Perception, Meaning,

1
Lecture 2

• Perception, Meaning,
• Reality, and
• Axioms of ICC

2
Perception

• Made up of three characteristics
• Stimuli
• Dimensions
• Categories
• Perception is the process by which people
  categorize objects (stimuli) along dimensions of
  importance.
• A stimuli is anything that we need to pay
  attention to in order to get our needs met.

3
Constructing Reality

• People construct a reality of their
  surroundings by taking in all of the stimuli
  around them.
• We go through the same process of creating a
  reality for our job, family, commute,
  relationships, recreation, etc.
• All of these combined create a reality of our
  life.
• Perception is used to make sense of and construct
  a reality of their world.

4
Constructing Reality (cont)

• We learn the rules for placing stimuli in
  categories from our parents, family, friends,
  bosses, teachers, media, etc.
• Because each person has a slightly different
  combination of these people, etc. we each have a
  slightly different set of rules for placing
  stimuli into categories.
• Therefore, each person has a slightly different
  reality. Each of us lives in a slightly
  different world.

5
Meaning

• Meaning is culturally relative.
• Everybody (and every culture) gives a different
  relative meaning to an object.
• Meaning is absolute.
• The meaning of an object lies within the object
  itself, and not in the perception of the stimuli
  of the person looking at the object.
• Meaning is universal.
• Everyone gives the object the same meaning. (i.e.
  everyone agrees what the desk in the classroom
  is.)

6
6 Axioms of ICC

• Axiom
• A statement universally accepted as true.
• An established principle or law.

7
Axiom 1 ICC Assumes Perceived Cultural
Difference (PCDs)

• PCDs create blind spots
• Many people do not share the same norms, thought
  patterns, structures, and systems.
• Sources of miscommunication attributed to PCDs
• 1) Culture
• 2) Personality
• 3) Relationship history

8
Axiom 2 ICC Relates to Content and Relationships

• ICC assumes differences not only in the
  message, but also in the interaction
• Not only content, but also context
• Both what is said, and who said it
• Relationships alter Meaning
• Messages alter Relationships

9
Axiom 3 Communication Style Affects First
Impressions

• Each individual has their own communica-tion
  style.
• Sometimes conscious, but often people are not
  aware of their style
• Peoples communication styles develop out of
  habits formed interacting with family, friends
  and other individuals.
• Upon communicating with someone the first time we
  develop a first impression of that person.

10
Axiom 4 ICC Involves Uncertainty Reduction

• In interpersonal encounters, people generally try
  to avoid ambiguity.
• Redundancy and predictability are useful in
  reducing uncertainty.
• Generally, people use the communication habits,
  patterns, customs, and rules they have developed.
  
• Problem in IC interactions there is generally
  more ambiguities and uncertainties than when
  interacting with someone from ones own culture.
• The rules are different.

11
Axiom 4 ICC Involves Uncertainty Reduction
(cont)

• Answer...
• 1) Use the rules, customs, rituals, nonverbal
  behaviors that match the other persons culture.
• Can be rather confusing if both sides attempt
  this.
• 2) Understand and manage interaction stages and
  process
• Precontact
• Contact and impression
• Closure

12
Steps to Uncertainty Reduction

• 1) Precontact - by learning about a culture
  before we encounter it, we start from an focused
  scanning perspective rather than from an
  unfocused scanning of the environment.
• 2) Contact and impression - Initial impressions
  occur in the first four minutes of verbal
  communication.
• 3) Closure - the lasting attitude based on the
  contact stage. We form a summary and mental
  picture of each person.

13
Axiom 5 Culture and Communication are Inseparable

• Every culture has symbols, rituals, customs, and
  formats.
• Misunderstanding occurs when we misinterpret the
  relationship between the symbols and
  communication system with the culture.

14
Axiom 6 Intercultural Effectiveness is the Goal
of ICC

• Theoretical knowledge is not enough to becoming
  competent. Improving ones behavior and skills
  are necessary to improve ones performance.
• Success has many rewards
• Conflict reduction
• Improved relationships
• Better job performance
• Smooth cultural adjustment
• In a nutshell, this is the goal of the course.