Let me attempt to phrase this well: people in the West believe that one shows status through high-handedness, by concealing emotions and not getting riled-up. People in the Middle East believe that one shows status through bombast and braggadocio.
They mostly know the nonsense they’re spouting is nonsense, but in their minds, they’d be weak and low-status not to spout it, even in the expectation that nobody would really believe it (because it’s nonsense).
Let me attempt to phrase this well: people in the West believe that one shows status through high-handedness, by concealing emotions and not getting riled-up. People in the Middle East believe that one shows status through bombast and braggadocio.
They mostly know the nonsense they’re spouting is nonsense, but in their minds, they’d be weak and low-status not to spout it, even in the expectation that nobody would really believe it (because it’s nonsense).