{"id":24,"date":"2017-07-28T10:29:03","date_gmt":"2017-07-28T10:29:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/115.jcdelama.info\/?page_id=24"},"modified":"2022-07-19T16:36:11","modified_gmt":"2022-07-19T16:36:11","slug":"learning-unit-7-intercultural-communication","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/115.jcdelama.info\/?page_id=24","title":{"rendered":"Learning Unit 7: Intercultural Communication"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-columns gb-slate-section-hero-title gpb-slate-section-hero-title gb-layout-columns-1 one-column gb-has-background-dim gb-has-background-dim-20 gb-background-cover gb-background-no-repeat gb-has-custom-background-color gb-has-custom-text-color gb-columns-center alignfull\" style=\"margin-bottom:20px;padding-top:5em;padding-right:1em;padding-bottom:5em;padding-left:1em;background-color:#1f1f1f;color:#f5f5f5;background-image:url(https:\/\/115.jcdelama.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/cropped-bbva_openmind_problemas_comunicacion_en_multinacionales-1920x0-c-f.jpg);background-position:48% 72%\"><div class=\"gb-layout-column-wrap gb-block-layout-column-gap-1 gb-is-responsive-column\" style=\"max-width:1200px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-column gb-block-layout-column\"><div class=\"gb-block-layout-column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-columns gb-layout-columns-2 gb-2-col-wideleft gb-columns-center alignfull\"><div class=\"gb-layout-column-wrap gb-block-layout-column-gap-8 gb-is-responsive-column\" style=\"max-width:1200px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-column gb-block-layout-column gb-is-vertically-aligned-top\"><div class=\"gb-block-layout-column-inner\">\n<h2 class=\"has-text-color\" style=\"color:#f5f5f5;font-size:50px\">Intercultural Communication<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-genesis-blocks-gb-column gb-block-layout-column gb-is-vertically-aligned-center\"><div class=\"gb-block-layout-column-inner\">\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4>Learning Unit&#8217;s Contents<a id=\"inter\" name=\"inter\"><\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n<nav class=\"wp-container-2 is-vertical is-responsive  is-vertical wp-block-navigation\" aria-label=\"LU7\"><button aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-open \" data-micromodal-trigger=\"modal-1\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><rect x=\"4\" y=\"7.5\" width=\"16\" height=\"1.5\" \/><rect x=\"4\" y=\"15\" width=\"16\" height=\"1.5\" \/><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container  \" style=\"\" id=\"modal-1\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-close\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-micromodal-close>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-dialog\" aria-label=\"Menu\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button aria-label=\"Close menu\" data-micromodal-close class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-close\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M13 11.8l6.1-6.3-1-1-6.1 6.2-6.1-6.2-1 1 6.1 6.3-6.5 6.7 1 1 6.5-6.6 6.5 6.6 1-1z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-content\" id=\"modal-1-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"wp-block-navigation__container\"><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"#inter\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Intercultural Communication Defined<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"#stereo\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Stereotypes<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item has-child open-on-hover-click wp-block-navigation-submenu\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"#\">Audiovisual Material<\/a><button aria-label=\"Audiovisual Material submenu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__submenu-icon wp-block-navigation-submenu__toggle\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M1.50002 4L6.00002 8L10.5 4\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><ul class=\"wp-block-navigation__submenu-container\"><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=e45B8CQCunA\" rel=\"wp_lightbox_prettyPhoto\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Gender Stereotypes in Media<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=SnpHtziXYss\" target=\"_blank\"   rel=\"wp_lightbox_prettyPhoto\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Breaking Stereotypes<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\" wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pin92Xyb1Qs\" rel=\"wp_lightbox_prettyPhoto\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Stereotypes vs Generalizations<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/nav>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Intercultural Communication Defined<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Intercultural communication is defined (Tubbs and Moss) as communication between members of different cultures (whether defined in terms of racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic differences).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you see, a culture can be determined by a variety of factors. Thus, a definition of culture must necessarily be broad. The same two authors defined culture as a way of life develop and shared by a group of people and passed down from generation to generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Culture, in its anthropological sense, covers everything we do to our environment in order to adapt it to our necessities, everything we do to ourselves, and everything we create in order to establish the external conditions that will allow the species to survive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The culture is created by human activity. It reflects what people do, and thus, it can change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Religion, political system, moral values and rules, language and customs are constitutive elements of any culture, but also tools, clothing or art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>1 &#8211; Factors That Might Define a Culture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4>1.1 Language<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>We defined Language as an arbitrary group of symbols. it is arbitrary, if you remember, because it depends on the people who speak it. Language is always the result of a social agreement. We all tacitly agree on giving certain symbols the same meaning. And only as a result of this tacit agreement is language possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, the same language is spoken very differently in different cultural areas. And in order to learn a language, you need to be immersed in that culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take as an example the German Expression \u201cIch habe einen