society part 2

why are transitions?

• Any transition is a developmental stage that involves significant cultural milestones.

how do transitions work?

• Transitions are age related

• A series of transitions is called a trajectory.

• Each person has their own trajectory which requires changes in roles and statuses that represent distinct departure from prior roles and statuses.

what is life course?

• A life course is defined as a sequence of socially defined events and roles that the

how do life course work?

• Timing of life course events in life.

• Timing refers to the idea that there are appropriate ages for making life course transitions, such as when to get married.

• Commonplace remarks often reflect an implicit awareness of age norms.

• E.g., “She had her children late”. “He’s too old to be working so hard”. ”She’s too young to be wearing makeup”

• These age norms tell us when we are ‘on or off time’ for major life events.

• These rules often remain unspoken until they are violated and only then, do we recognise that they exist.

• Age norms are constantly being redrawn because of changes in demography, the economy and government policy

how do transition through the life course?

• As people grow and mature through their own life course, they are able to accept rights and responsibilities.

• This is not only accompanied by rituals and celebrations but also tests and initiations.

• E.g., Becoming an adult requires familiarity and understanding of the changing rights and responsibilities in the context of the power and authority structures of a culture.

what is right & responsibilities?

• Rights: is a freedom that is protected, such as the right to free speech and religion.

• Responsibility: is a duty or something you should do such as recycling or doing your homework. E.g., Voting is both a right and a responsibility

what are challenges to our rights & responsibilities?

• Adolescence is perceived as a time of rebellion against authority.

• In dealing with the world, they are challenged with achieving a role in society. This means dealing with authority in some form.

• When they do this, they are limited in power.

• For the idea of “power” to exist, it means that inequality must exist.

• For someone to have power, there must be a way to acquire it.

• The process of determining who does certain world, how decisions are made, who lives where and how resources are distributed is vital in the functioning of society.

• For politics, determining rights and responsibilities is crucial both for the meso & macro scale.

• A challenge for each generation is to find ways to negotiate, contest of accept the power and authority structures in their world

what is the generational theory of Karl mannheim?

• Hungarian Sociologist (1893 – 1947)

• Introduced his theory in 1923 essay, ”The Problem of Generations”.

• Does not attempt to conflate (combine) generations with specific time periods.

• Instead, generations are defined by the occurrence of key historical events, with the characteristics of those generations being influenced accordingly.

what does the generation theory of Karl mannheim state?

• depends entirely on the trigger action of the social and cultural process.

• generation as an actuality only where a concrete bond is created between members of a generation

what is the nature of communication?

• Culture is made up of many parts. The parts we see, which make communication easy / effective.

• E.g., written communication, body language.

• The parts we do not see, which make communication difficult.

• E.g., thoughts and beliefs, intentions in communication.

how does culture affect the way people communicate?

• Our culture can impact the way in which we communicate with others.

• E.g., In Italy, it is socially acceptable for men to greet other men with a kiss on the cheek. However, in Australia, this would seem odd and possibly inappropriate.

• E.g., Slang words are unique to the country and even the area in which they are derived. This can make cross cultural communication difficult.

what is acculturation?

• The process of contacts between different cultures and also the outcome of such contacts.

• Where members of one cultural group adopt the beliefs and behaviours of another group.

what is change?

• The alteration of modification of cultural elements in a society.

• It can be brought about by modernisation processes, including technological innovation.

what is continuity?

• The persistence or consistent existence of cultural elements in a society across time.

• The maintenance of traditions and social structures that bring stability to a society.

what is cultural diversity?

• Appears as a society becomes larger and more complex, immigrant groups join the dominant culture and subcultures form within the society.

• More complex the society → more likely that its culture will become internally diverse.

what is stereotype?

• The preconceived view of the characteristics of a group

what is cultural heritage?

• The practices, traditions, customs and knowledge that define who we are socially and personally.

• It is an expression of the values that help us understand our past, make sense of the present and express a continuity of culture for the culture.

what is culture relativism?

• The idea that concepts are socially constructed and vary across cultures.

• Therefore, individuals and groups must always view other cultures objectively and not judge them using the values and norms of their own culture as a measure of right and wrong.

what is customs?

• Established ways of acting or cultural practices that are unique to groups in society.

• Have important links to the heritage, values and traditions of people.

what is values?

