Interplay: Chapter 3 - Culture and Communication Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards created from Chapter 3 of Interplay: The Process of Interpersonal Communication.

Culture

Language, values, beliefs, traditions, and customs that are shared and learned by a group of people.

Co-Culture

The perception of membership in a group that is part of an encompassing culture, shaped by factors such as race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, or socioeconomic status.

Intercultural Communication

The process that occurs when members of two or more cultures or co-cultures exchange messages in a manner influenced by their differing cultural perceptions and symbol systems.

Salience

The degree of weight or significance attached to cultural characteristics in a given context or interaction.

High-Context Culture

A culture that relies heavily on subtle, nonverbal cues, relationship history, and social rules to convey meaning and maintain social harmony.

Low-Context Culture

A culture that uses direct and logical language to express thoughts, feelings, and ideas, valuing straight talk, assertiveness, and clear speech.

Individualistic Culture

A culture in which members view their primary responsibility as helping themselves, valuing self-reliance, competition, and individual identity.

Collectivistic Culture

A culture that emphasizes loyalty, obligation, and duties to in-groups, extended family, and community over individual desires.

Low Power Distance

A cultural norm focused on minimizing differences between social classes, operating on the belief that every individual is inherently equal.

High Power Distance

A cultural norm that accepts unequal power distribution, believing that specific groups, authority figures, or institutions have the right to control individual actions.

Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI)

The degree of discomfort or threat felt by members of a culture in response to ambiguous or unexpected situations, leading to varying levels of rule-following or tolerance for unpredictability.

Achievement Culture

A culture that places a high value on material success, task completion, and outperforming others.

Nurturing Culture

A culture that prioritizes building and maintaining healthy relationships, helping group members, and supporting social harmony.

Code-Switching

The practice of adapting communication codes (verbal or nonverbal) to align with a specific co-cultural or dominant cultural environment without relinquishing one's original heritage.

Microaggressions

Subtle, often subtle or unintended statements or behaviors that convey hostile, derogatory, or negative viewpoints toward marginalized groups.

Intercultural Communication Competence

The capability to exchange messages effectively and appropriately across different cultures through motivation, tolerance for ambiguity, open-mindedness, knowledge, and mindfulness.