Kater\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(the literal translation would be \u201cI\u2019ve got a cat\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The actual meaning of this sentence is &#8220;I have a hangover&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To understand this sentence you need to go over the apparent meaning of words. You have to be familiar not only with the language, but also with the culture that produced it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1.2 Race<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In some cases the, the binding element in a culture \u2013 or subculture \u2013 is the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People get together originally because of a biological identity, and then develop a common way of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1.3 Ethnicity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the concept of race is based on a genetic or biological identity, ETHNICITY refers to an actual or mythological ancestry, or also to common experiences as community, what we could call history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1.4 Religion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our religion normally prescribes a series of moral values that determine our attitudes and our behaviors. Thus, it can become a powerful source of culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1.5 Economic Status<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The different environment in which a culture grows, determine the degree of wealth of the individuals that belong to it. How rich or poor a culture is influences the people inside and outside the group. For instance we tend to treat people differently depending on this factor, whether they come from poor or rich cultures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>2 Cultural Differences<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4>2.1 Individualist versus Collectivist Cultures<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>In individualistic cultures, people tend to be more distant in their personal interactions with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Collectivists, on the other hand, interact closely and are interdependent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In individualistic cultures, the individual, the &#8220;me&#8221;, is the center, and the self-actualization the ideal;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>while in collectivist cultures the group is the core, and the welfare of the group is priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>2.2 Masculine versus Femenine Cultures<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The factor Gender might also differentiate cultures. In this regard, there are masculine and feminine cultures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the masculine cultures, the so-called masculine values are more important. Masculine values are:<br>Work, strength, competition, assertiveness, \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Examples of values that are considered:<br>Affection, compassion, &#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>2.3 High versus Low Power Distance Cultures<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>There are cultures that accept as normal big differences in personal, social, political or institutional power (high power distance). Some examples of this type of cultures: Mexico, India, Saudi Arabia, \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And there are cultures where the equality is a very important value and where the people would never accept those differences (low power distance cultures). Examples: Australia, Israel, Ireland, &#8230;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>2.4 High versus Low Context Cultures<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>In the high context cultures the non-verbal communication is more important. People don\u2019t talk too much and listen more (example: the Japanese)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the low context cultures, verbal communication is more important. The communication is more direct and more explicit. As an example, scholar mention the German or the Scandinavian culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>2.5 High versus Low Uncertainty Avoidance Cultures<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>In the cultures that score high in this factor, their members try to avoid the uncertainty about other cultures, they are interested in them and willing to learn from them (Spain, Greece, Italy are examples of High Uncertainty Avoidance cultures).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, there are other cultures (low uncertainty avoidance) where the people are not interested in other cultures and don\u2019t make the least effort to reduce this uncertainty (Austria, or Great Britain score low in this factor).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a id=\"stereo\" name=\"stereo\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Stereotypes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Stereotyping becomes the most important obstacle in intercultural communication. Thus, it is necessary to learn more about the nature and origin of stereotypes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first author who used this term in its modern sense was Walter Lippmann (1889-1974).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although he published several books on Sociology, Walter Lippmann is best know because of his work in the field of journalism. He is regard as one of the most influential journalist of the 20th Century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He wrote his legendary column &#8220;TODAY AND TOMORROW&#8221; in the NEW YORK HERALD TRIBUNE from 1931 until his retirement in 1967.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lippmann coined the term \u201cstereotype\u201d in his book \u201cPublic Opinion\u201d (1922).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>1 &#8211; Stereotypes According to Walter Lippmann<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>First of all, the term stereotype has not only negative connotations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stereotypes fulfill a very important function. They help us organize the world outside our heads, which is too complex, too large to be caught in its fullness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They determine the way we perceive. Stereotypes are not just something we learn. We learn the contents of the stereotypes, but the stereotype is a perception category, meaning that they help us elaborate the information we get through our difference senses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Lippmann, we need some basic ideas in our head before the perception process starts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p>\u201cWe imagine most things before we experience them. And those preconceptions, unless education has made us acutely aware, govern the whole process of perception.