Transcript “Test Yourself” How Individualistic Are You?

messages
fourth canadian edition
Chapter Two
Interpersonal
Communication and
Culture
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Interpersonal Communication
and Culture
Culture – the lifestyle of a group of people
 values
 beliefs
 artifacts
 ways of behaving
 ways of communicating
• language
• ways of thinking
• art
•laws
•religion
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Interpersonal Communication
and Culture
 Enculturation
-the process of learning one’s culture from
one generation to another
 Acculturation
-the process by which a person’s culture is
modified through direct contact with or
exposure to another culture
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Table 2.1
 See table 2.1 on page 26 to see Intercultural
Value Conflict Areas
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Test Yourself
 Turn to page 27 and complete the “Test
Yourself” How Individualistic Are You?
 Answer the questions under “What Will You
Do?”
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Culture differs in terms
of...
 Orientation (individualistic/collectivist)
 Context (high/low)
 Masculinity / Feminity
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Orientation
 Individualistic Culture
-You are responsible for yourself and perhaps your
immediate family; you are responsible to your own
conscience
 Collectivist Culture
-You are responsible for the entire group;
responsibility is largely an individual matter.
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See Table 2.2
 Look at table 2.2 on page 30 to see some
difference between individualistic and
collectivist cultures.
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High and Low Context
High Context
Communication is in the context of the person’s
 Previous communication
 Assumptions
 Shared experiences
Low Context
Information is explicitly stated
 Verbally
 In written form
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Masculine and Feminine
Cultures
 A masculine culture
-typically views men as assertive, oriented
to material success and strong
 A feminine culture
-both men and women are supposed to
be modest and oriented to maintaining the
quality of life
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Masculine and Feminine Cultures
Masculine culture
Men are:
 Assertive
 Oriented to material
success
 Strong
Women are:
 Modest
 Oriented to quality of
life
 Tender
Feminine culture
Both men and women are:
 Modest
 Oriented to quality of life
 Tender
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Intercultural Communication
Communication between
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cultures
ethnic groups
religions
nations
small cultures
small groups
genders
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Test Yourself
 Do “Test Yourself” on page 33
 How Ethnocentric Are You?
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Steps to Improve
Intercultural Communication
1) Recognize and reduce your ethnocentrism
2) Be mindful
3) Face fears
4) Avoid over-attribution
5) Identify uncertainty and ambiguity
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Steps continued
6) Recognize differences
-between yourself and culturally
different people
-within the culturally different group
7) Recognize meaning differences in verbal &
nonverbal messages
8) Adjust your communication
9) Recognize culture shock
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Recognize Meaning Differences
in Verbal and Nonverbal
Messages
 Remember: meaning does not exist in the
words we use; it exists in the person using
the words
 In intercultural communication, potential
differences in meaning are even greater in
nonverbal than verbal messages
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Ethnocentrism
We all tend to see others and their behaviours
through our own cultural filters and think our
culture is better than other cultures in every
way.
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Skills Toolbox
 Read : Skills Toolbox” on page 34
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Recognize That Culture Shock
Is Normal
Stages of Culture Shock
 Honeymoon
Fascination with new culture
 Crisis
Differences between your own culture and the new one
creates problems
 Recovery
Gain the skills to function effectively
 Adjustment
Adjust and come to enjoy the new culture
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Thinking Critically
 Read “Thinking Critically About” on page 37
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Adjust Your Communication
 Learn the other culture’s signals; avoid
violating cultural rules
 Share your own system of signals with
others
 Avoid evaluating differences negatively:
see others as different but equal
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Skill Building Exercise
 Complete 2.3 Confronting Intercultural
Difficulties on page 45. Do questions 1-6
AND “Thinking Critically About
Intercultural Difficulties.
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