Culture and Communication
What does the word "culture" include?
A social groups language, laws, and religion
_____ refers to the biological characteristics that make us men and women; _____ refers to the socially constructed roles and behaviors that have been deemed appropriate for men and women.
Sex
Gender
The process by which we learn the culture into which we are born is called _____
enculturation
The process by which we learn the rules and norms of a culture different from our native culture is called _____
acculturation
According to this perspective on culture, immigrants should leave their native culture behind and adapt to the culture of their new country.
Assimilationist
In what ways does culture differ?
Collectivism and Individualism
High and low-context
Power distances
In this type of culture, people define themselves according to their group affiliation and are willing to sacrifice to meet group goals. This culture promotes benevolence, tradition, and conformity.
Collectivistic culture
Members of this type of culture often place much emphasis on face-saving behaviors.
High-context culture
This culture is one in which most of the information is explicitly stated in the verbal message.
Low-context culture
A culture in which power is concentrated in the hands of few is considered to be a _____________
High-power distance culture
Cultures in which we are expected to confront a friend, partner, or supervisor assertively.
Low-power distance cultures
Cultures in which we are expected to be modest, polite, and totally respectful to those who have more status than us.
High-power distance cultures
This culture highly values modesty, concern for the relationship and the quality of life, and tenderness.
Feminine Culture
This culture values aggressiveness, material success, and strength.
Masculine Culture
These cultures emphasize the quality of life and so socialize their members to be modest and to emphasize close interpersonal relationships.
Feminine Cultures
Members of _____-tolerant cultures do not feel threatened by unknown situations; uncertainty is a normal part of life.
high-ambiguity
Members of _____-tolerant cultures fear uncertainty and create very clear rules for communication.
low-ambiguity
Cultures with a _____ orientation promote preparation for the future to attain later rewards in life.
Long-term
Members of cultures with a(n) _____ orientation expect quick results from their efforts, spend their resources for the present, and look more to the present than the future.
short-term
The feeling that you have the freedom to do as you please is _____.
life control
Members of cultures high in _____ are generally unhappy, cynical, and pessimistic.
restraint
What are three examples of intercultural communication?
Interethnic communication
Interracial communication
International communication
_____ is the tendency to see others and their behaviors through your own culture filters.
Ethnocentrism
A person says, “She thinks that way because she’s a woman.” Another says, “He believes that because he was raised as a Catholic.” These are examples of what?
Overattribution
True/False
Culture includes a social group’s language, ways of thinking, laws, religion, communication theories, styles, and attitudes.
True
True/False
Cultures teach boys and girls the same attitudes, beliefs, values, and ways of communicating and relating to one another.
False
True/False
Culture is passed on from one generation to the next through genes.
False
True/False
Enculturation is the process by which you learn the rules and norms of a culture different from your native culture.
False
True/False
Acculturation is the process by which you learn the culture into which you were born.
False
True/False
Politeness and the way it is communicated is universal among all cultures.
False
True/False
The emphasis on cultural awareness in your textbook implies that you should accept all cultural practices or that all cultural practices are equal.
False
True/False
Americans generally have a preference for individual values.
True
True/False
A high-context culture is one in which most of the information is explicitly stated in the verbal message.
False
True/False
In high-power-distance cultures, power is evenly distributed throughout the citizenry.
False
True/False
A highly feminine culture values modesty, concern for the relationship and quality of life, and tenderness.
True
True/False
All cultures are uncomfortable with ambiguity.
False
True/False
People’s happiness depends on whether they feel in control of their lives and have leisure time.
True
True/False
Ethnocentrism is the tendency to see others and their behaviors through our own cultural filters.
True
True/False
Overattribution is a good strategy to deal with difficult intercultural communication situations.
False
_____ is the process by which we learn the culture into which we are born.
Enculturation
A perspective that values _____ holds that people should retain their native cultural ways.
cultural diversity
Technology has made _____ communication easy, practical, and inevitable.
intercultural
Success in an _____ culture is measured by the extent to which you surpass other members of your group.
individualistic
In a _____-context culture, you would look to the context or the relationship with the person to gather much of the information in communication.
high
In _____-power distance cultures, power is concentrated in the hands of a few, and there is a great difference in the power held by these people and by the ordinary citizen.
high
Members of a _____-ambiguity-tolerant culture avoid uncertainty and are anxious about an unpredictable future.
low
_____ are fixed impressions of a group of people.
Stereotypes
To increase intercultural communication competence, you should practice _____, which can help you avoid operating on the basis of often incorrect assumptions.
mindfulness
_____ is the tendency to assign too much of a person’s behavior or attitudes to one of that person’s characteristics.
Overattribution