In response to a compliment on his excellent oral presentation, a Japanese business executive replies, "No, it wasn't very good." Which of the following is the MOST likely explanation for this response?
He thought the person giving the compliment was his inferior.
He thought the comment was meant sarcastically.
He was giving the response to a compliment that is considered socially correct in his culture.
He really was not very well prepared for his presentation and he was embarrassed because his facts might not all be correct.
I think it would be C, but not sure...
C is correct.
The most likely explanation for the Japanese business executive's response, "No, it wasn't very good," is that he was giving the response to a compliment that is considered socially correct in his culture.
In Japanese culture, it is often seen as modest and humble to downplay one's achievements or abilities when receiving a compliment. This is known as "modesty culture." By deflecting the compliment and downplaying his own presentation, the executive is adhering to societal norms and displaying modesty.
It's important to note that cultural norms can vary across different societies, and in some cultures, accepting compliments with gratitude and acknowledging one's accomplishments might be the expected response. However, in this specific scenario, considering the executive is Japanese, it is more likely that he was following the cultural norm of modesty by downplaying his presentation.