Here's some food for thought:-

For the overwhelming majority of mainland Chinese who have never lived in another country (i.e. not simply a short holiday visit), to what extent does being a native mandarin or Cantonese speaker affect their thought processes with regards to;

- spitting

- staring

- crowding

- littering

- attempting to board a bus/train or enter an elevator before or whilst others are attempting to exit

- males walking to the front of a queue at a store or at a bank and being given immediate attention, at times even interrupting a transaction already underway

- smoking in restaurants with no consideration towards other diners in the process of eating

- not putting diapers on babies

- facilitating babies and young children to urinate in public

- removing footwear before entering homes

- et al?

Also, have you experienced discussions (not merely conversations) with both bilingual (English) Chinese who have spent some time in a western country (say, 1 year) and bilingual Chinese who have never been further than Hong Kong? If yes, did you detect any difference in viewpoints and outlook?

Social conditioning is the primary factor that affects the way people think and act.