• Deeply held ideas and beliefs that guide our thinking, language and behaviour.

what is iceberg of culture?

• The external, or in awareness, part of culture is what we can see and is the tip of the iceberg.

• The internal, or out of awareness, part of culture is below the surface of a society.

what forms of communication?

• Start with a sender, who generates the communication within their own cultural context.

• Include a receiver, the person(s) intended to receive the message.

• Sometimes there may be interference / noise within the communication process.

• These may include: － Language Barriers － Background Noise － Mispronunciation of words － Body language / gestures － Cultural differences

what is halls encoding / decoding theory?

• Audiences are presented with messages that they decode or interpret in a certain way, depending on their cultural background, personal experiences or socioeconomic status.

• Interpretation relies of the social context in which it is received.

what is context?

• The circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood.

what is high context?

• High context is relational and intuitive.

• High context culture is generally indirect and formal, where humility and sophisticated language are the norm.

• Words are not as important during a conversation.

• The sender and receiver develop trust through gestures, silence and posture.

• E.g., The Middle East, Asia, South America

what is low context?

• Low context cultures tend to be logical and individualistic.

• Low context cultures value directness and facts.

• Communicators are expected to be succinct and straightforward.

• Members use previse words that are generally taken literally.

• E.g., North America, Australia, Most of Europe (Sweden, Denmark)

what is the comparison between low context vs high context?

• High Context cultures will use communication that focuses on underlying context, meaning and tone in the message, and not just the words themselves.

• In low-context cultures, communication must be basic enough to allow for as many people to understand as possible.

what is verbal communication?

• The voice can give details about the persons cultural background, age, emotions

• is effective when the sender and receiver are calm, focused and attentive.

• is effective when the sender and receiver are calm, focused and attentive.

what is nonverbal communication?

• Non-verbal communication requires the interpretation of language, gestures and eye contact.

• What is appropriate in one culture can be inappropriate in another.

• E.g., In a conversation between an Arab man and English man, the Arab man will move forward and stand close to the English man (showing a friendly and warm nature). However, the English man will move back because his personal space has been invaded.

what is proxemics?

• The theory of proxemics studies the way people behave and act through culturally defined personal spaces.

• The theory analyses personal space within Western and Eastern cultures.

• Personal space is the region surrounding a person that they regard as their own.

• Most people value their personal space and feel frustrated and anxious when their space is invaded.

• Personal space comfort denotes level of relationship.

what is proxemics in different cultures?

• 45cm Western Europe: 35-40cm Japan: 92cm

• Middle East: 20-30cm Intimate (15-46cm) – Whispering, hugging, embracing.

• Personal Space (46-120cm) – Family and friends can interact with you.

• Social Space (120-370cm) – Acquaintances should stay out here.

• Public Space (370cm +) – Rest of the public can be here.

what is social control?

• people’s behaviours are regulated in a particular social system.

• regulation and enforcement of norms through political and social mechanisms.

• E.g., Institutions attempt to regulate social behaviour in an effort to gain conformity on an individual or group level.

what Is formal and informal control?

• Formal Controls are enforced by the state, through the creation of laws.

  • E.g., The police issuing fines for speeding or new legislations created by the government to raise the drinking age.

• Informal Controls are less obvious, they are based on shame, ridicule, exclusion and disapproval.

  • E.g., Peer pressure and community pressure to conform to societal norms, customs and values. The community rewards or disapproves particular behaviours.

  • E.g., Disapproving looks, snickering or shaming those who fail to conform are daily occurrences.

what are rights and responsibilities in relation to communication?

• Rights and Responsibilities:

  • Communication represents an essential human need and a basic right.

  • Communication allows for an exchange of ideas and opinions.

  • Individuals feel equal when they have the right to communicate and express personal thoughts.

what is rights when it comes to communication?

• Right:

  • You have the right to have and express your own opinion

  • You have the right to ask for what you need in order to be effective

  • You have the right to set reasonable limits.

  • You have the right to be treated with respect.

what is responsibility when it comes to communication?

• Responsibility:

  • You have the responsibility to listen to the opinion of others.

  • You have the responsibility to acknowledge and address the needs of others

  • You have the responsibility to respect the limits and boundaries of others.

