Chapter 3 - Culture and Interpersonal Communication Key Words

Interpersonal Communication

Culture

The language, values, beliefs, traditions, and customs people share and learn.

In-groups

Groups with whom you identify.

Out-Groups

Groups you view as different from yourself.

Social Identity

The part of the self-concept based on membership in groups.

Co-Culture

A perception of membership in a group that is part of an encompassing culture.

Co-Cultural Theory

Communications can use one of three primary strategies in a co-cultural situation.

Intercultural Communication

Occurs when members of two or more cultures or co-cultures exchange messages influenced by different cultural perceptions and symbol systems.

Salient

The weight you attach to a particular person or phenomenon.

Low-Context Culture

Uses language primarily to express thoughts, feelings, and ideas directly.

High-Context Culture

Relies heavily on subtle, often nonverbal cues to maintain social harmony.

Individualistic Culture

Views primary responsibility as helping the self.

Collectivistic Culture

Feels loyalties and obligations to in-groups, such as extended family or community.

Power Distance

The degree to which members of a society accept an unequal distribution of power.

Uncertainty Avoidance

Reflects the levels of discomfort people feel in ambiguous situations and their attempts to avoid them.

Achievement Culture

Describes societies that place a high value on material success and task focus.

Nurturing Culture

Regards support of relationships as an especially important goal.

Race

A social construction that categorizes people by physical traits, cultural traits, and ancestry.

Ethnicity

Refers to the degree to which a person identifies with a particular group, usually based on nationality or culture.

Intersectionality

Describes the interplay of social categories that shape identity.

Code-Switching

A form of communication competence that increases the chances of achieving your goals.

Microaggressions

Communicating disrespect or disdain through subtle verbal or nonverbal displays.

Ethnocentrism

An attitude that one’s own culture is superior to others.

Prejudice

An unfairly biased and intolerant attitude towards others who belong to an out-group.