Intercultural Communication Flashcards
Ongoing negotiation of learned and patterned beliefs, attittudes, values and behavior
Culture
the feeling of disorientation experienced by someone who is suddenly subjected to an unfamiliar culture, way of life, or set of attitudes.
- can result to fear of communication & losing opportunity to connect with others
Culture shock
In 1976, __________ suggested that culture was similar to an iceberg. He proposed that culture has two components and that only about 10% of culture (external or surface culture) is easily visible; the majority, or 90%, of culture (internal or deep culture) is hidden below the surface.
- deepest - hidden culture
Edward T. Hall
means that you know about some cultural characteristics, history, values, beliefs, and behaviors of another ethnic or cultural group.
Cultural knowledge
_________ is all about recognizing and understanding that we all have different values shaped by our diverse cultural backgrounds. What we consider to be ‘normal’ behavior in one country can be entirely different in another.
- being open to cultural change
Cultural Awareness
_________ is all about recognizing and understanding other groups and that we all have different values shaped by our diverse cultural backgrounds. What we consider to be ‘normal’ behavior in one country can be entirely different in another.
- being open to cultural change
Cultural Awareness
Being aware that cultural differences and similarities between people exist without assigning them a value – positive or negative, better or worse, right or wrong.
- being mindful of the organizational goals
Cultural Sensitivity
being aware of your own cultural beliefs and values and how these may be different from other cultures—including being able to learn about and honor the different cultures of those you work with
- bringing together cultural knowledge, cultural awareness, cultural sensitivity
- adds operational effectiveness
- working effectively in cross-cultural situations to produce better outcomes
- skills, attitude, culture, communication
Cultural Competence
L.I.S.T.E.N
- Listen Actively
- Initiate questions
- Stay focused
- Take notes
- Emphatize
- Non-Judgemental Response
Communication that is explicit, with little left to inference. The addressee is likely to understand all of the information even if they are unfamiliar with the cultural context.
- precise, simple, clear
- messages are expressed & understood at face value
- repetition and summarizing are appreciated if it helps to clarify the message
Low Context
communication where a great deal of information is implied rather than explicit
- sophisticated, nuanced, and layered
- messages are both spoken and read between the lines
high context
(Hofstede’s Six Dimensions of Culture) This refers to the degree of inequality that exists – and is accepted – between people with and without power.
A high score indicates that a society accepts an unequal, hierarchical distribution of power, and that people understand “their place” in the system. A low score means that power is shared and is widely dispersed, and that society members do not accept situations where power is distributed unequally.
Power Distance Index
(Hofstede’s Six Dimensions of Culture) This refers to the strength of the ties that people have to others within their community.
A high IDV score indicates weak interpersonal connection among those who are not part of a core “family.” Here, people take less responsibility for others’ actions and outcomes.
In a collectivist society, however, people are supposed to be loyal to the group to which they belong, and, in exchange, the group will defend their interests. The group itself is normally larger, and people take responsibility for one another’s well-being.
Individualism Vs. Collectivism (IDV)
(Hofstede’s Six Dimensions of Culture) This refers to the distribution of roles between men and women. In masculine societies, the roles of men and women overlap less, and men are expected to behave assertively. Demonstrating your success, and being strong and fast, are seen as positive characteristics.
In feminine societies, however, there is a great deal of overlap between male and female roles, and modesty is perceived as a virtue. Greater importance is placed on good relationships with your direct supervisors, or working with people who cooperate well with one another.
Femininity Vs. Masculinity (MAS)
(Hofstede’s Six Dimensions of Culture) relates to the degree to which individuals of a specific society are comfortable with uncertainty and the unknown. Countries displaying a high score believe and behave in a strict manner. Individuals belonging to those countries also avoid unconventional ways of thinking and behaving. Weak score societies display more ease in regard to uncertainty. People in cultures with high scores minimize the occurrence of unknown and unusual circumstances and to proceed with careful changes step by step by planning and by implementing rules, laws and regulations. In contrast, low uncertainty avoidance cultures accept and feel comfortable in unstructured situations or changeable environments and try to have as few rules as possible. People in these cultures tend to be more pragmatic and more tolerant of change.
Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI)
