After living in Texas for just a few weeks, I quickly realized that the culture here is remarkably different from anything I’m used to. I was especially surprised to find this out, considering I grew up in Colorado, another non-coastal western state. What makes Colorado and Texas so different from one another?
Almost everyone is Texas is exceedingly polite and friendly. While this seems like it could only be a good thing, I have noticed that if I’m a bit short or sarcastic, it’s not well received. People seem to take any vague comment the wrong way. Furthermore, anytime I point out someone is wrong (like “My order didn’t have cheese” wrong not “You’re wrong about politics” wrong), it is never taken well.
I feel like I can’t read people in Texas well at all, and I also feel like they can’t read me. There is a huge communication gap, and I’m assuming it’s completely cultural.
After being baffled by Texans for over a year, I came across a study that changed my life: Culture of Honor. The study demonstrates that Southerners (Texans are included) get extremely defensive, hostile, and even violent when they suspect their honor is being challenged. All sorts of behaviors arise from this phenomenon, including the aforementioned over-the-top politeness and hostility when challenged.
As I read through the Culture of Honor book, I couldn’t help but nod my head and even exclaim out loud a lot of the time. The findings and observations rang so true to me. In my experience, many Texans are every bit as defensive, honor focused, and paranoid as this study makes them sound. Clearly there are exceptions, but I find that those people that are the exception have spent extended time outside of the South.
Some people have argued that the whole Culture of Honor theory is just a proxy for the Culture of Low Status. Obviously anyone who claims this did not read the original study, which was done with University of Michigan students, coming from high income (90-100K) families. If upper class students with a world view broad enough to go to Ann Arbor have Culture of Honor issues, it’s no wonder I’m encountering them in Austin as well. Despite its wealth and liberal attitudes, Austin still is in Texas!
