Communication, Culture, and Identity

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Communication, Culture, and Identity

• CMN 125

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Chapter Goals

• Recognize and Understand the Complexity of
  Culture
• Identify Reasons for the Importance of
  Intercultural Communication
• Explain the Obstacles to Achieving Intercultural
  Effectiveness
• Employ Strategies to Improve Intercultural
  Communication

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Intercultural Communication Defined

• ...communication between and among individuals
  and groups whose cultural backgrounds differ.

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Journal of Intercultural Communication http//www.
immi.se/intercultural/
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Defining Culture

• Culture is Learned
• Culture Creates Community
• Co-Cultures
• Culture Clash
• Culture is Multileveled

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Why Study Intercultural Communication?

• Technological Imperative
• Demographic Imperative
• Economic Imperative
• Global Village
• Outsourcing

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Why Study Intercultural Communication?

• Peace Imperative
• Self-Awareness Imperative

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Dimensions of Culture

• Individualism-Collectivism
• High Context Cultures
• Low Context Cultures

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Dimensions of Culture

• Masculinity-Femininity
• Masculine Cultures
• Feminine Cultures

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Dimensions of Culture

• Distribution of Power
• High Power Distance Cultures
• Caste Systems
• Low Power Distance Cultures

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Dimensions of Culture

• Uncertainty Avoidance

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Challenges to Intercultural Communication

• Ethnocentrism
• Stereotyping
• Anxiety and Uncertainty
• In-Group
• Out-Group

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Choices for Intercultural Communication

• Know Your Biases and Stereotypes
• Tolerate the Unknown
• Practice Cultural Respect
• Cultural Empathy
• Cultural Relativity

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Choices for Intercultural Communication

• Educate Yourself
• Be Prepared for Consequences
• Relate to the Individual, Not the Culture
• Reevaluate and Eliminate Your Prejudices

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Challenges to Intercultural Communication

• Misinterpretation of Nonverbal and Verbal
  Behaviors
• Assumption of Similarity of Differences

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