The Environmental Context CHAPTER 4 The Environmental Context
A Contextual Model of Intercultural Communication Neuliep, Intercultural Communication, 6e. © SAGE Publications, 2015.
How we see the physical world around us is influenced by our individual psychological perceptions, which, in turn, are shaped by culture.
Information Load Information rate: the amount of information contained or perceived in the environment per some unit of time. High load Uncertain, complex, dense, random, improbable Low load Certain, simple, sparse, patterned, probable
Information load affects feelings in three ways: Arousal-nonarousal Pleasure-displeasure Dominance-submissiveness
Culture and the Natural Environment The natural, or terrestrial, environment Some aspects of the terrestrial environment exist in every culture while others do not The natural environment of any culture influences life in that culture.
Worldviews of the Natural Environment Omnipotent nature Harmony with nature Controlling nature
Natural Disasters as Cultural and Social Events How people manage disaster is shaped by the culture and its view of nature. One model of human responses to natural disasters segregates cultures into three types folk or preindustrial Transitional industrial
Build Environment Adaptations to the terrestrial environment Architecture, housing, landscaping, etc. Changes natural patterns of behavior, including communication. Build Environment
The Built Environment: Layout Patterns Fixed-feature space Semi-fixed feature space Informal space
Japanese Housing Shoji or fusuma Yuka Tatami mats Tokonoma Important rooms: kitchen and bathroom.
American Navajo Housing Hogan Space used differently based on sex Ramada Space and division of labor not divided based on sex
Marakwet Housing Kor Use of the home differs depending on sex. Disposal of refuse: Ash Animal dung chaff
Privacy Solitude Isolation Intimacy With family With friends Anonymity Reserve
Cross-Cultural Variations on Privacy China Turkey Java Morocco
Online Privacy Individualism—collectivism High power distance—low power distance
Time Orientation Monochronic orientation Polychronic orientation Scheduling Monochronic orientation Polychronic orientation Housing space Business practices