ICC test 3 (lec notes)

intercultural communication ch 5-7

people from the east & west think differently because of the influence of philosophies from the ancient _____ & _____

greeks, chinese

what did the ancient greeks focus on?

1. linear methods of understanding

2. without much regard for context

3. focus on individual

what did confucian-driven (chinese) philosophies emphasize?

1. fluctuation (change)

2. holism (the whole instead of parts)

3. interdependence

4. harmony

5. groupness & environment

6. classify objects into categories

what are the 3 parts of the model of human information processing?

1. input/sensation

2. storage/memory

3. recall/retrieval

stage 1: input/sensation

______: the mental interpretation of external stimuli via sensation

perception

stage 1: input/sensation

define & describe the 3 types of perceptual filters

1. physiological: the senses

2. sociological: demographic information & group memberships

3. psychological: attitudes, beliefs

stage 1: input/sensation

define & give examples of the 4 types of conditions impacting information processing

1. physical environment conditions: EX less hearing loss in dessert tribes

2. indirect environment conditions: EX poor nutrition

3. genetic differences: EX color-blindness

4. socialization & enculturation with the environment: EX sensory receptors (sensotype) — taught to favor one sense over another

define the carpentered-world hypothesis

those raised in constructed culture (built with lines & angles) perceive the world as lines, rectangles, etc. Zulu, for example, live in Rondovas & plow in curved lines.

stage 2: storage/memory

describe short term memory

limited capacity, lost to decay without continued use

stage 2: storage/memory

define & describe the 3 types of long-term memory

1. episodic: unique experiences

2. semantic: conceptual info & knowledge

3. procedural: how to do something manually

stage 3: recall/retrieval

long term memory may not be recalled due to what 4 reasons?

1. interference (trauma)

2. negative arousal (anxiety)

3. age

4. improper categorization

stage 3: recall/retrieval

• culture affects one’s ability to sense & perceive incoming information

• once information has passed through the perceptual filters, it is processed into memory

• once information has been stored, it is relatively useless unless it can be retrieved

:)

stage 3: recall/retrieval

what 5 things effect information retrieval?

1. culture

2. age

3. education

4. literacy

5. socialization

define categorizaition

grouping, sorting, or classifying objects, events, or living things into identifiable groups or compartments

define stereotyping

membership in social categories that are believed to be associated with certain traits & behaviors

categorization reduces uncertainty & increases accuracy of predictions about others.

in intercultural communication, we face high levels of uncertainty & unfamiliar stimuli.

• asian cultures: more wholistic. categorization → relationship focused

• individualists: analytical categorization

:)

stereotypes: categories that…

• often carry a positive or negative _____

• typically refer to _____ in social categories

• are part of a natural or universal information-processing strategy

• the difficulty arises when stereotypes carry a negative valence & are used to _____ negative traits.

• stereotyping is automatic whereas prejudice is a _____ process

• evaluation

• membership

• over-generalize

• controlled

• studies have focused on white stereotypes of blacks

• political doctrine is modeled on melting pot metaphor.

  • what’s the melting pot metaphor?

• similarity is major determinant in how much people like others

removes unique cultural elements. we all eventually take on the same culture

media influence: cultivation theory

• long-term exposure to media cultivates in viewers a perception of _____ reality that is reflective of the content on the screen (ie. white = police & black = criminal)

• situations on tv become the social reality that viewers believe is correct, whether it is or not

social

the stereotype content model (SCM)

• individuals’ social perceptions based on perceptions of what 2 things?

• warmth (do they intend to harm me?)

• competence (are they capable of harming me?)

warmth & competence judgments elicit 1 of what 4 unique emotional responses?

• judgments stem from larger social structures

• rooted in competition for resources (ex: social status)

1. admiration

2. envy

3. contempt

4. pity

what 3 reasons do we stereotype?

1. out-group homogeneity effect

2. illusory correlation principle

3. self-fulfilling prophecies

define out-group homogeneity effect

tendency for people to see members of an outgroup as less diverse & more stereotypic than the members of that group see themselves

define illusory correlation principle

when 2 objects that are unfamiliar or unusual in some way are observed to be connected on some occasion, we have the tendency to believe that they are always connected

define self-fulfilling prophecies

the dominant group in a particular culture may construct social or legal obstacles, making it hard for members of the stereotyped group to act differently from the stereotype. hence, conformity to the stereotype, although forced, validates the stereotype in the minds of the dominant group

define stereotype threat

occurs when we sense that some aspect of our self (ie. behavior, characteristics) seems to match the stereotypes, making it appear valid. culturally held stereotypes pose the most danger for a stereotyped group since large numbers of people may hold them, leading members of the group to sense that the stereotype is valid. when the stereotype is negative, the effects can be disastrous to the stereotyped group

define ethnocentrism

degree to which one sees his/her culture as superior & the standard by which other cultures should be judged

the tendency to put one’s in-group in a position of centrality & worth while creating & reinforcing negative attitudes & behaviors toward out-groups

define ethnocentric attributional bias

the attitudes & behaviors of ethnocentric persons are biased in favor of the in-group often at the expense of the out-group

ethnocentrism is negatively & significantly correlated with perceptions of social attraction, competence, character, & hiring recommendations.

