1. Gender Differences

2. What is the Difference? Individual is autonomous (Self-deciding) Individual is autonomous (Self-deciding) We are socialized to communicate differently as men and women We are socialized to communicate differently as men and women Women often communicate based on what they think their roles in society are. (caregiver) Women often communicate based on what they think their roles in society are. (caregiver) Women who don’t feel they meet social norms, usually have a lower self-concept and lower communication skills. Women who don’t feel they meet social norms, usually have a lower self-concept and lower communication skills.

3. Men vs. Women When communicating, men are more likely to describe others by their abilities When communicating, men are more likely to describe others by their abilities “she writes well.” “she writes well.” Women describe others by self-concepts Women describe others by self-concepts “She thinks she writes well.” “She thinks she writes well.” Men categorize people by non-social things (flying airplanes) Men categorize people by non-social things (flying airplanes) Females categorize by more interpersonal things (ex: relationships) Females categorize by more interpersonal things (ex: relationships)

4. Continued… Men tend to mentally separate and store information in very organized yet completely separate compartments, like in a file-cabinet- drawer system Women see how details and information relate to each other, with their inherent underlying and interrelated connections. Men are logical, women are emotional. Pros and Cons?

5. Cultural differences American children are taught to stray away from dependence and being helpless American children are taught to stray away from dependence and being helpless Most American families want to teach their kids to stand up on their own and communicate self- sufficiently Most American families want to teach their kids to stand up on their own and communicate self- sufficiently In Eastern countries, they teach interdependence, to rely on each other for needs. In Eastern countries, they teach interdependence, to rely on each other for needs. Therefore children have a higher self-esteem at an earlier age because they value being helpful, in cooperative groups. Therefore children have a higher self-esteem at an earlier age because they value being helpful, in cooperative groups.

6. While Northern Europeans and European Americans feel most comfortable at an arm's length away in a social interaction While Northern Europeans and European Americans feel most comfortable at an arm's length away in a social interaction Hispanics would consider that distance unfriendly. Hispanics would consider that distance unfriendly. Asian cultures do not believe in touching in public settings, and they don't favor direct eye contact. Asian cultures do not believe in touching in public settings, and they don't favor direct eye contact. Like the Asian culture, Hispanics also view direct eye contact as a lack of respect. Like the Asian culture, Hispanics also view direct eye contact as a lack of respect. One significant difference between these two cultures is the way touching in public is perceived. Hispanics are a "high touch" society. One significant difference between these two cultures is the way touching in public is perceived. Hispanics are a "high touch" society. http://www.ehow.com/info_8475600_different-cultural-communication-styles.html http://www.ehow.com/info_8475600_different-cultural-communication-styles.html

7. How does this affect communication? If we don’t understand each other, the wall for communication breaks.

8. Halo Effect Tendency to judge other people’s personalities upon observing a single characteristic, trait or behavior without further verification. Tendency to judge other people’s personalities upon observing a single characteristic, trait or behavior without further verification. Let’s look at some examples? You know this person. Let’s look at some examples? You know this person.

9. What do you think of when you see him? What do you think of when you see him?

10. Halo Effect What can we assume about these people? What can we assume about these people?

11. Stereotyping Definitely affects communication! Definitely affects communication! Generalizations of perceptions about a person or group Generalizations of perceptions about a person or group Can be positive-it forces us to find out more about the person we are stereotyping and learn from that experience. We communicate to reduce that uncertainty we feel. Can be positive-it forces us to find out more about the person we are stereotyping and learn from that experience. We communicate to reduce that uncertainty we feel. Can be negative (racism, sexism, ageism, etc…)this form of discrimination harms communication and our attempts of communicating well. Can be negative (racism, sexism, ageism, etc…)this form of discrimination harms communication and our attempts of communicating well.

12. Emotional States Our emotion affects the way we communicate as well. Our emotion affects the way we communicate as well. Examples: mad, sad, happy, frustrated, guilt, fear, surprise, love Examples: mad, sad, happy, frustrated, guilt, fear, surprise, love Good and Bad moods also greatly affect our filtering of messages *selective hearing Good and Bad moods also greatly affect our filtering of messages *selective hearing

13. Now What? Improving perception is an important first step in becoming a competent communicator. Improving perception is an important first step in becoming a competent communicator. 1. Question the accuracy of your perception: “I think I saw that correctly, but what do I know that could help me sort this out?” 2. Seek more information to verify perceptions *TALK about it, try to understand! 3. Realize that the perception of people may need to be changed over time. Be able to say “I was wrong.”