Culture: The Big External Influence 53
Rites of passage and
social norming
Although associated with particular cultures, people in the cul-
ture may or may not even acknowledge that certain common prac-
tices fall into the “rites of passage” category. Rites of passage are
connected with body language because they affect how a culture
evolves.
Passing a driver’s test is a rite of passage in the United States.
Soon after that, the urge to walk simply to get someplace often sub-
sides. It is rare for Americans to walk on a regular basis unless they’re
city dwellers. Does this show in our body language? Absolutely.
Consider how all of the following extreme examples affect the
body language, temporary or even permanently, of the people who
have experienced them:
ƒ Sunna circumcision: An Arab practice, reflecting
what some perceive as consistent with Islamic law
and tradition, that removes part of the clitoris. Be-
cause it is usually performed on adult women, it can
have a profound effect on self-image and, therefore,
behavior. By the way, I can’t even remember the
astonishing number of my students—many of whom
are about to be deployed to regions of the Middle
East—who say, “Aww, they don’t do that anymore.”