This document introduces the DAE model as a method to avoid jumping to conclusions, especially in unfamiliar cultural situations. The DAE model involves three steps: Describe objectively what you observe without judgment, Analyze by considering possible explanations or meanings behind what you're seeing, and Evaluate to make an informed decision about how to respond. An example scenario is given of a customer having slow service at a restaurant and assuming the worst of the server. Applying the DAE model, the customer would realize the server has valid reasons for the poor service being that she is pregnant, injured, and a single mother, leading the customer to re-evaluate leaving only a $1 tip. The DAE model promotes understanding different perspectives and being compassionate

1. The DAE Culture Model
April 4th,2016
Travelinginothercountriescanbe thrilling,educational,andrelaxing.Meetingpeople fromother
parts of the worldisan invaluablecultural experience thatisenhancedbyourcuriosityof one
anotheras humans.
Sometimeswhenwe travel,we stumble uponunfamiliarscenariosthatcan be uncomfortable.
Whenwe enterintoan unfamiliarsituation,we findourselvesquicklyjudgingoursurroundings
comparedto our native landandcomfortable environment.
Thispractice,however,canleadtodestructive interactionswithpeoplewhoare native tothe
countrieswe visit.We shouldconsiderhow itwouldfeel,orhow itdoesfeel,whenpeoplefrom
othercountriesvisitourcountryand judge ustooquickly.
As an American, Iknowthatwe have cultural norms thatmay be alarmingto people fromother
countriesorsome commonpracticesthat may seemrude andinsensitive comparatively.Notonly
internationally,butalsodomestically,there are misunderstandingsbetweenpeople thatcouldbe
avoidedif more analysiswere appliedtothe situation.
A scenarioisgivenbelowtohelpyouunderstandthe typesof situationsthatpeople encounter
frequently.However,there are waystoavoidjumpingtoconclusionsaboutotherpeople and
cultureswhenwe findourselvesinuncomfortable orunfamiliarsituations.
One researchedmethodtohelpusavoidjumpingtoconclusionsaboutoursurroundings,
especiallyinunfamiliarcircumstances,iscalled the DAEmodel.The D stands for Describe,
A stands for Analyze,and E stands for Evaluate.Thisentailsathree-stepprocessinwhicha
personcan observe his/hersurroundings,considerthe context,andthenmake a judgmentortake
actionbasedon his/herfindings.
Scenario: Let’simagine thatyou are at a restaurantand yourserverisa woman.Throughoutyour
meal,younotice thatshe is notveryfriendlytoyouas a customerat the restaurantandseemsto
be distractedmentally.She evenmakesamistake onone of yourordersand she doesn’tbring
your foodor drinkto youveryquickly.You’re frustratedbythe slow andinaccurate service,soyou
leave hera $1 tipand leave the restaurant.
In thisscenario,the customerandthe serverare both unhappy.The customerisunhappybecause
the foodorder wasmessedupandthe service wasslow.The serverisunhappybecause the
customeronlylefthera $1 tip.Thissituationcouldhave beenmade betterbyusingthe DAE
model.

2. Describe:Take a momenttodescribe whatthe scene waslike inthe imaginary restaurant.What
do yousee?What doyou hear?What do younotice?These are the commonquestionsyouask
duringthe Describe phase of DAE.So, let’simagine thereare manycustomerseatinglunchatthe
same time as you.There are onlytwoserversworking toserve 10 tables.Youlookat your server
and notice thatshe seemsa little overweightandiswalkingwithalimp.She seemsdistracted
whenshe takesyourorderand bringsthe foodto you slowly.
Analyze:Duringthisphase,youask questionslike“Whatcouldbe goingonhere?What am I
missing?Whatpossible explanationsare there formyserver’sbadperformance?Whatmeaningis
behindthe thingsIhave observed?”Let’simagine younotice one of yourserver’scoworkers
talkingtoher andyou hearthis: “The due date is soon,isn’tit?”You know the phrase “due date”
referstopregnancy,sonow youknow that yourserverispregnant.You alsohearyour serversay,
“It’snextmonth,and myfoothasn’t healedyet.”
So nowyouknowthat not onlyisyour serverpregnant,butshe hashad some kindof injurytoher
footthat ismakingher performherjobslowly.Asyouaskyourself aboutthe possible meaningsof
whatyou have observed,youconsiderthatshe isbringingthe foodslowlybecauseshe hasan
injured footandthat she mayseemdistracteddue tofeelingsconnectedwithpregnancy.You
continue totry to notice thingsthatyoudid notperceive before,andyounotice thatyourserveris
not wearingaweddingring,whichmeansshe maybe a single mothersoon.
Evaluate: Thisisthe stepinthe DAE processin whichyoumake yourdecisionaboutwhataction
youwill take basedonyour findings.Afterwhatwe have describedandanalyzed,Iimaginethat
youunderstandnowthat leavingapregnant,single mothera $1 tipis nota gooddecisionjust
because she broughtyourfoodto youslowly.
The DAE model can be usedinmany dailycircumstancestoaidpeople inunderstandingone
anotherbetterandbeingmore compassionate towardsone another.Remember,youneedpeople
to DAE yousometimes,too.
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