1. Inter-Act, 13th Edition Chapter 3
Intercultural Communication

2. Chapter 3 Objectives
Describe the role of communication in defining, transmitting, and changing culture
Discuss the relationships between dominant and co-cultures
List and discuss the ways in which cultures differ and how that affects intercultural communication
Explain how one develops intercultural competence

3. The psychological discomfort of adjusting to a new cultural situation
Culture Shock
The psychological discomfort of adjusting to a new cultural situation

4. Intercultural Communication
Interactions that occur between people whose cultures are so different that the communication between them is altered

5. Culture
The system of beliefs, values, and attitudes shared by a particular segment of the population

6. Dominant Culture
Culture within a society whose attitudes, values, beliefs, and customs hold the majority opinion

7. Co-Cultures
Groups of people living within a dominant culture who are clearly different from the dominant culture

8. Co-Cultures Gender Race Ethnicity
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Religion
Social class
Generation

9. Self-image based on cultural group or groups you associate with
Cultural Identity
Self-image based on cultural group or groups you associate with

10. How Cultures Differ
Individualism-Collectivism: extent to which people in a culture are integrated into groups
Uncertainty Avoidance: extent to which people in a culture avoid unpredictability regarding people, relationships, and events
Power Distance: amount of difference in power between people, institutions, and organizations in a culture
Masculinity-Femininity: extent to which notions of "maleness" and "femaleness" are valued in a culture
Time Orientation: differences in how cultures perceive time
Cultural context: differences in how cultures share meaning

11. Individualism-Collectivism
Individualistic cultures value:
Personal rights and responsibilities
Competition and personal achievement
Self-expression
Privacy
Collectivist cultures value:
Community, strong connection to groups
Harmony and cooperation
Avoiding embarrassment
Group interests over self-interests

12. Uncertainty Avoidance
Low Uncertainty Avoidance
Comfortable with unpredictability
Takes risks
Few rules
Accepts multiple perspectives of “truth”
High Uncertainty Avoidance
Creates systems of formal rules
Believes in absolute truth
Less tolerant of deviant ideas or behaviors

13. Power Distance High Power Distance Power distributed unequally
Power imbalances seen as natural
Power is respected
Low Power Distance
Power is distributed equally
Inequalities are downplayed
People with power are not feared
Democracy is valued

14. Masculinity-Femininity
Masculine Cultures
Traditional sex-based roles followed
Men are assertive and dominant
Women are nurturing, service-oriented
Male traits valued over female traits
Feminine Cultures
Roles not based on one’s sex
People free to act in nontraditional ways
Feminine traits valued
Both men and women demonstrate both masculine and feminine behaviors

15. Time Orientation Monochronic Value punctuality Follow plans
Polychronic
Value flexible schedules
Multitasking

16. Cultural Context Low-Context Direct verbal messages
Speakers expected to say what they mean
High-Context
Indirect meaning
Understood by referring to unwritten cultural rules and subtle nonverbal behavior
“Read between the lines”

17. U.S. Rankings (among 53 Countries/Regions)
15th
38th
43rd

18. Intercultural Communication Competence
effective and appropriate behavior and communication in intercultural situations

19. Barriers to Effective Intercultural Communication
Anxiety
Assuming similarity or difference culture
Ethnocentrism
Stereotyping
Incompatible communication codes
Incompatible norms and values

20. Pyramid Model of Intercultural Competence

21. Intercultural Communication Competence
Internal outcomes:
Informed frame of reference, filter shift
Adaptability, flexibility
Ethnorelativism: point of view that allows you to see value in other cultural perspectives
Empathy

22. Intercultural Competence
External outcome: Behaving and communicating effectively and appropriately to achieve your goals

23. Homework
Analyze your own intercultural communication skills. Which skills are strong? What barriers most hinder your ability to communicate interculturally?
Write down a goal and a plan to improve one specific intercultural goal this semester.
Review your Assignment Rubric!!