CultureCulture

A group’s specialized values, beliefs, A group’s specialized values, beliefs, artifacts, ways of behaving and artifacts, ways of behaving and communicating passed through communicating passed through communication, not geneticscommunication, not genetics

Learning CulturesLearning Cultures

Enculturation learning the culture into which you Enculturation learning the culture into which you were born (through parents, peers, schools, were born (through parents, peers, schools, religion, government, media, internet, etc.) religion, government, media, internet, etc.)

Acculturation learning a culture different from Acculturation learning a culture different from your native culture (mutual influence occurs)your native culture (mutual influence occurs)

Ethnocentrism the belief one’s culture is superior Ethnocentrism the belief one’s culture is superior to that of other’s culturesto that of other’s cultures

Stereotypes a fixed impression of a person or Stereotypes a fixed impression of a person or group of people based mainly on physical group of people based mainly on physical characteristicscharacteristics

Communication StylesCommunication Styles Low Context Low Context

majority of information majority of information carried in explicit verbal carried in explicit verbal messages, with less messages, with less focus on the situational focus on the situational context.context.

Self-expression valued. Self-expression valued. Communicators state Communicators state opinions and desires opinions and desires directly and strive to directly and strive to persuade others to persuade others to accept their own accept their own viewpoint.viewpoint.

Clear, eloquent speech Clear, eloquent speech considered considered praiseworthy. Verbal praiseworthy. Verbal fluency admired.fluency admired.

High ContextHigh Context Important information Important information

carried in contextual carried in contextual cues time, place cues time, place relationship, situation. relationship, situation. Less reliance on explicit Less reliance on explicit verbal messages.verbal messages.

Communicators abstain Communicators abstain from saying “no” from saying “no” directlydirectly

Communicators talk Communicators talk “around” the point “around” the point allowing others to fill in allowing others to fill in the missing pieces. the missing pieces. Ambiguity and use of Ambiguity and use of silence is admired. silence is admired.

Individualistic and Collectivist Individualistic and Collectivist CulturesCultures

Individualistic CulturesIndividualistic Cultures Self is separate, unique Self is separate, unique

individual; independent, individual; independent, self-sufficient.self-sufficient.

Individual take care of Individual take care of themselves/familythemselves/family

many flexible group many flexible group memberships; friends memberships; friends based on shared based on shared interests & activities.interests & activities.

Reward individual Reward individual achievement & initiative; achievement & initiative; individual decision individual decision encouraged, credit/ encouraged, credit/ blame assigned blame assigned individuallyindividually

Collectivist CulturesCollectivist Cultures People belong to extended People belong to extended

families; “we” or group families; “we” or group orientation.orientation.

Cares for extended family Cares for extended family before self.before self.

Emphasis on belonging to Emphasis on belonging to a very few permanent in-a very few permanent in-groups with strong groups with strong influence over person. influence over person.

Rewards contribution to Rewards contribution to group goals & well-being; group goals & well-being; cooperation with in-group cooperation with in-group members; group decisions members; group decisions valued; credit/ blame valued; credit/ blame shared.shared.