans would react to a violent argument between a couple in public.

The couple team re-enacted their argument at several locations. The results gathered were both appalling and disappointing. Of those who intervened in the couple’s argument, only one was a local; the others were foreigners (2 British men and a German family of 3). The local passers-by would either look on from the side or ignore the couple altogether. The experiment was carried out in response to a letter on Straits Times Forum written by an Australian. He had written about how he came across an altercation one evening in Ang Mo Kio. As no one tried to intervene, he stepped in to stop the man from physically abusing the woman. He questioned Singaporean attitudes -or the lack of it- towards domestic struggle in public. Two locals then wrote in that “minding one’s business” is the way it is in Singapore and that he should not have interfered with the couple’s business.

The LifeStyle team also interviewed a few locals who were at the scene. While some were concerned about their personal safety, most were indifferent to the affairs of others. A psychologist pointed out that an urbanised society might have contributed to the “individualistic behaviour” of Singaporeans today, as opposed to the community spirit in kampungs of old.

The article reminded me of Wednesday’s lecture on cultural systems. Hofstede’s theory on dimensions of Cultural Variability (i.e. Individualism versus Collectivism) gives us an explanation on the results gathered from the experiment; albeit a weak one. According to the Individualism rankings (1980), western countries such as the U.S., Australia and Great Britain, take the highest positions while Singapore and many Asian countries occupy the lower positions. On a scale of 100, Singapore’s index of individualism stands at 20. The experiment seems to suggest that Singapore has climbed the rankings over 30 years. As Singaporeans grow more “individualist”, the society tends to emphasise on personal identity and independence. Thus in the experiment, the local passers-by most likely felt that if they were to intervene, their actions would intrude the privacy of the couple. The best way to react to it, was not to react at all.

However, based on the fact that those who chose to step in were mostly westerners, there seems to be a caveat in Hofstede’s theory. If it were to stand, it can only mean that over the 30 years, Singapore has actually surpassed the western countries on the Individualism rankings. This is of course an insensible assumption. I believe that the results from the experiment underscore other key contributing factors.

Indifference: I feel that Singaporeans are generally too apathetic to take any action. It is awfully true that in Singapore, we adopt a “mind your own business” attitude. Our lifestyle has grown so fast that we have absolutely no time for the affairs of others. The experiment was conducted during lunch hour and it is unlikely that anyone would be willing to sacrifice his/her lunch hour to interfere in the couple’s argument. Having said that, I have doubts if any Singaporean would have, even if the experiment had been carried out at a “better part of the day”. Those who chose to look on from the side probably cared to watch, but not to help.

Courage: Singaporeans are generally less courageous to do or say what they feel is right. In this case, there might have been a few who were genuinely willing to help, but might not have the courage to act. This partially links back with Hofstede’s theory that in less individualistic societies, people are less likely to speak up for themselves (or in this case, for their own values). In Singapore, people are growingly outspoken, but are still not courageous enough to intervene in the affairs of others, even when the need arises.

Writing my reflections on Singaporeans, I am fully aware that I am myself a Singaporean. Of course, there were times where I felt indifferent and lacked the courage to impose my values when faced with similar scenarios. I am determined, however, to give it a shot the next time.