messages fourth canadian edition Chapter Two Interpersonal Communication and Culture 1

Culture – the lifestyle of a group of people  values language  beliefs ways of thinking  artifacts art  ways of behavinglaws  ways of communicatingreligion 2

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 3

Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 4 Table 2.1  See table 2.1 on page 26 to see Intercultural Value Conflict Areas

Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 5 Test Yourself  Turn to page 27 and complete the “Test Yourself” How Individualistic Are You?  Answer the questions under “What Will You Do?”

Culture differs in terms of...  Orientation (individualistic/collectivist)  Context (high/low)  Masculinity / Feminity 6

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. 7

Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 8 See Table 2.2  Look at table 2.2 on page 30 to see some difference between individualistic and collectivist cultures.

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 9

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 10

Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 11 Masculine and Feminine Cultures Masculine culture Men are:  Assertive  Oriented to material success  Strong Feminine culture Both men and women are:  Modest  Oriented to quality of life  Tender Women are:  Modest  Oriented to quality of life  Tender

Intercultural Communication Communication between  cultures  ethnic groups  religions  nations  small cultures  small groups  genders 12

Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 13 Test Yourself  Do “Test Yourself” on page 33  How Ethnocentric Are You?

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 14

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 15

Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 16 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

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. 17

Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 18 Skills Toolbox  Read : Skills Toolbox” on page 34

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 19

Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 20 Thinking Critically  Read “Thinking Critically About” on page 37

Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 21 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

Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 22 Skill Building Exercise  Complete 2.3 Confronting Intercultural Difficulties on page 45. Do questions 1-6 AND “Thinking Critically About Intercultural Difficulties.