Chapter 3 Communication and Culture – Flashcards

a learned system of thought and behavior that belongs to and typifies a relatively large group of people; it is composite of their shared beliefs, values, and practices; learn through communication

framework through which you interpret the world and the people in it

communication between people from different cultures who have different world views; when differences between communicators are so substantial that they can potentially

(Japan, Korea, China, Latin American and African countries) use contextual cues-such as time, place, relationship, and situation- to both interpret meaning and send subtle messages

uses very direct language and relies less on situational factors to communicate

perceive themselves first and foremost as members of a group-and they communicate from that perspective; emphasize cooperation and group harmony, group decision making, and long-term, stable friendships

value individuality; they place value on autonomy and privacy, with relatively little attention to status and hierarchy based on age or family connections; individual initiative and achievement are rewarded, and individual credit and blame are assigned

adapt their behaviors in order to reduce uncertainty and risk; high-more anxious about the unknown; low-high tolerance for risk and ambiguity

(achievement culture) places value on assertiveness, achievement, ambition, and competitiveness; both men and women make clearer distinctions between the sexes- aggressive men and passive women

(nurturing culture) place value on relationships and quality of life; greater value on nurturance-affection, friendliness, and social support-understanding others

way in which a culture accepts and expects the division of power among individuals

the way that cultures communicate about and with time

treat time as a limited resource- a commodity that can be saved or wasted; wait turn in line

comfortable dealing with multiple people and tasks at the same time; less concerned with making every moment count; don't adhere closely to schedules; change plans often and easily

vivid, colorful language with great emotional intensity (collectivist cultures)

language that downplays the emotional intensity or importance of events (individualist cultures)

groups whose members share at least some of the general culture's system of thought and behavior, but which have distinct characteristics or group attitudes that both unify them and distinguish them from the general culture

group of people who were born into a specific tim frame, along with its events and social changes that shape attitudes and behavior.

refers to the behavioral and cultural traits assigned to our sex (masculinity and femininity)

personal identity-sense of your unique personality; social identity-part of your self-concept that comes from your group membership. want to feel good about our affiliations; want "us" to be better than "them"

groups you identify with and feel we belong

define "others" as

branch of discipline that focuses on how communication within and between groups affects relationships

our identification and communication shift depending on which group membership is brought to mind at a given moment

belief in the superiority of your own culture or group and a tendency to view other cultures through the lens of your own. can make communication biased

behavior toward a person or group based solely on their membership in a particular group, class, or category

seeing or hearing what you want to see or hear in the communication of assorted group members. baggy pants automatically means they have a gun

when we act in a way that makes out expectation about a group come true. see the gun, or walks in with beer

when we increase our knowledge about cultures and co cultures and develop more complex ways of thinking about a culture

feelings change when we experience greater enjoyment and less anxiety in our intercultural interactions

when your thoughts and feelings are altered,

mindfulness of behaviors that may offend others (don't offend jewish relatives with your beliefs)

one prominent idea for addressing intercultural challenges; holds that interaction between members of different social groups generates a possibility for more positive attitudes to emerge (more contact may realize you were wrong)

adapt and adjust your language and nonverbal behaviors to improve intercultural communication

speakers shift their language or nonverbal behaviors toward each other's way of communicating; to gain approval and show solidarity

going too far in changing your language or changing your language based on an incorrect or stereotypical notion of another group