Intercultural Communication, Health Beliefs & Practices – Lecture 5 & 6

Vocabulary flashcards covering key intercultural communication concepts, health beliefs, and traditional practices from the lecture notes.

Generalization

A tentative statement about common trends within a group, used as a starting point for learning more about an individual.

Time Orientation

A cultural focus on past tradition, present concerns, or future goals that guides behavior and decision-making.

Past Orientation

Values tradition and customs; follows what has been done before.

Present Orientation

Prioritizes current issues and immediate circumstances.

Future Orientation

Emphasizes goal-setting and planning to shape upcoming outcomes.

Intercultural Communication

Exchange that includes words, gestures, posture, space, time concepts, and perceived social roles across cultures.

Iceberg Model

Framework noting visible traits (race, gender) above water and invisible traits (religion, SES, politics) below the surface in communication.

High-Context Culture

Relies on indirect, nonverbal cues; meaning is embedded in context and relationships; group needs outweigh individual goals.

Low-Context Culture

Values direct, explicit verbal messages; clarity is essential; individual goals outweigh group goals.

Message Interpretation Problem

Occurs when a low-context sender communicates with a high-context receiver, risking misunderstanding.

Uncertainty Avoidance

A society’s tolerance for ambiguity and the unknown.

High Uncertainty Avoidance

Discomfort with risk; many rules and traditions; past or present focused.

Low Uncertainty Avoidance

Comfort with ambiguity; curiosity and risk-taking; future focused.

Power Distance

Extent to which unequal power is accepted and expected in a culture.

Small Power Distance

People are viewed as equals; authority may be questioned (e.g., U.S., Canada).

Large Power Distance

Authority is rarely challenged; provider is expert (common in many Asian countries).

Monochronic Time

Linear view of time; do one task at a time; punctuality is important.

Polychronic Time

Cyclical view of time; multitasking and interruptions are expected.

Eye Contact (Cultural Rule)

Subtle nonverbal cue that can signal status, gender roles, or social distance depending on culture.

Unconscious Incompetence

Unaware of cultural missteps and their impact.

Conscious Incompetence

Aware of cultural gaps but not yet acting to change.

Unconscious Competence

Naturally adjusts behavior to avoid misunderstanding without conscious effort.

Conscious Competence

Deliberately makes culturally appropriate adjustments with ease.

CRASH Model

Guidelines for providers: Consider culture, Respect, Assess/Affirm differences, be Sensitive, show Humility.

For successful intercultural communication

Health Belief

Cultural ideas about what maintains wellness and what causes illness, influencing food and treatment choices.

Worldview

Overall philosophy of life regarding fate vs. control, mastery vs. harmony with nature, and individual roles.

Biomedicine

U.S. conventional, evidence-based healthcare system using science and technology to treat disease.

Curing

Diagnosing and physically treating disease.

Healing

Includes addressing personal, family, and societal issues surrounding illness for holistic recovery.

Physical Indicators of Health

Visible signs such as skin color, weight, hair sheen, normal bodily functions, and energy level used by some cultures.

Body Image (U.S. Perspective)

Cultural preference for thinness; larger size often viewed negatively.

Body Image (Other Cultures)

Larger body size may signify wealth, health, or beauty (e.g., Caribbean, African, Pacific Islander societies).

Health Maintenance Triad

Universally valued practices of balanced diet, sufficient rest, and cleanliness.

Health-Promoting Food Habits

Dietary guidelines (e.g., MyPlate) that stress balance and moderation for strength and mental acuity.

Sympathetic Quality of Food

Belief that foods resembling body parts can benefit those parts—“you are what you eat.”

Immediate Cause (Disease Model)

Direct factor such as bacterial infection producing illness.

Underlying Cause (Disease Model)

Contributing factor like nutritional deficiency leading to illness.

Ultimate Cause (Disease Model)

Root factor such as genetic predisposition explaining illness susceptibility.

Patient Etiology Theory

Illness attributed to personal lifestyle or psychological/genetic vulnerability.

Natural World Etiology

Illness blamed on environmental factors, weather, bad air, or humoral imbalance.

Social World Etiology

Illness linked to interpersonal forces like the Evil Eye, conjuring, or spirit jealousy.

Supernatural World Etiology

Illness caused by spirits, deities, possession, or soul loss.

Evil Eye

Belief that a malevolent stare can cause harm, especially to children.

Conjuring

Use of magical acts (e.g., voodoo doll) to inflict illness or misfortune.

Medical Pluralism

Concurrent use of multiple healthcare systems—biomedical, traditional, and alternative.

Therapeutic Substances

Use of medications, dietary prescriptions, or herbal remedies to treat illness.

Physical Force Therapies

Treatments using body manipulation or devices (e.g., acupuncture, chiropractic).

Magico-Religious Interventions

Healing through spiritual means such as prayer, ritual, or shamanic practices.

4 C’s of Culture (Interview Tool)

Call, Cause, Cope, Concerns—questions providers ask to understand a patient’s perspective on illness.

4 stages of intercultural communication

Learning process:

1. Unconscious incompetence

2. Conscious incompetence

3. Unconscious competence

4. Conscious competence