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*Outline of this SessionThe meaning of CultureCultural
DifferencesCross-Cultural InteractionCross-Cultural
CommunicationCross-Cultural LearningManaging the Encounter An
example from Honduras
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*What is Culture?Culture is a shared system of meaning;Culture
is what makes the world manageable;All societies have culture, each
one different;To interact, we need to manage these differences.
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*Culture Helps Us:PerceiveOrganizeInterpretJudge
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*Ways We Learn CultureEnculturation ( socialization): how we
bring up our childrenAcculturation: cultural learning between
adultsBoth require communication
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Components of Culture:What we see comes
fromValuesArtifactsBehavior
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*Understand Yourself As A Cultural ConstructIn some ways, you
are uniqueIn some ways, you are like everyone elseYou are
culturally-constructedYour values and perceptions form a
patternYour values are arbitrary
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*Values, Beliefs, and NormsValues ideas about right and wrong,
better and worse, good and bad.Beliefs ideas that people assume are
true about the world. Many are axioms.Norms shared expectations of
appropriate behavior. Norms arise from beliefs and values.
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Cultural Differences
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*Some American Core
ValuesIndependenceIndividualityDirectnessInitiativeAssertivenessPrivacyUpward
MobilityOptimism
CompetitionFairnessEqualityFreedom (conscience, expression,
movement, action)ToleranceJustice
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*Some Latin American Core
ValuesInterdependenceRelationshipsIndirectnessSi Dios
quierePesimismAncestry / History
CooperationHierarchyDriven by forces beyond
controlRespectFamily
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*Some examplesCultivating a relationshipAsking about familyTime
differences
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Cross-Cultural Interaction
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*People from Different Cultures Will Differ With Respect
To:PerceptionsInterpretationsFactsGoalsMethodsValues
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*How Culture Influences FactsIf you give money to someone, is
it:Homage?Tribute?Payment?A Tip?A Bribe? A Deadly Insult?
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*Cultures NegativesParochialismEthnocentrismStereotypingLack of
flexibilityNarrow tolerances
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*Europe Meets America IAmerican behaviorWhat Americans think
theyre doing
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*Europe Meets America II
European behaviorWhat Europeans think theyre doingWhat Americans
seeHave fewer close friendsExercising discretion, emphasizing depth
in therelationshipColdness, distance, aloofness
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Latin America Meets the U.S.They interrupt other people; they
dont listen enough. They get to the point too quickly. They are too
much in a hurry. They care about things, instead of
relationships.
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*U.S. Meets Latin AmericaTheyre always late. They wont come
right out and tell you what is bothering them. Theyre very formal
with me, always using a title, rather than a first name. They wont
look you in the eye.
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Communication
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*The Communication ArenaAB
SenderReceiverNoiseAs CultureBs CultureChannel, Code and
Meaning
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*Forms of CommunicationVerbalNon-Verbal
Body LanguageEnvironment Language
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*Communication TasksSend appropriate signals yourselfInterpret
the signals you receive correctly
Communicating across cultures is not just about learning their
codes, but about understanding your own.
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Non-verbal communicationTouching (haptics)Eye contact
(oculesics)Use of space (proxemics)
The use of time (chronemics)Odor (olefactics)Movements and
gestures (kinesics)
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An Example of Body Language: North American Space Zones
Intimate
Personal
Social
Public
15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
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*ArtifactsDress can even affect how willing others will be to
follow you. Research has found that significantly more individuals
will follow a models example in crossing the street against the
"wait" signal when s/he is dressed in a business suit than when the
same model crossed the street dressed in poor work clothes.
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*TimeOrientations:
PastPresentFutureTime Systems:
TechnicalFormalInformalMonochronic or polychronic
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*Successful CommunicationYou can get what you wantIn a way that
is acceptable to youAnd to your partner(s)And which maintains your
relationship
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Cross-Cultural Learning and Adaptation
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*Understanding: explain the form, content, and significance of
salient differences.
Coping: react appropriately to the differences.
Integrating: Add elements of difference into own operating
paradigms.
Stages in Cross-Cultural Learning
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Emotional StateHighLowAdjustmentTimeCrisisThe Culture Shock
PatternHoneymoonRecovery
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Why Stress OccursYour environment makes demands on you for which
you have no ready-made response
Your responses do not produce the required results
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Stress Points for NewcomersUnfamiliarityLossOverloadNo
sanctuaryAmbiguity and uncertaintyLack of support
Offended valuesChange of statusPervasive differencesNo
Instruction ManualOdd Man OutAll-English
environment
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Signs of Culture ShockIrritability, moodinessFluctuating
appetiteReduced sex driveDisrupted sleep HomesicknessSpending time
aloneAvoiding the locals
Reading all dayBoredom, low energyConfusion, anxietyNegativity,
alienationDepressionPhysical illnessStereotyping
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*An Adjustment Hierarchy
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Managing the Encounter
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*Some Common ProblemsGender relationsAge
differencesAssertivenessSpeech patternsUse of
intermediariesQuestions of faceNegotiation styles
Direct/IndirectEgalitarian/EliteCharm/ThreatsMerit/InfluencePersonal/ImpersonalSingle/Multiple
Access
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*Managing the EncounterSuspend JudgmentLearn to NegotiatePay
Attention to CommunicationLearn From Each EncounterShare What Your
LearnChange Things When Necessary
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*RememberYou cant change their behavior-- you can only change
your own
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