Transcript Interpersonal Communication and Culture

IPC and Culture
Culture is like water for fish:
We are in it and a part of it but we do not see it…
-Felipe Korzenny
Take Away Points
• Definitions: culture, co-culture, micro-culture
• Six components dimensions of culture
• Know each of the two subcategories of each
• Be able to identify examples of each (e.g., high and low context)
• How these dimensions function at the interpersonal level with
communication competence
• How do they relate to you being seen as an effective communicator?
Culture
• The set of values and beliefs, norms and customs, rules and codes,
that socially define groups of people
• Culture helps us answer the questions:
• Who am I?
• What is my place in the world?
• How do I live my life?
There are cultural groups nested within cultures.
Co-Culture
• Cultural groups and norms that
exists within larger cultural
systems
Micro-Culture
• Small group norms, such as
communication among
individuals within a family.
6 Dimensions of Cultural Difference
• Locus of control
• Action orientation
• Connections to others
• Individualism/Collectivism
• Communication style
• Power distance
Locus of Control pertains to whether people or fate
control destiny.
Control Cultures
• believe that people can control
their own destinies
Constraint Cultures
• believe that people have very
little control over their lives;
events are controlled by
external sources, fate
Action orientation pertains to how we measure our selfworth.
Doing Cultures
• self-worth is measured by
ability to accomplish tasks
Being Cultures
• self-worth is measured by
ability to maintain
relationships
Individualism and Collectivism refers to connection to
others.
Individualism
• “I” cultures; basic unit is the
individual, working in his or
her own best interests
Collectivism
• “we” cultures; basic unit is the
group, individuals sacrifice for
the group
Another cultural distinction is the extent to which we
view the context of communication.
High Context
• Context is an important source
of information
Low Context
• Meaning is conveyed explicitly
in words
Discussion Question
• Which would prize accuracy, subtlety, and
directness/indirectness?
• How would silence be viewed in each?
The last cultural distinction is how we treat people who
are of higher and lower power or status.
Low Power Distance
• Treat people of higher status as
different only when expertise
matters
High Power Distance
• Always treat people of higher
status as appropriate to
someone of higher status
American Cultural Patterns
• Have a control, can-do orientation
• Effort optimism: idea that if people work hard, they can achieve
their goals
• Value doing over being
• Individualistic
• Use direct, low-context communication
Example
• Joy Luck Club clip:
• Demonstrates
• High/Low Context
• Collectivism/Individualism
• Chinese-American immigrant families
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t82eWkb_tM
Joy Luck Club
Discussion
• What are aspects of individualism/collectivism from the film?
• What are aspects of low context/high context from the film?
• How could this situation have been avoided?
Perception Competence
• Which line is longer?
Role Competence
• What it means to be a Georgian wife vs. American wife
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Cooking
Time spent together
Working
BABIES
Self Competence
• Social psychologist Solomon Asch
• Line test
• Americans least likely to conform
Take Away Points
• Definitions: culture, co-culture, micro-culture
• Six components dimensions of culture
• Know each of the two subcategories of each
• Be able to identify examples of each (e.g., high and low context)
• How these dimensions function at the interpersonal level with
communication competence
• How do they relate to you being seen as an effective communicator?