1. Intercultural Communication
Chapter 3
Intercultural Communication

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

3. Culture
Culture Shock
The system of beliefs, values, and attitudes shared by a particular segment of a population
The psychological discomfort of adjusting to a new cultural situation

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

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

6. Examples of some Co-Cultures
Gender
Race
Codeswitching
Ethnicity
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Religion
Social class
Generation
Cultures Created by Geographic Regions
Cultures created by Interests
Technological?
Gaming Cultures?
Theater Cultures?
Sporting Cultures?
Racing Cultures?
Work Cultures
Most of us belong to more than one cultural group and that helps make up our cultural identity.

7. How Cultures Differ
With respect to many nonverbal “norms” or rules of behavior
Dress
Time
Gender expectations
Individualism
Power
Uncertainty and predictability
Others

8. 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

9. Identifying Cultural Similarities and Differences
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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

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

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

15. 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”
Japanese Culture Smile Schools

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

17. Pyramid Model of Intercultural Competence

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

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