Culture

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Culture
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What do we know about culture?

• It is a learned system of knowledge, behavior,
  attitudes, beliefs, values, and norms that is
  shared by a group of people.
• Culture and race are not synonymous (they are not
  the same thing)
• Communication and culture are inseparableyou
  cant talk about one without the other
• A co-culture is a cultural group that exists
  within a larger culture (ex gender groups,
  Amish, disabled)

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Intercultural Communication

• Defined as communication between or among people
  who have different cultural traditions, or who
  are from different cultures.
• Misunderstandings bound to occur when
  communicating interculturally
• Culture shock occurs when you experience a
  culture that has little in common with your own
  (language, beliefs, etc.) and you suffer from
  anxiety, stress, and loss.

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Cultural Contexts

• High-context culture context is extremely
  important communicators rely heavily on
  nonverbal cues and intent are very important.
  The focus is on the speaker and the listeners
  relationship with the speaker. (Japan)
• Low-context culture information is explicitly
  stated in the verbal message, bluntness is
  valued, little is left unsaid. The focus is on
  the message. (Germany)

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How cultures differ

• Masculine masculine cultures emphasize success,
  traditional roles for men/women, value
  assertiveness and competition (Japan, Australia)
• Feminine feminine cultures emphasize quality of
  life, modesty, and close relationships (Sweden,
  Denmark)
• High power distance power is held by only a few
  (Mexico)
• Low power distance power is evenly distributed
  (Sweden)

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How cultures differ (contd)

• Individualist cultures celebrate individual
  achievements, value is placed on the individual,
  I come first, my goals are most important.
  (Australia)
• Collectivist cultures value is placed on the
  group, reward group achievement, goals of the
  group are most important, do not compete with one
  another. (Guatemala)
• Individualistic cultures are low-context/
  Collectivistic cultures are high-context

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Differences (contd)

• Certainty this type of culture values being in
  the know. They like to be sure of whats going
  on, usually do not like spontaneity, plan things
  in advance (China)
• Uncertainty a go with the flow type of
  culture. Take things as they come, do not
  typically plan in advance, value being
  spontaneous, do not have to know whats going on
  at all times (Mexico)

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Gender and Culture

• The culture in the U.S. places a great value on
  the sex of an individual, as do many cultures
• Sex-based expectations occurboys are expected to
  play with trucks, to use rough play with each
  other, to shake it off when they are hurt.
  Girls are expected to wear pink, play with dolls,
  they are given more attention than boys, and are
  allowed/encouraged to show their emotions.

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Differences in male vs. female communication

• At its most basic level men typically talk to
  achieve something or accomplish a task, women
  typically talk to build relationships and
  establish rapport with other people (content and
  relationship)
• Men tend to approach communication as a need, you
  communicate when you need something. Women tend
  to approach communication for the purpose of
  relating to others or connecting with them
  (rapport vs. report)

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Adapting to other cultures

• Enculturation process of learning about your own
  culture
• Acculturation process of learning about a new
  culture other than your own
• Seek information when in doubt do not lump
  others into a category simply based on their
  culture.
• Listen and ask questions this helps you to feel
  less anxiety and uncertainty
• Tolerate ambiguity not all cultures value
  directness, be patient when communicating with
  people from other cultures

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Adapting (contd)

• Develop mindfulness be aware of how you
  communicate with others. Listen to your
  self-talk.
• Do not be ethnocentric!
• Ethnocentrism is feeling that ones culture is
  superior to other cultures (our way is the best
  way)
• Different does not equal better. Be willing to
  adapt!