Chapter 1: Why Study ICC

what is culture?

one’s identification with and acceptance into a group that shares symbols, meanings, experiences, and behavior

• functions largely at the subconscious level

imperatives motivating interest in intercultural communication

1. technology

2. demographic

3. environmental

4. economic

5. peace imperative

6. self-awareness

7. ethics

technological

• global village

• increased internet, social media use

• digital divide has led to digital inequality

demographic change 1

• new immigrants don’t hinder economic mobility of other native minorities and community at large

demographic change 2

changing immigration patterns

• increase in heterogeneity

  • heterogeneity: opportunities and challenges-tension and acknowledgement of minority group fears, tensions and treatment by politically dominant groups

demographic change 3

impact of immigration history

demographic change 4

immigration and economic classes

• economic disparities lead to conflict

• income gap between rich and poor in US is greater than other countries

demographic change 5

demographic diversity

• immigration contributes to religious diversity

• inadequacy of melting pot metaphor

• diversity can be a positive force

• US is not a model of diversity or the most ethnically diverse country

environmental

• global warming

• floods and fires lead to migration

• water rights

economic

• US economy depends on global markets

• need to be more sophisticated in the way of thinking about relationships between cultural patterns and economic success

• globalization

• domestic diversity motivates business to be more attentive to cultural differences

peace imperative

• contacts between unequal groups has historically led to conflict

• cultural imperialism can lead to resentment

• importance to understand the relation between individual and societal forces

self-awareness

• awareness about our own cultural identity and background

• also about our differences

• majority here is the minority somewhere else

ethics

principles of conduct that help govern the behavior of individuals and groups

ethical imperative

• cultural values tell us what is good and what is bad

• no cultural pattern is inherently right or wrong

• importance to evaluate culture without succumb to ethnocentrism

self-reflexivity

• immigrants: we never feel much like someone of our nationality until we leave our homeland

• we are in continuous change

the “other”

• study of cultures is the study of peoples

• learn to listen to the voices of others