The term xenocentrism refers to the desire to engage in the elements of another's culture rather than one's own. Styles, ideas and products can all be items of preference by someone with xenocentrist viewpoints.

Some Examples of Xenocentrism

Americans' belief that European's produce superior automotive vehicles
European Renaissance artists desire to emulate ancient Greek artwork
Americans belief that French or Spanish wine is superior to what is produced by American vineyards
The belief that cheeses in France are far superior to those in the United States
The concept that the quality of Ireland's beer is far superior to that produced domestically
Coveting the culture of another country such as in Central America where the work day is set up far differently than in the United States
The belief that the way of dress by another culture is significantly superior and that those within one's native country should adopt that same dress
The belief that other countries produce better children's toys
The concept that a quality product can't be purchased in one's native country
The idea that cloth to make clothes is better produced by other nations

Each of these different examples are situations where there is a preference for another culture outside of the culture in the home country.

Understanding Xenocentrism

In psychological terms, xenocentrism is considered a type of deviant behavior because it sways from the norms of society. It is unexpected that an individual would value the goods, services, styles, ideas and other cultural elements of another nation. However, in some limited circumstances, it has been noted that xenocentrism can help to shed light on cultural deficiencies, whether it be ideas or products, and offers the opportunity to fix that which may legitimately inferior to another country or culture.

It is also noted that self-perception and self esteem can contribute to xenocentrism. In certain circumstances, some individuals may attempt to elevate their perception among others by eschewing domestic products for foreign ones. By doing so, the individual believes she is painting herself in a better light as a more educated, worldly and savvy consumer.

The opposite of xenocentrism is ethnocentrism which is the tendency to overvalue one's own native cultural beliefs and values and therefore devalues the worth of the elements of other cultures.

Consequences of Xenocentrism

Some examples of the consequences of Xenocentrism include:

Loss of businesses in the home country
Loss of jobs in the home country
Degraded economical situation
Overall reduction of morale within the nation
A loss of population to emigration
Negative impact on the identity of others in relation to culture
If adopted by large like-minded groups, xenocentrism could cause political polarization

As you can see, xenocentrism can be a major problem when it occurs in a society, especially if it occurs on a widespread scale.