  • You have the responsibility to treat others with respect.

what is the impact of communication and social media?

• There has been a decrease in reliance on TV, radio and telephone for communication.

• Individuals are now seeking information in places such as YouTube and social media (Twitter).

• Communication has significantly increased although there has been a dip in faceto-face interactions.

what is the impact of changing communication technologies when it comes to intra-generational

• Decreases in face-to-face communication has meant that intra-generational communication is often contextual and non-verbal cues may be lost.

• High use of mobile devices means that younger generations are often multitasking, meaning that the focus is not always specifically directed to the conversation.

• This is growing a social divide between young and old people.

• People of the baby boomer generation may frown upon your mobile devices being on the table at dinner, but your generation would expect it to be there.  

what is language usage when it comes to the impact of communication technologies?

• Language Usage:

  • The increase in use of technological devices to communicate has changed the way in which written communication is used.

  • Emails are now read as though they are being spoken.

  • Text messaging language has changed and uses acronyms, whilst grammar and conventions tend to be different depending on the age of the user.

  • People do not bother typing when reading, an image or emoji can say it all

what is cross generational interaction when it comes to technology?

• Cross-Generational Interaction:

  • Due to advances in technology, communication has caused a gap between generations.

  • This gap can lead to social conflict between people of different ages.

  • If one generation deems a particular communication delivery method as inappropriate, their response can be harsh.

  • Many of these words have little meaning and relevance to some generations, therefore, causing intergenerational misunderstanding.

  • E.g., Calling someone when you should have texted first

what has technology impacted social interactions?

• Technology has allowed for different forms of social interactions to occur instantly with zero boundaries.

• These social interactions can occur on platforms, grouping together like-minded individuals.

• E.g., Amateur cooks, car enthusiasts and gamers all have their own online platforms to communicate.

• This has resulted in a new form of ‘media literacy’, where children are now able to teach their parents and grandparents how to use an application or view a video clip.

• However, the development of ‘bedroom culture’ and its resulting isolation can lead to stress and distraction.

how has technology impacted cross-cultural interaction?

• The globalisation of communication has allowed us to be in contact across culture frequently, learning more about cultural heritage and diversity than ever before.

• Applications and programs such as Google Translate, ensure we are all able to communicate, despite language barriers.

what is globalization?

• The rapid advancement in technology means individuals are communicating with others from different nations instantaneously.

• This is creating closer connections between culture in terms of work, trade and the spread of ideas.

• Through globalization, Western values have begun to permeate throughout the world more rapidly.

what is a theorist?

• A theorist is a researcher who works to explore an idea and extensively test it.

• A theorist attempts to use various forms of extensive secondary and primary research to provide their idea is relatable.

what is a theory?

• A theory is a lens or framework that can be applied to the world we live in.

• It attempts to predict and explain human behaviour.

• They are not facts and cannot be applied to explain everything we need to understand.

who is Howard Giles?

• Theorist: Howard Giles

  • Was a professor of Linguistics and Psychology at the University of California and developed the CAT Theory.

what was Howard Giles perspective on communication?

• Communication is an interactive process that consists of verbal and nonverbal exchanges in which individuals are assessing, adapting and accommodating for each other based upon numerous current and historical social and cultural factors.

what is the main points of CAT>

• Provides a “framework for understanding how and why people adapt their communication toward and away from others and the social consequences for doing so”.

• Accommodation occurs when people talk to each other.

• They tend to change the way they talk to match the way the listener talks.

• We do this as individuals to communicate effectively, gain approval.

what is convergence within CAT?

• Convergence is the process by which an individual shifts their language, dialect and tone to resemble the speech of their conversation partner.

what is divergence within CAT?

• Divergence is a strategy whereby an individual emphasises the communicative differences between them and their communication partner.

• For the most part, it reflects a desire to emphasise distinctiveness and maintain their cultural identity.

What is over accommodation?

• When someone tries to compensate for the differences in linguistic ability, however the communication partner perceives the convergence as rude, patronising and demeaning.

what are the assumptions in CAT?

1. In all conversations, people bring their past experiences that form a ‘socialhistorical context’ in which communication takes place.

2. Social norms guide appropriate and inappropriate behaviour by providing expectations and guidelines on how accommodation can occur.

