© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1 2 Communicating in a Multicultural Society and World CHAPTER

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2 Communicating in a Multicultural Society and World LO1 Explain the significance of intercultural communication in the global community LO2 Explain how and why U.S. society has evolved from a melting-pot philosophy to a philosophy of cultural pluralism LO3 Analyze various attitudes toward diversity

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 3 LO6 Explain how technology brings diversity into our lives LO5 Illustrate the five main dimensions of cultural variability LO7 Identify techniques to reduce the strangeness of strangers LO4 Explain influences on cultural identity and the difference between cultures and co-cultures Communicating in a Multicultural Society and World

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 4 Culture’s Many Faces: Speaking of Difference  globalization increasing economic, political, and cultural integration and interdependence of diverse cultures  diversity recognition and valuing of difference  multiculturalism engagement with and respect toward people from distinctly different cultures

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 5 Culture’s Many Faces: Speaking of Difference  interracial communication interpreting and sharing of meanings with individuals from different races  interethnic communication interaction with individuals of different ethnic origins

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 6 Culture’s Many Faces: Speaking of Difference  international communication communication between persons representing different nations  intracultural communication interaction with members of the same racial or ethnic group or co-culture as yours

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 7 What Happened to the Melting Pot?  melting-pot philosophy view that different cultures should be assimilated into the dominant culture  cultural pluralism adherence to principle of cultural relativism

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 8 Figure 1.1 Majority minorities *Includes American Indian and Alaska Native alone, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone, and two or more races Source: U.S. Census Bureau SOURCE: The Wall Street Journal, June 12, 2008, p. A10.

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 9 Culture and Communication  Hall: “Culture is communication and communication is culture”  What you understand about difference matters  culturally confused lacking an understanding of cultural difference  cultural imperialism expansion of dominion of one culture over another culture

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 10 Culture and Communication  How you feel about difference matters  ethnocentrism tendency to see one’s own culture as superior to all others  cultural relativism acceptance of other cultural groups as equal in value to one’s own  prejudice a positive or negative prejudgment

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 11 Cultures Within Cultures  Influences on cultural identity  Gender roles  Racial/ethnic identities  Religious identity  Socioeconomic identity  National identity

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 12 Cultures Within Cultures  Cultures and co-cultures  culture system of knowledge, beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and artifacts that are acquired, shared, and used by members during daily living  co-cultures groups of persons who differ in some ethnic or sociological way from the parent culture  assimilation means by which co-culture members attempt to fit in with members of the dominant culture

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 13 Cultures Within Cultures  Cultures and co-cultures (continued)  accommodation means by which co-culture members maintain their cultural identity while striving to establish relationships with members of the dominant culture  separation means co-culture members use to resist interacting with members of the dominant culture

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 14 Table 1.1 A Culture and Its Co-Cultures

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 15 Figure 1.2 A Culture and Its Co-Cultures

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 16 Dimensions of Culture in Action  Individualism versus collectivism  High-context versus low-context communication  High power distance versus low power distance  Monochromic versus polychromic  Masculine or feminine culture

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 17 Dimensions of Culture in Action  Individualism versus collectivism  individualistic cultures cultures in which individual goals are stressed  collectivistic cultures cultures in which group goals are stressed

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 18 Dimensions of Culture in Action  High-context versus low-context communication  high-context communication tradition-bound communication system that depends on indirectness  low-context communication system that encourages directness in communication

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 19 Dimensions of Culture in Action  High power distance versus low power distance  high-power-distance cultures cultures based on power differences in which subordinates defer to superiors  low-power-distance cultures cultures that believe that power should be used only when legitimate

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 20 Dimensions of Culture in Action  Monochromic versus polychromic  monochromic time schedule time carefully, preferring to complete an activity before beginning another,  polychromic time not obsessed with time and refuse to be slaves to it

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 21 Dimensions of Culture in Action  Masculine or feminine culture  masculine cultures cultures that value aggressiveness, strength, and material symbols of success  feminine cultures cultures that value tenderness and relationships

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 22 Dimensions of Culture in Action  Interpreting Cultural Differences  Japanese and Chinese: individuals tend to understate their own accomplishments  North American : typically taught to be assertive and take credit for their achievements  North American: speak directly on an issue  Japan, Korea, and China: avoid confrontation, preserve harmony, and make it possible for individuals to save face or maintain self-esteem

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 23 Technology and Community  Technology and computers are changing the traditional definition of a community  Fear that communicating solely with like-minded people may lead to the polarization of opinions  Do we commit ourselves emotionally to our online relationships and alliances or keep them superficial?  digital divide information gap

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 24 Practice Intercultural Communication  Refrain from formulating expectations  Recognize how faulty education can impede understanding  Make a commitment to develop intercultural communication skills

© The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 25 High Power Distance vs. Low Power Distance  High power distance cultures  Power viewed as a fact of life  Subordinates defer to superiors  Low power distance cultures  Power should be used when legitimate  Subordinates contradict their bosses