07_Barriers to Intercultural Communication

Question 1

Cognitive Differences in Perception between cultures

Answer 1

Western Culture
- context-independent perceptual processes -> object important
- Analytic (rule-based, narrow focus in visual attention) pattern
- noun-orientated
- attention is narrow (focal object fixated)
-
Eastern Culture
- context-dependent perceptual processes
- Holistic (thematic, family-resemblance-based -> relationship) pattern
- verb-orientated -> interactions in focus
- attention is broader (rapid eye movements in entire picture)

Question 1

4 level model of designating intercultural divergence and strategies to apply in overlap situation

Perception

Answer 1

1. Dominance Aspect: own culture values are considere superior to those of other cultures; other culture partners are pressured to acquire new skills and to adapt their behaviour to won-cultural standards
2. Assimilation Concept: other-culture values and norms are willingly accepted and integrate into own modus operandi; tendenceis to adapt to other-culture values and norms can be so intense that the identification with one’s own cultures pales as the wish to merge with other culture intensifies
3. Divergency Concept: own and other-culture values and norms are considered significant and effective; but many aspects are incompatible and often contradictory leading to permanent and ocntinual shifts between cultures
4. Syntehsis Concept: culture-specific differnces are considered to be equally important and valuable in developing overall potential; efforts are made to synergize salient resources of both cultures to create new form for future cooperation

Question 2

Stereotyping

Answer 2

• stereotype is a fixed notion about persons in a certain category, with no distinctions made among individuals.
• heterostereotypes about others, and autostereotypes about their own groups. The evaluation depends strongly on culturally determined standards
• valid part of a stereotype is a statistical statement about a group
• not a prediction of the properties of particular individuals.
  Stereotypes are at best half-truths.
• Usually heterostereotypes is viewed more negatively than autostereotypes.
• One function of stereotypes is the creation of order out of the chaos of social reality.
• Stereotypes provide guidelines for cross-cultural interaction and expectations for the behaviour of others.

Question 3

3 ways of checking our interpretation of the behaviour of others

Answer 3

1. Perception Checking: aim of perception checking is to check that our interpretaion of other person’s behaviour is what he or she meant
2. Listening effectively: distinguish between hearing and listening
**3. Giving Feedback **: verbal and non verbal response to others
- be specific
Separate feedback from a person
* Present the problem as a mutual one
* Mix negative with positive feedback
* Provide feedback at an appropriate time
* Use “I” statements where possible

Question 4

What does Culture shock mean?

Answer 4

• new cultures
• strain, stress
• psychological and physiological reactions
• cognitive fatigue (information overload)

Culture shock is a phase of interpersonal stress and conflict

Question 5

The Acculturation Curve
in Context of Culture Shock

4 Phases

Answer 5

Phase 1
- period of euphoria
- honeymoon, excitement of travelling and seeing new lands
Phase 2
- period of culture shock when real life starts in new environment

Phase 3
- the acculturation/adjustment sets in when visitor has slowly learned to function under new conditions
- has adopted some local practices
- finds icnreased self-confidence and beomces integrated into new social network

Phase 4
- stable state of mind / adaption
- It may remain negative compared to home
(a) for example if the visitor continues feeling discriminated against others. It may be just as good as before
(b) in which case the visitor can be considered to be biculturally adapted, or it may even be better (c) In the last case the visitor has “gone native”.

Feelings are plotted on the y-axis, time plotted on x-axis

Question 6

Outcomes of Culture Shocks

3 items including %

Answer 6

60% Rejectors
30% Cosmopolitans
10% Adopters

Question 7

Outcome of cultures Shock
Definitions of:
1. Rejectors
2. Cosmopolitans
3. Adopters

Answer 7

1. Rejectors
- impossible to accept foreign culture
- isolation: usually, stay in groups with people of their own nationality
- however, group also has greatest problems reintegrating back home after return

2. Cosmopolitans
- manage to adapt to aspects of foreign culture they see positive
- keeping some of their own -> create their unique blend
- no major problems returning home

3. Adopters
- integrate fully and adopt everything from foreign culture
- losing your own culture
- group remains in foreign coutnry forever

Question 8

What is Reverse culture shock

Answer 8

Psychological process of readapting to one’s home culture

• can be experienced on returning to the home country
• can be more difficult than the culture shock of going abroad
• After the positive feelings of being back can come a feeling of alienation connected with the realisation that things have changed since one departed.
• There follows a period of adjustment and “breaking through”.

Question 9

Stages of Culture Shock

Answer 9

- Honeymoon: curiosity, excitement, rooted back home
- Disorientation: disintegration, overwhelmed, bombarded by stimuli in new environment
- Stress: anger and resentment, stress, anxiety, irritation
- Adapatation: integration fo new cues, bad and good elemetns in both cultures
- Adjustment: comfortable on both cultures