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>The way we perceive is, at the same time, the way we LEARN, the way we achieve knowledge. There is always something in our head before we get the information. Therefore Lippmann said that first we define, and then we see, we store what we have seen in one of our pre-existent definition boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p>\u201cFor the most part we do not first see, and then define, we define first and then see. In the great blooming, buzzing confusion of the outer world we pick out what our culture has already defined for us.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>We perceive the reality through the eyeglasses of the stereotypes that our culture has created for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, these pre-definitions of the reality, our stereotypes, are not neutral at all:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p>\u201cThe stereotypes are loaded with preference, suffused with affection or dislike, attached to fears, lusts, strong wishes, pride, hope.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Stereotypes form the core of our personality \u2013 our most intimate and cherished values and beliefs and principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They become the moral columns of our life:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p>\u201cMorality, good taste and good form first standardize and then emphasize certain of these underlying prejudices. As we adjust ourselves to our code, we adjust the facts we see to that code. Rationally, the facts are neutral to all our views of right and wrong. Actually, our canons determine greatly what we shall perceive and how.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Stereotypes are a generalization, and thus, a simplification of the reality. Still, perceiving the reality through stereotypes helps us to act. We would never be operative in a world without such necessary references. Without economizing our attention, our life will be impoverished, so Lippmann, because we will not be able to act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you can see, there is ambivalence in Lippmann\u2019s conception of the stereotypes. On the one hand, they can become the origin of discriminations. On the other hand, they are a necessary help to orient ourselves in a world that is too large and too complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now we should focus on the negative aspects of stereotypes, how they can become an obstacle in intercultural communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>2 Stereotypes as an Obstacle in Intercultural Communication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4>2.1 Generalizations<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Stereotypes are shaped by characteristics that are very easy to identify, the most obvious.<br>Therefore, they are always superficial,<br>never deep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And we use these simple characteristics, only what is obvious, to categorize large groups of people, which is unfair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>2.2 Assumptions<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>We assume that certain attributes apply to most of the people who belong to this group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And we have a previous attitude \u2013 positive or negative \u2013 toward those attributes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>STEREOTYPES imply a judgement,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>frequently a negative one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And, since this judgement happens before we met the individual of these groups,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We may perfectly talk about PREJUDICES.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prejudice frequently leads to DISCRIMINATION of the groups whose stereotypes are negative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>2.3 Expectations<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>We assume that the individuals of the group will act and behave according to our expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the reality doesn&#8217;t fit to our stereotype<br>(because one individual doesn&#8217;t act as we expect),<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>then we go two ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>we ignore the fact<\/li><li>we think that&#8217;s the exception, that confirms the rule<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4>2.4 Sel-fulfilling prophecies<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Stereotypes might become a self-fulfilling prophecy. People who are judged based on stereotypes, may adopt the attitudes and\/or behaviors that the people expect from them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>3 Ethnocentrism<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Tubbs and Moss define Ethnocentrism as the tendency \u2013 very common \u2013 to judge the values, customs, behaviors, or other aspects of another culture in terms of those that our own cultural group regards as desirable or ideal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In most interactions, our ethnocentric attitudes interfere with our perceptions of other cultural groups. We judged those people based on our own cultural values. Here we see how ethnocentrism is always subordinated to the stereotypes our culture passed on us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learning Unit&#8217;s Contents Intercultural Communication Defined Intercultural communication is defined (Tubbs and Moss) as communication between members of different cultures (whether defined in terms of racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic differences). As you see, a culture can be determined by a variety of factors. Thus, a definition of culture must necessarily be broad. The same two [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":true,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":""},"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/115.jcdelama.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/115.jcdelama.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/115.jcdelama.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/115.jcdelama.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/115.jcdelama.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/115.jcdelama.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":337,"href":"https:\/\/115.jcdelama.info\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24\/revisions\/337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/115.jcdelama.info\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}