Chapter 3 Flashcards
Culture
learned system of thought and behavior that belongs to and typifies a relatively large group of people - shared beliefs, values and practices
Worldview
framework through which you interpret the world
Intercultural Communication
communication between people from different cultures with different worldviews
High-context cultures
use contextual cues (time, place, relationship, situation) to interpret meaning and send subtle messages (Japan, China, Latin America)
Low-context cultures
use direct language and rely less on situational factors (U.S., Canada, Australia, northern Europe)
Collectivist cultures
perceive themselves first as a member of a group; emphasize cooperation and group harmony
Individualist cultures
value autonomy and privacy, pay little attention to status and hierarchy based on age or family connections
Uncertainty avoidance
adapt behaviors to reduce uncertainty and risk
Masculine culture
achievement culture; places value on assertiveness, achievement, ambition and competitiveness
Feminine culture
nurturing culture; place value on relationships and quality of life
Power distance
division of power among individuals
Time orientation
the way cultures communicate about and with time
Monochronic culture
treat time as a limited resource
Polychronic culture
comfortable dealing with multiple people and tasks at the same time
hyperbole
vivid, colorful language with emotional intensity and often exaggerated
Understatment
language that downplays the intensity or importance of events
co-cultures
groups whose members share at least some of the general culture’s system of thought and behavior but also have distinct characteristics or attitudes that unify them and distinguish them from the general culture
Generation
group of people who were born during a specific time frame and their attitudes and behavior are shaped by the time’s events and social changes
Gender
behavioral and cultural traits assigned to the sexes
Social identity theory
personal identity (sense of self) and social identity (comes from group memberships)
Ingroups
the groups we belong with
outgroups
“others”
intergroup communication
focuses on how communication within and between groups affects relationships
salient
brought to mind
ethnocentrism
belief in the superiority of your own culture
discrimination
behavior toward a person or group based solely on their membership in a particular group, class or category
Behavior affirmation
seeing or hearing what you want to see or hear in the communication of group members
Behavioral confirmation
we act in a way that makes our expectations about a group come true
Inercultural sensitivity
mindfulness of behaviors that may offend others
intergroup contact theory
interaction between members of different social groups generates a possibility for more positive attitudes to emerge
Accomodation
adapt your nonverbal behaviors and language
Convergence
shift their language or nonverbal behaviors toward each other’s way of communicating
Overaccomodate
go to far in changing your language or changing it based on incorrect or stereotypical ideas of another group
