Chapter 3: The influence of culture on communication (I)

Question 1

Power Distance index

Answer 1

• How much does the culture believe that power should be distributed unequally
• Decisions of the power holders be challenged?

Predictors?

• Climate
• Population
• Wealth distribution

Question 2

Uncertainty avoidance

Answer 2

threatened by ambiguous situations?
Tries to avoid uncertainty by establishing more structure?

Predictor?
-Extent of modernisation (high modernisation= low UAI)

Question 3

Indiv- Collectivism

Answer 3

• Unique and independent OR
• Conforming and interdependent

“The degree to which a culture relies on and has allegiance to the self or to the group.”

Predictor?

• Eco dvmt
• Climate
• How outsiders are treated

Question 4

Masculinity- Femininity

Answer 4

How much does the culture value assertiveness and the acquisition of wealth
vs
Caring for others

• Achievement and assertiveness vs
• Nurturance and support

Predictor?
-Climate (colder= feminine)

Question 5

Long-Term orientation

Answer 5

-Perspectives on life and work

• LTO values: Thrift, perseverance and humility.
• STO values: respect for tradition, fulfilling social obligations and protecting one’s face.

Question 6

Indulgence-Restraint (IND)

Answer 6

How much ppl try to control desires and impulses?

-Hedonism (pleasure and enjoyment)
vs
-Self-discipline (moderation and self-control)

Question 7

Bond’s Confucian cultural patterns

Answer 7

-Integration (social stability)

-Human heartedness
(gentleness and compassion)

• Moral discipline (restraint and moderation in daily activities)
• Confucian work dynamism (person’s orientation to life and work)

Question 8

(definition) Triandis’ Cultural syndromes

Answer 8

• Shared pattern of beliefs, attitudes, self-definitions, norms, roles and values organised around a theme.
• 9 diff ones
• Miscommunication can occur when people are not aware of these syndromes.

Question 9

9 syndromes of Triandis’ Culture syndromes

Answer 9

• Cultural complexity (size as a good determinant)
• Tight (tight cultures have many rules, norms about correct behaviour)
• Individualism
• Vertical (vertical cultures take hierarchy as a given)
• Active (active cultures as more competitive, and tries to change the environment to fit them- more self centred)
• Universalism (ppl try to treat each other on the basis of universal criteria)
• Diffuse (diffuse cultures will say “I do not like your report means I do not like you”)
• Instrumental- expressive: Instrumental (“get the job done” vs. “enjoy the social relationship”)
• Emotional expression

Question 10

Hall’s High & Low context cultural patterns

Answer 10

• Organizes culture by the amount of information IMPLIED by the context of communication.
• Culture as a screen that tells the person what perception to notice, and how to interpret them.

Question 11

Hall’s High context cultures

Answer 11

• Highly implicit culture.
• Lots of shared understanding in the culture.
• Emphasis on nonverbal codes.
• Distinct in-groups & outgroups
• Reactions reserved.
• Time open and flexible

Question 12

Hall’s Low-context cultures

Answer 12

• Overt and explicit
• Msg plainly coded
• Details verbalised
• Reactions on the surface
• Flexible in-groups & outgroups
• Low commitment
• Time highly organised

Question 13

M-time culture

Answer 13

• Single-track view of time
• Generally northern cultures
• Commodify time and emphasise efficiency.
• Obsessed with controlling time.
• Mainstream US culture.
• Emphasis on schedule and discrete time units.

Question 14

Polychromic (P-time)

Answer 14

• Generally Southern cultures.
• View events as happening concurrently.
• Emphasises relationships
• Many Asian cultures.