HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR EVERYDAY CONTACTS WITH DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP61-00442A000200040102-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 16, 2009
• Sequence Number: 102
• Content Type: BRIEF

Approved For Release 2009/12/18: CIA-RDP61-00442A000200040102-2
Awe
LAS/TR
Area Training Program
BR:IFING SUGGESTIONS Americans Abroad Orientations
How to Make the Most of Your Everyday Contacts with_ __:
Developing effective interpersonal relations
The following list of promptings is not intended to be covered completely in any
single briefing. It should be used with discretion for applicability to a given
country or region, in order to point up the most significant problems of personal
adjustment encountered by Americans in that area. At each blank, read the name
of the pertinent foreign country or people.
A. IN GENERAL:
1. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
a. What kinds of participation are open to you in the _ community
at the various levels,, To what degree? How do these possibilities
vary for different members of your family? For 21merican government
employees and their families as opposed to other groups of Americans
in
b. What are the advantas for American government employees in partici-
pating in the - community (aside from the requirements of thei^.'
work assignment)? fo_r their dependents, in participating in certain
areas of life, such as cultural pursuits, education, sports,
clubs, social services;
c. How far can you safely isolate yourself from contact with the local
culture and still do your work effectively? How bad is the problem
of "The American Oompounc?" in - _ _ _?
d. How far should you immerse yourself in the local culture?
a. What are some of the most practical steps for getting accuainted and
accepted in circles" for the employee`? for the dependent?
b. How do - _ s in general react to efforts of Americans to do so?
c. How can you best overcome your possible diffidence toward making a
particular effort in this direction? Now doyou overcome or counter
any distrust of the _ s? particularly any distrust of
foreign government personnel?
d. What are the special personal security problems involved in normal
times and in periods of crisis? How should they be handled?
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B." IN PARTICULAR:
1. IN PUBLIC -
a. What comprises acceptable public dress and general conduct for you in
In your neighborhood? At public entertainment? On busi-
ness calls? In the daytime vs. evening? Travelling" How do s
react to normal American dress and deportment?
b. 14hat are some of the common faux pas committed by Americans in public
in - - ? How serious are they in _ eyes? How can they b?
avoided? what to do upon committing them? 2
c. What types of behavior may cause you to react unfavorably? How
far should the American go in trying to understand these behavior
patterns? How difficult is this process?
d. Do you have an advantage in "acting American" and in what situations?
When not
e. Specifically, how important is it for you to adapt to _ _ standards
of politeness and respect for local laws, practises for dealing with
public officials and services, social usages, religious practices?
(e.g., in tipping, accepting orders, observing taboos)
f. What are some of the advantages you will derive from using the
language in public, even though poorly? What is the s re-
action to a foreigner speaking the - - _ _ language, even poorly-?
g. How do you identify kinds of s`? Classes? types to be culti-
vated or not?
h. What are the commonest patterns of Sreetin s and farewells?
i. How should you approach a erson on the street for information? in an
office
J. What are some of the manor problems you will encounter in the trans-
ortation field, as in regard to use of buses, streetcars, and taxis,
unwritten rules of the road, etc.'f
k. What are some simple rules of thumb for coping with accidents and other
forms of trouble?
1. What are the normal ways of dealing successfully with taxi drivers,
store keepers, porters and other public service people? what are the
main errors Americans tend to make in dealing with others?
2. IN SOCIAL RELATIONS -
a. What are some of the public and private occasions when you may readily
meet _ s? Are there helpful cues for facilitating this process?
tWthat are- some of the pitfalls?
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b. 'What are some of the relative advantages for you in using the _
lan age socially, even though poorly, in various situations_, with
various classes of _ _ _ _, and on various types of subjects? What
are some of the risks you run by not so using the _ - _ language?
c. When is it particularly desirable to use an interpreter? T'Rzat special
cautions are there for the use of a _ _ - - interpreter?
d. What are some of the subjects which are useful for striking up a conver-
sation with s (appropriate topics of "polite. conversation
e. 14hat subjects are different classes of s likely to want to dis-
cuss at length?
f. How does the 's behavior in conversation differ from the
American? What are some cues for use in developing the
interest in you through conversation-
g. How important is it for you to try to answer the _ _'s questions
about America and its foreign policy? What are the most difficult
questions to answer, and how can they be handled?
h. Which of his own personal qualities should an American accentuate in
order to develop a _ - - _`s friendship? Uhat should he avoid?
How long does it take ordinarily to make a "good friend" of a
How does one recognize that he is being "accepted' as a "good friend c
How may you enlarge your circle of_ - _ - friends?
k. What is necessary in order to gain the respect of - _s? What are
some of the ways one loses this respect? How can it be regained'?
1. What might you do to make up for an offense to a _ _ _? What are
some of the indications that a is offended?_ antagonistic?
angry? happy? indifferent? other emotions?
in. How do the obligations and benefits of friendship in - - _ - differ f
from what we expect in America?
n. What are some of the special problems which may be encountered when
you seek acceptance by a _ _ _ rou ? (clubs and other associa-
tions). Are there special tips for solidifying your ties with such
groups? pitfalls to be avoided? Ways of overcoming unfavorable
rumors, the "cold shoulder," etc?
o. What are some of the appropriate ways for you to entertain
What are some of the social usages you must observe in thi_s? How
far may you follow the American way without embarassing or offending
the ? What types of - _ - - may you safely bring together in
a single group?
p. What social usages should you try to observe when bein entertained by
the _ _s? How tolerant are they likely to be of your faux a2ss?
How may you try to repay - - _ _ s for different types of hospitality
and other favors?
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q. Are there other social usages you should, observe in order to be readily
"accepted by the -- s? re meeting them, joining or
breaking away from various types of groups, drinking with them,
talking with - or taking a personal interest in -- those of the
opposite sex, attending ceremonies and other activities with them,
etc.)
IN ttf `J' L.~ Y UP,j h Sw7V.ANTS
a. What are some useful points to remember in selecting servants in
b. T Fhat are the do's and dont's for training and controlling them? Which
member of your family should hold the ultimate control?
c. What habits of servants pose the greatest problems for
Americans? What can, practicably be done to meet these problems? In
particular, are there serious problems of disloyalty, dishonesty, in-
efficiency? Do many _ _ _ ? servants have some English?
d.
Should you avoid taking servants into the Tamil circle?
e.
Are there special security and health hazards with
servants?
1.
FOR DEPENDENTS --
a.
What special tips are useful for dependents in their relations with
in the nei hbcrhood? with next-door neighbors?
Delivery people? Peddlers? Storekeepers,.,
Janitors?
b.
What can the housewife do to achieve a reputation as a "good neighbor"?
c.
What special warnings are needed for bachelor males or females living
in housing on the local economy?
d.
What special instructions are necessary for teen.agers~' on dating
problems? hospitality? freedom of movement through the community?
e.
How will children's opportunities for play differ from those in America?
Are children handled differently in - - ? How far need you go in
conforming to local usage in this respect?+
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