:)

ethnocentric speech results in 3 types of communicative distance:

1. indifference

2. avoidance

3. disparagement: saying something has little worth

define racism

a moral belief that one racial group is superior to others & that other racial groups are necessarily inferior.

*biologically-based/biologically superior

• it is unlikely that one is racist & not ethnocentric

• it’s possible to be ethnocentric & not racist

:)

ethnocentrism is _____, while racism is _____

innate, learned

ethnocentrism & racism have different origins

ethnocentrism is a universal phenomenon that reflects a biologically rooted _____ instinct experienced, to some degree, by all people in all cultures.

racism is not universal.

• survival

define involuntary membership groups

those groups which people have no choice but to belong (age, race, sex)

define voluntary membership groups

groups ti which people consciously choose to belong (political affiliations, religion, occupation)

define non-membership groups

those groups to which people don’t belong

define in-group

a group whose norms, aspirations, & values shape the behavior of its members

define out-group

a group whose attributes are dissimilar from those of the in-group, or that opposes the accomplishment of the in-group’s goals

who are examples of reference groups?

elders, coaches, professors, political/historical leaders, celebrities, pastors

define reference groups

a group to which we may/may not belong but with which we identify in some important way

define comparative function

to compare ourselves in making judgments & evaluations

define normative function

establish the norms & standards to which they conform

voluntary membership in-groups serve as positive reference groups (ie. christians see pastors as positive reference groups because they’re in the in-group)

voluntary nonmembership out-groups are seen as negative reference groups

:)

when we join a group, voluntary/involuntary, we assume a role.

• define formal roles

• define informal roles

1. formal: well-defined behavioral expectations, explicit, violation=removal

2. informal: expectations vary. implicit. learn from experience

roles prescribe:

1. with who

2. about what

3. how to communicate with others

:)

our _____ identity is created by our total combination of roles

social

roles & communication: dimensions upon which roles vary — (4)

1. personal-ness: intimate → distant

2. formality: formal → informal

3. hierarchy: flexible → ranked

4. deviation: how far member can deviate from prescribed role

describe social stratification & give examples of what’s looked for

1. rank ordering of roles within a culture

2. varies across cultures

3. look at job position, income, education, age, race/ethnicity

complexity of role hierarchy varies by culture. includes high/low context & high/low power distance

:)

define patriarchy

a social system in which the father, or eldest male, is head of the clan or family unit and descent is traced through the male line

define matriarchy

natural differences between men and women are acknowledged and respected, but they are not used to create social hierarchies, as in patriarchal societies. men & women complement each other, and their natural differences function interdependently to meet social needs. inheritance through female lines.

what are 2 examples of matriarchal cultures

1. mosuo women in china

2. iriquoi: respect, tend gardens, select leadership

video

• women made teepees, were educators, bring decisions to the women elders, rites of passage through women, teach boys values through age 11

:)

sex is _____

biological

gender is _____ & _____

socialized, constructed

describe achievement culture

1. work is central to life

2. physical strength

3. material success

4. competitive

5. assertive

6. differentiate gender roles

7. aggressive communication

8. analytical

9. high stress

10. less women in professional jobs

describe nurturance cultures

1. fluid gender roles

2. affection

3. interpersonal relationships

4. read nonverbal messages better

5. ambiguity

6. less stress

7. more women in professional jobs

Japan Gender Culture

• japanese constitution stipulates all are _____

• younger japanese have more _____ attitudes toward sex roles

• older japanese have more traditional attitudes toward sex roles

• japanese women continue to sacrifice personal goals for harmony of family, in accordance with _____

• orgs controlled by men

• few women in _____

1. equal

2. egalitarian

3. collectivism

4. leadership

India Gender Culture

• Preamble of the indian constitution guarantees equality

• 4th most dangerous country for women

• male children seen as a _____

  • continue family name

  • male preference (boys given more food)

  • economic asset (dowry)

• female children seen as a _____

  • dowry (economic burden)

  • dowry death if can’t pay dowry

  • less education

  • female infanticide

  • sati: good wives burn when husband dies

1. blessing

2. burden

China Gender Culture

• patriarchal

• 1950 marriage law abolished _____ forms of marriage

• women have little freedom & few rights

• women discouraged from _____ _____

• women are considered more vulnerable & less capable of dealing with the outside world than men

• feudal

• living alone

Mexico Gender Culture