Communication, Culture, and Identity

1. Communication, Culture, and Identity CMN 125

2. 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

3. Intercultural Communication Defined “...communication between and among individuals and groups whose cultural backgrounds differ.” Microsoft Image Journal of Intercultural Communication http://www.immi.se/intercultural/

4. Defining Culture • Culture is Learned • Culture Creates Community • Co-Cultures • Culture Clash • Culture is Multileveled Microsoft Image

5. Why Study Intercultural Communication? • Technological Imperative • Demographic Imperative • Economic Imperative • Global Village • Outsourcing

6. Why Study Intercultural Communication? • Peace Imperative • Self-Awareness Imperative

7. Dimensions of Culture • Individualism-Collectivism • High Context Cultures • Low Context Cultures

8. Dimensions of Culture • Masculinity-Femininity • Masculine Cultures • Feminine Cultures

9. Dimensions of Culture • Distribution of Power • High Power Distance Cultures • Caste Systems • Low Power Distance Cultures

10. Dimensions of Culture • Uncertainty Avoidance

11. Challenges to Intercultural Communication • Ethnocentrism • Stereotyping • Anxiety and Uncertainty • In-Group • Out-Group Microsoft Image

12. Choices for Intercultural Communication • Know Your Biases and Stereotypes • Tolerate the Unknown • Practice Cultural Respect • Cultural Empathy • Cultural Relativity Microsoft Image

13. Choices for Intercultural Communication • Educate Yourself • Be Prepared for Consequences • Relate to the Individual, Not the Culture • Reevaluate and Eliminate Your Prejudices

14. Challenges to Intercultural Communication • Misinterpretation of Nonverbal and Verbal Behaviors • Assumption of Similarity of Differences Microsoft Image