3. The perception of speech and behaviours of another will determine a person’s evaluation of the conversation and they decide whether he should make adjustments to continue communication or end the interaction.

4. The language and social standing of a higher status person will usually be adopted by the lower status person.

 

what is Japan and its communication culture?

• Japan is a high-context culture.

• Japanese communication methods rely heavily on facial expressions, voice tones and sender / receiver postures.

what is non verbal communication?

• Japanese people bow their heads as a sign of respect.

• People of lower status must bow first. Their bow should be deeper than the higher status individuals. They must wait until the higher status individual raises their head.

• Smiling or being sad in public is frowned upon, Japanese people tend to have expressionless faces.

• Eye contact is rarely made in any form of Japanese communication.

• Looking into the eyes of someone older than you or of a higher status is rude.

• Speakers look into the air or on the ground.

what is the role of silence when it come to communication?

• Silence can be a means of communication and at the same time, miscommunication.

• Silence is a complex phenomenon.

• Silence can reveal someone’s deepest thoughts but can also hide them.

• It can express love, but also anger and hatred Long pauses have the power to convey different meanings:

  • Truthfulness

  • Embarrassment

  • Defiance

what is truthfulness?

• Truthfulness is related to a person’s inner realm.

• The spoken word is considered to be from the outer realm and is considered to lack a relationship with truthfulness.

what is embarrassment?

• In regard to couples, verbalising your love for one another is viewed as embarrassing.

• Couples are judged on knowing what the other is feeling or thinking without speaking.

what is defiance?

• Silence can be viewed as a means of defiance in some contexts.

• Prolonged eye contact can also be seen as defiance.

what is social discretion?

• Social discretion refers to the use of silence to build your social standing.

• Different to Western culture, who see speaking as a way of respecting situations, Japanese people see outspoken people as disrespectful.

 

how is japans identity compared to australia?

• Australia has an individualistic culture, where people often prioritise themselves over other individuals. This is represented through the way we communicate with personal pronouns, such as ‘I’, ‘me’ and ‘my’.

• Japan is a collectivist culture where the communication mode is from the perspective of ‘we’.

what is japans collectivist culture?

• The nature of the collectivist culture is to ensure that people belong in groups.

• This belonging and sense of duty means that if you look after the group, the group will look after you.

• In Western Cultures, collectivism might exist at the family level, but it is a cultural trait for the Japanese that stretches beyond the family level.

• Group identity has been entrenched in Japan, a racially homogenous country, with small ethnic minorities. This means that people have a strong shared culture and adhere to the same religious values and national myths passed through generations.

what is japans dress code & cultural continuity?

• Various groups can be identified through their clothing.

• Samurai and Geisha are often identifiable through their elaborate costume.

• Recently, there has been movement towards Harajuku and Urahara styles of dressing.

• The continuity of uniforms and dressing in unique styles is a way that the Japanese have communicated their commitment to cultural continuity.

what is japan dress code?

• The Kimono first appeared in the Jomon period before 300CE.

• It is worn by both men and women and tied together with a sash called Obi.

• Western dress began to be worn in Japan in the 1850s.

• This was when officers and navy began to wear uniforms similar to those worn by British sailors.

• It was though to be more practical and adopted more widely by schools and universities. Traditional clothing began to be worn only for ceremonies and events that required formal attire.

what is japans cultural continuity through group identity?

• When discussing communication for Japan, how it is evolving / changing often takes precedence over aspects that have remained continuous.

• Japan is a country steeped in tradition such as traditional clothing, tea ceremonies, music, instruments, food, samurai and many more.

• The continuity of this ancient culture has gained respect from other nations.

what is intercultural misunderstanding?

• Intercultural Misunderstanding can occur in all forms of communication.

• It occurs between people of the same and different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

what is commonly misunderstood about facial expressions?

• Facial Expressions:

  • Uncommitted facial expression is normal during Japanese conversations.

  • Expressionless face is used to hide emotions and cover up positive / negative reactions.

• Smiles can mean that the person has not understood what was said.

• Japanese people rely on facial expressions, tone and posture to indicate feelings.

what is commonly misunderstood about conversations?

• Japanese speakers usually avoid direct statements, such as “this is my opinion”.

• Instead, they use indirect statements

• This allows for communicators to disagree with an idea without disagreeing with the person.

