Understanding Intercultural Communication Second Edition

Chapter 3

What are the Essential Cultural Value Patterns?

Stella Ting-Toomey & Leeva C. Chung

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

PowerPoint Slides Designed by Alex Flecky and Noorie Baig

MENU

I. Functions of Cultural Values

II. Analyzing Cultural Value Dimensions

III. Additional Value Orientations

IV. Individual Socialization Development

V. Intercultural Reality Check: Do-Ables

I. Functions of Cultural Values

A. Analyzing Cultural ValuesB. Identity Meaning FunctionC. Explanatory FunctionD. Motivational FunctionE. Ingroup–Outgroup

Evaluative Function

II. Analyzing Cultural Value DimensionsIDENTITY:

Individualism

Collectivism

Power distance:

Small Large

Uncertainty avoidance:

Weak Strong

Sex roles: Feminine Masculine

II. Analyzing Cultural Value Dimensions: Individualism–Collectivism Value Pattern

Individualistic Cultures

“I” Identity

Nuclear family

Privacy regulation

Individual competition

Personal competence

Direct comm. patterns

Independent self

Collectivistic Cultures

“We” Identity

Extended family

Relational harmony

Teamwork

Ingroup emphasis

Indirect comm. patterns

Interdependent self

II. Analyzing Cultural Value Dimensions: Individualism vs. CollectivismIndividualistic

Cultures“I” Identity

Nuclear family

Privacy regulation

Individual competition

Personal competence

Direct communication patterns

Independent self

Collectivistic Cultures

“We” Identity

Extended family

Relational harmony

Teamwork

Ingroup emphasis

Indirect communication patterns

Interdependent self

II. Analyzing Cultural Value Dimensions: Small–Large Power Distance Value Pattern Small Power Distance

Emphasize interpersonal equality

Children may contradict parents

Younger people are smart

Teachers ask for feedback

Subordinates expect consultation

Informal comm. patterns

Horizontal self

Large Power Distance

Emphasize status based difference

Children should obey parents

Older people are wise

Teachers lecture

Subordinates expect guidance

Formal comm. patterns

Vertical self

II. Analyzing Cultural Value Dimensions: Weak-Strong Uncertainty Avoidance Value Pattern

Weak Uncertainty Avoidance

Uncertainty is valued

Family is dynamic and changing

High mobility in relationships

Challenges are welcome

Encourage risk-taking

Conflict can be positive

High tolerance for ambiguity

Strong Uncertainty Avoidance

Uncertainty is a threat

Reinforce family rules

Low mobility in relationships

Routines are welcome

Encourage clear procedure

Conflict is negative

Low tolerance for ambiguity

II. Analyzing Cultural Value Dimensions: Feminine vs. Masculine Feminine Cultures

Flexible sex roles

Emphasize nurturance

Both genders take initiative

Social adjustment is critical

Work in order to live

Fluid gender communication

Overlapped gender roles

Masculine Cultures

Complementary sex roles

Emphasize achievement

Males take initiative

Academic performance is critical

Live in order to work

“Masculine” toughness vs. “feminine” softness

Clear masculine/feminine gender roles

II. Analyzing Cultural Value Dimensions:

Self-Assessment DiscussionFour-Dimensional Values Inventory

(DVI)

What Factors Shape Your Values’ Development?

Increase Your Self-Awareness of Value Dimensions on Multiple Levels: Cultural/Ethnic, Workplace, Family, and Personal Self.

Dyadic Discussion: Increase Your Awareness of Differences and Similarities between SELF and OTHER. . .

III. Additional Value Orientation PatternsOrientatio

nRange

Meaning Doing

(action-oriented)

Being-in-becoming

(inner developmen

t)

Being

(expressive/

emotional)

Destiny Controlling nature

(mastering)

Harmony with nature

(flow)

Subjugation to nature

(yielding)

Time Future-oriented

(schedule-bound)

Present-oriented

(here-and-now)

Past-oriented

(tradition-bound)

Three Value Orientation Patterns, adapted from Strodbeck (1961 and Kohls (1996)

IV. Individual Socialization Development

Independent versus Interdependent Self-Construal

Horizontal versus Vertical Self-Construal

Internal versus External Locus of Control

V. Intercultural Reality Check: Do-Ables

Observe verbal and nonverbal signals attentively.

Describe specific behaviors with a minimum of distortion.

Generate multiple interpretations of the unfamiliar behaviors.

Suspend ethnocentric evaluation, perform open-ended evaluation.

O =

D =

I =

S =

Flexible intercultural communicators practice the O-D-I-S Method:

Values Exploration Exercise

“PARABLE” Application Exercise

Individual Decision Ranking

Group Discussion

Group Decision Consensus Ranking

In-Class Writing Assignment

Parting Thoughts…

Only if we understand can we care. Only if we care will we help. Only if we help shall they be saved. ~ Jane Goodall