Transcript What is a “Co

Co-cultural theory of
communication
COM 372
What is a “Co-Culture”?

A group that has little or no say in
creating the dominant structure of
society

E.G. Ethnic or religious minorities,
homosexuals, the disabled, etc…
Why learn about co-cultural
communication?

“Identification and explication of the
communication practices of co-cultural
groups are valuable and important for
understanding how persons,
marginalized in a dominant society,
communicate with those who have
direct access to institutional power.”
FOR MORE INFO...
--Orbe, p. 86
Co-cultural Theory of
Communication Assumptions
Co-cultural group members’ communicative
experiences are responses to dominant
societal structures that label them outsiders.
2. The selection of different communicative
practices is the result of ongoing, constantly
changing series of implementations,
evaluations, and revisions.
3. Communicative practices are selected and
employed for reasons that vary among cocultural group members.
1.
Co-cultural Theory of
Communication Assumptions
4.
5.
Each co-cultural group member has
several strategic options from which
to choose.
The process of selecting
communicative practices is
influenced by several
interdependent factors.
History

Mark Orbe's Co-cultural Theory is an
answer to the question:
– How do people traditionally situated on the
margins of society; people of color, women,
gays/lesbians/bisexuals, and those from a
lower socio-economic status communicate
within the dominant societal structures?
 Orbe's work is based on two long-standing
theories from other fields: Muted Group Theory
and Feminist Standpoint Theory.
Background to CCT

Standpoint (feminist) theory
– Each group has partial knowledge
– Some partial knowledges are more
complete than others: Subordinate
group knows dominant more than
dominant knows subordinate (why?)
– It is important to learn perspectives of
subordinate groups (why?)
Background to CCT

Muted Group (feminist) theory
– Dominant group shapes the language of a
society
– Co-cultures must create their own language to
make sense of their reality
– Yet, dominant culture privileges one speech
code (dominant) over the other (co-cultural),
often through ridicule, marginalization, and
(perhaps unintentional) dominance in modes
of language creation and propagation
“It’s Always Whites’ Ball…”
(Orbe, 1994)
Communicating with other African
Americans
 Learning how to interact with nonAfrican Americans
 Playing the part (Snap!)
 Keeping a safe distance
 Testing the sincerity…
 Intense social responsibility

Six Universal Influences
1.
Preferred Outcomes—“What communication
behavior will lead to the effect that I desire?”
2.
Field of Experience– “What past interactions
have I had with dominant group members
that will influence my current behavior?”
3.
Abilities– “What are my physical and
psychological limitations in communicating
with the dominant culture?”
Continued…
4.
Situational Context– “In what situation am I
communicating with the dominant culture?”
5.
Perceived Costs and Rewards— “What do I
stand to gain and lose from an interaction with a
member of the dominant culture?”
6.
Communication Approach– “Which of the three
approaches will I employ to achieve my
preferred outcome?”
Three Preferred Outcomes
1.
Assimilation – trying to get rid of all cultural
differences in an attempt of fit into the dominant
culture.
2.
Accommodation – insisting that the dominant
culture reinvent or change the rules of society so
it can incorporate the life experiences of each coculture group.
3.
Separation – rejecting the notion of forming a
common bond with dominant group and seeking
to maintain separate group identities outside the
dominant structure.
Three Communication Approaches
1.
Nonassertive – behaviors in which individuals are
seemingly inhibited and non-confrontational;
putting the needs of others before one’s own.
2.
Assertive – communication practices that
encompass self-enhancing expressive behavior
that takes into account the needs of others and
one’s self.
3.
Aggressive – communication practices that can be
perceived as hurtfully expressive and selfpromoting. Aggressive practices assume control
over the choices of others.
Orbe’s Co-Cultural Communication Orientations, p. 110
Separation
Accommodation
Assimilation
Avoiding
Increasing
Emphasizing
Maintaining
Dispelling
interpersonal
barriers
stereotypes
commonalities
Averting
controversy
Assertive
Intragroup
Using
liaisons
Educating others
Extensive
Aggressive
Attacking
Confronting
Mirroring
Sabotaging
Gaining
Strategic
Nonassertive
networking
Exemplifying
strengths
visibility
advantage
preparation
Overcompensating
Distancing
Comparing Co-Cultural Theory to CTI

How are they alike?

How are they different?
Applying Co-Cultural Theory: What
practical suggestions does it lead to?
Would this apply to women and
men?
 Would it apply to other groups?

– People with disabilities (e.g., Deaf
culture as opposed to deaf people)
– Gays, lesbians, transgendered
individuals?
– Other groups?