• It is a cooperative way of communication.

• Western societies use assertive / aggressive responses.

what is eye contact and why is it misunderstood?

• Western cultures use eye contact to indicate interest / engagement.

• Japan places importance on respect / hierarchies.

• If an elder is talking, the younger person will not make eye contact. They would instead focus on the feet / ground. E.g., father / daughter, professor / student.

• Eye contact between peers of the same status is acceptable

what is taking your shoes off misunderstood?

• It is culturally significant to take your shoes off before entering a Japanese home.

• Some primary schools and public places / temples also have this tradition.

• There is an area near the front door called grenkan, where you can take off your shoes. T

• here are several reasons for the removal of shoes: religion, cleanliness of the house and foot hygiene are the most significant.

what is gift giving and why is it misunderstood?

• Can be complicated which is why you should research etiquette before giving gifts in Japan.

• Gifts are an important part of business protocol, and the focus is on the ritual rather than the gift itself.

• Must be wrapped in a specific way with wrapping paper that is not bright.

• Flowers should not be white or in a pot if given as a gift (they are associated with funerals.

• Gifts are opened in private to avoid embarrassment.

what is dining and why is it misunderstood?

• If sitting on a tatami or on the floor, you must first remove your shoes before sitting down.

• Loud chewing, blowing your nose and burping are considered bad manners.

• Finishing your meal is respectful, indicating you enjoyed the meal.

• It is customary for everyone at the table to raise their glass to the salutation kampai.

how do you overcome misunderstanding?

• Being aware of the broader social, political and religious factors involved and by being sensitive to the people involved (social and cultural literacy)

what are strategies to deal with misunderstanding?

1.  Read Widely: Research the country before visiting. Know the major cities and the semiotics, such as signs for toilets. Make sure you understand relevant information before visiting.

2. Language: Learn how to say ‘yes’, ‘no’, ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, common phrases you would need on the trip. Knowing the language shows that you are trying to be culturally aware, it is polite.

3. Show Respect: Conduct research about religion, politics and cultural values, you will be better equipped to show respect. Be respectful of traditions and be knowledgeable of situations that can arise.

4. Demonstrate Patience: Situations you may find unfamiliar may require patience. If you are tense, this can be seen as rude and could make the host uncomfortable. Waiting patiently to be offered a seat at the table indicates a level of respect.

what is intercultural exchange?

• What is Intercultural Exchange?

  • Intercultural describe communities in which there is a deep understanding and respect for all cultures.

  • Intercultural communication focuses on the mutual exchange of ideas and cultural norms and the development of deep relationships.

• How to develop cultural perception & values:

  • A cultural visit is the best way to explore the values / culture of another nation.

whats the role of intercultural exchange?

• Equitable interactions between cultures by developing an understanding for each culture.

• A deeper, firsthand understanding of cultural relativism while also learning the social intricacies of personal, group and national identity.

• Understanding how personal, group and national identities are shaped.

• Building your own self-concept.

• Understanding the attitudes and values that underpin racism and prejudice.

how do you develop a understanding of Japanese values & traditions?

• Singing karaoke with friends.

• Learn the art of shiatsu massage (traditional healing massage)

• Take a class in ikebana (flower arrangement), a disciplines art form steeped in the philosophy of developing closeness with nature.

• Enjoy a Japanese meal like sushi or teppanyaki

what is the role of intercultural dialogue?

• Effective intercultural communication is crucial so that non-English speakers and bilingual members of our society are included.

• It is more than just understanding the types of verbal and non-verbal language.

• Overcoming obstacles and incorrect assumptions that cultures are static.

• Preventing rejection, violence, stereotyping and exclusion based on fear of the unknown.

• Understanding each other’s worldview provides a chance to understand the origin of differences and appreciate similarities.

what steps can a social and cultural literate person take for effective communication

• A socially literate individual will avoid making judgements, work cooperatively in cross-cultural settings and use skills to achieve social inclusion.

• This includes conducting research prior to visiting another nation such as Japan and understanding its high context nature, as well as how it is a collectivist culture rather than an individualistic one, alone with what this means for daily interactions.

• For example, understanding the language usage differences between males and females in Japan will help avoid any unforeseen circumstances, as well as being patient when waiting for a table by thinking of the community as a whole rather than just the individual.