Why Study Intercultural Communication? Slide 1 1 Why Study Intercultural Communication?

Chapter Summary The Technological Imperative The Demographic Imperative The Economic Imperative The Peace Imperative The Self-Awareness Imperative The Ethical Imperative

The Technological Imperative Five Aspects of Technology Related to Culture 1. Increase in Information 2. Increased Contact with People who Differ 3. Increased Contact with People who are Similar

The Technological Imperative Five Aspects of Technology Related to Culture 4. Identity, Culture, and Technology Technology changes how we think about ourselves and our identity management. 5. Access to Communication Technology

The Technological Imperative Slide 5 The Technological Imperative Mobility and its Effect on Communication Mobility in our society places us in physical contact with more people. U.S. families move more often than ever. Mobility changes the individuals involved. Young adults are more mobile than other generations. Many families relocate as a result of divorce or economic reasons.

The Demographic Imperative Slide 6 The Demographic Imperative There are two sources for recent and future changes in the U.S. population: Changing U.S. Demographics Changing Immigration Patterns

The Demographic Imperative Changing U.S. Demographics The U.S. population is increasingly nonwhite and multiracial. Nonwhite populations and ethnic diversity are particularly prevalent and increasing in the South and West. The U.S. workforce is increasingly older and female.

The Demographic Imperative Changing Immigration Patterns Influence of Immigration Intercultural relations in the United States today can be understood by reviewing our immigration history. Relationships with New Immigrants A. Anglocentrism B. The melting pot metaphor

The Demographic Imperative Changing Immigration Patterns 3. Relationships with New Immigrants (cont.) C. Nativism Influence of economics Ethnic enclaves

The Demographic Imperative Changing Immigration Patterns Immigration and Economic Classes A. Rigidity of economic class structure B. Income gap between rich and poor

The Demographic Imperative Changing Immigration Patterns 5. Demographic Diversity A. Differences in worldviews often lead to prejudices and stereotypes. B. A better metaphor today than the “melting pot” may be a "salad" or a "tapestry," which recognizes that each group will retain its own characteristics and yet contribute to the whole.

The Demographic Imperative Changing Immigration Patterns 5. Demographic Diversity (cont.) C. Diversity can be a positive force providing linguistic richness, culinary variety, new resources to meet social challenges, as well as domestic and international business opportunities.

The Economic Imperative Slide 13 The Economic Imperative The Global Market The recent trend toward globalization means that the U.S. economy is increasingly connected to those of other countries. Unfortunately, many American companies spend little time learning how to do business in other countries. The economy is increasingly dominated by multinational corporations.

The Economic Imperative The Global Market Many U.S. companies have established manufacturing plants along the U.S.-Mexican border, known as maquiladoras Domestic diversity also motivates businesses to be attentive to cultural differences.

Slide 15 The Peace Imperative Contact among different groups has often led to disharmony. Some conflicts are tied to the history of colonialism. Other conflicts are tied to economic disparities coupled with the influence of U.S. technology and media. It is also important to recognize the role of historical, political, religions, and economic contexts.

The Self-Awareness Imperative Slide 16 The Self-Awareness Imperative Studying intercultural communication helps us understand our own cultural identity and the similarities and differences that exist around the world.

The Ethical Imperative Slide 17 The Ethical Imperative Ethics are principles of conduct that help govern behaviors of individuals and groups that often arise from a community's consensus on what is good and bad behavior. Cultures may hold different notions of ethical behavior, and conflicts arise when the ethical systems of two cultures collide.

The Ethical Imperative Four Views of Ethics 1. The universalist perspective holds that fundamental notions of right and wrong are universal and that cultural differences are superficial. 2. The relativist position holds that any cultural behavior can only be judged within the cultural context in which it occurs.

The Ethical Imperative Four View of Ethics 3. A more moderate position assumes that people can evaluate culture without succumbing to ethnocentrism. 4. A recent suggestion is to employ a dialogical approach, which stresses the importance of relationships and dialogues in addressing ethical dilemmas.

The Ethical Imperative How to Be an Ethical Student of Culture 1. Self-Reflexivity - Understanding ourselves, the social categories we belong to, and their implications will make us more effective and ethical communicators. 2. Learning about other cultures will teach us about ourselves. 3. We should be mindful of the profound changes that can be provoked by intercultural contact.