Abstract

Since the emergence of the human, power has played an important role in influencing human activities. In different historical stages of human development, it is difficult to achieve the absolute equality of power. For some reasons, people’s views to equal power are different. Some are radical, adopting various methods to minimize the gaps; however, some are peaceful and tolerant, and see such inequality as an established social order. To a big extent, this is caused by cultural differences. And under the influence of different attitudes of different cultures, the same interpersonal relationships become divers in different countries.
This paper tries demonstrating the major differences between China and America in interpersonal relationships from a power distance perspective. The intergenerational, teacher-student, and superior-subordinate relationships of the two are discussed respectively and then the reasons of such differences are analyzed by introducing the culture of each country.

Key Words：interpersonal relationship, power distance, cultural differences

摘 要

自人类诞生之日起，权力便是人类行为活动的重要因素之一。在人类发展的不同历史阶段，权力都很难实现绝对的平等。而人们对于不平等权力的态度往往不同，有的激进，采取各种方法尽可能减小这种不平的差距；然而有的平和宽容，并把这样的不平等作为一种既定的社会秩序。在很大程度上，这种差异源于文化的不同；因此在不同文化影响下的人际关系在不同的国家也呈现出差异表现。
 本文试图从权力距离的视角解读中国与美国的主要的人际关系差异，分别描述了两者代与代之间、师生之间以及上下级之间的人际关系，然后通过介绍两国文化来解释两者存在如此大差异的原因。

关键词：人际关系;权力距离;文化差异

 1.  Introduction
     Interpersonal relationship is defined as a social relationship established by people in the process of production and life. The generalized interpersonal relationship indicates the relationship among all people in society and the specific interpersonal relationship refers to the interdependent relationship formed in the activities of thinking and behaving through various media among two or more people. Many people have ever given us some discussions about the interpersonal relationship. It often includes family ties, friendship, student-teacher relationship, employment relationship, brother relationship，colleagues and leadership relationships and so on.