ICC Final Exam

Culture

Dictates the norms of every group, determines a group’s communication patterns

Sources of Identity

Religion, Nation, Social Class, Gender, Race, Civlization

Religion

Shared beliefs, practices, traditions that bring people together; can divide when beliefs clash/superiority complex

Nation

Connects people to a particular country, history, and culture; can unify but fuel exclusion

Social Class

Relates to a person’s position within a socioeconomic hierarchy; can reinforce inequality + prejudice

Gender

Shapes identity via roles, expectations, and norms assigned to men, women, and non-binary identities; can reinforce stereotypes/systemic inequalities

Race

Identity formed around physical characteristics (Ex. skin colour) and socially constructed categories of difference; can be a basis for prejudice

Civilization

Links people to broader cultural traditions and ways of life; can be used to justify cultural superiority

Western Perspectives on Communication

Emphasizes clarity, directness, and information exchange; exchanges of messages > relationship

Confucian Perspectives on Communication

Based on Confucius’ ethical system (morality, hierarchy, harmony)

Ruler-Subject

Ruler = benevolent + act as a moral example, subject = show loyalty and obedience to the ruler

Husband-Wife

Involves kindness + obedience, husband provides for family, wife should be respectful

Father-Son

Rooted in love, father = loving, son = showing reverence + filial piety (respect for parents + elders)

Elder-Younger Brother

Elder sibling = gentle + role model, younger sibling = show respect

Friend-Friend

Unique, horizontal relationship based on mutual faithfulness, consideration + respect

Benefits of Intercultural Communication in Creative Industries

1. Global Collaboration

2. Audience Diversity

3. Innovation through Cultural Exchange

4. Professional Advantage

5. Ethical & Inclusive Practice

Othering

Dominant group imposes an identity onto another, defines the other’s identity in terms of what it is not based on the dominant group’s perception of itself

Anxiety

Being anxious due to now knowing what you’re expected to do, leading individuals to not be present in the communication transaction

Assuming Similarity > Differences

Can lead to one not recognizing important things that cultures share in common; better to assume nothing

Ethnocentrism

Refers to negatively judging aspects of another culture by the standards of one’s own culture

Stereotypes

Widely held, simplified, and essentialist belief about a specific group (sx, gender, id, race, ethnicity)

Prejudice

Irrational dislike, suspicion, or hatred of a particular group, race, or sexual orientation

Racism

Belief + practice of racial privilege/social advantages based on race

White Privilege

Unearned privileges they experience daily because they are not subjected to racism

Colorism

The allocation of privilege based on the lightness of one’s skin colour

Intercultural Communication Models of Competence

1. Affective/intercultural sensitivity

2. Cognitive/intercultural awareness

3. Behavioural/intercultural proficiency

Affective/intercultural sensitivity

Acknowledge + respect cultural differences

Cognitive/intercultural awareness

Self-awareness of personal cultural identity + understanding how cultures vary

Behavioural/intercultural proficiency

Message skills, knowledge of appropriate self-disclosure, behavioural flexibility, interaction management, and social skills

Culture (vs sensation)

Living in an extended time in a new culture can modify sensation + cognitive processes

Sensation (vs culture)

Neurological process by which we become aware of our environment

Perception in Communication (Model)/Culture’s Effect

1. Selection

2. Organization

3. Interpretation

Selection

We choose what info to focus on based on our environment; influenced by culture + personal interest

Organization

We arrange info → patterns to make sense of it; culture provides “mental categories”

Interpretation

We assign meaning to what we’ve selected + organized; influenced by values, cultural norms

Proxemics

Use of personal space

Territoriality

Physical space to communicate messages

Kinesics

Gestures, body movements, facial expressions, and eye contact

Paralanguage

Vocal characterizers, such as laughter; vocal qualifiers, such as pitch; and vocal segregates, such as uh-huh

Silence

Not talking = communicate meaning

Haptics

Use of touch to communicate

Artifactual communication

Human-made objects and their arrangement, as well as clothing and other aspects of personal appearance

Olfactics

Use of smell to communicate messages

Power Distance

Less powerful members of institutions + organizations expect and accept that power is not shared equally

Individualism

Value personal expression, originality, and individual achievement

Collectivism

Value harmony + group consensus, leading to creativity that aligns with collective goals or cultural aesthetics

Masculinity

Focus on competition, success, and achievement; creativity may be goal-oriented and commercially driven

Feminity

Emphasize cooperation, quality of life, and social impact; creativity may lean toward community storytelling or emotional resonance

Low Uncertainty Avoidance

Tolerate ambiguity and are more open to creative improvisation and risk-taking

High Uncertainty Avoidance

Prefer structure, planning, and clear guidelines

Short Term Orientation

Value quick results and innovation cycles

Long Term Orientation

Emphasize persistence and future rewards

Indulgence

Value fun, self-expression, + enjoyment

Restraint

Value moderation + social norm

Importance of Religion in the Creative Industries

Enhances Cultural Sensitivity and Audience

Culture Shock

Stress & disorientation when experiencing a new culture.

Integration

Maintaining own culture while engaging with new culture

Assimilation

Replacing your culture with the dominant culture

Separation

Keeping your culture and avoiding the dominant culture

Marginalization

Disconnected from both home and new culture

Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity

Denial → Defence → Minimization → Acceptance → Adaptation → Integration

Ethnocentric stages

Denial → Defence → Minimization

Ethnorelative stages

Acceptance → Adaptation → Integration

Stereotype

All individuals with a certain trait are viewed as the same

Generalization

General starting point for hypothesizing about individuals

CQ Drive

Direct attention and energy toward learning about and functioning in culturally different situations

CQ Knowledge

Knowledge of general cultural norms, practices, and conventions acquired through education and experience

CQ Action

Ability to make sense of intercultural experiences by drawing on both knowledge and motivation

CQ Strategy

Show appropriate verbal + non-verbal actions when interacting with people from different cultures