CHAPTER 8 

COMMUNICATION ACROSS CULTURES

reasons for studying intercultural communication

(4) 

1. increased opportunities for intercultural contact 
2. increase self-awareness
3. greater success in both domestic and international business contexts (business effectiveness) 
4. need for better communication and understanding between countries and ethnic groups 

 challenges dealing with intercultural communication 

(2) 

1. dealing with the psychological stress of being in an unfamiliar environment 
2. learning how to behave appropiately in the new culture. (verbal and nonverbal) 

a sort of culture shock in one's own country 

(younger people with previous traveling experience often handle shocks better) 

encapsulated marginal people 

(type of border dweller) 

constructive marginal people 

(type of border dweller) 

common rigid stereotypes to not mix up

(3) 

1.  think of cultural values as a bell curve.  
2. values should be refered on the cultural level, not an individual
3. can't predict how one person will communicate 

1. individualistic/ collectivistic 
2. preferred personality 
3. view of human nature 
4. human-nature value 
5. power distribution 
6. long-term versus short-term orientation 

that stesses the needs of the group as do some hispanic and Asian Americans 

(argued that the working class tends to be more like this)

** primary responsibility is relationships with others and group harmony)

EX: giving money to a needy cousin rather than spending oneself 

whether it is more important to "do" or to "be". 

(Americans- doing = working hard / Latinos prefer the being mode which emphasizes the importance of experiencing life) 

1. The view that humans are intended to rule nature.  
2. Nature is seen as ruling humans.
3. Middle view is that the two exist in harmony 

belief in more than one god. 

(EX: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confuciansim) 

short-term orientation

(Monotheistic) 

characterizes cultures in which people are concerned with possesing one fundamental truth, reflected in monotheistic 

Monotheistic: belief in one god (judaism, Christianity) 

helps people respond to the complexities of intercultural communication and to override any tendencies to sterotype people based on cultural patterns.

** recognizes both/and **

(EX: a Frenchman shares many cultural characteristics of other French people, but also has an individual personality that makes him unique. -- both similar and diff) 

1. cultural-individual 
2. personal-contextual
3. differences-similarites 
4. static-dynamic 
5. history/past-present/future 
6. privilege-disadvantage

can be both at the same time.  

(EX: a U.S person in another country can be privileged with money but feel uncomfortable and vunerable in the new languages and customs) 

 meaning significant miniority groups within a dominant majority that do no share dominant group values or communication patterns. 

(EX: native American, Mexican American, Asian American)

1. remember that everyone is enmeshed in a culture and thus communicating through cultural lens.  Don't conclude that your culture is the best 
2. be aware of their humanity and avoid the temptation to view them as exotic.  
3. open to others ways of viewing the world.  

1. increase motivation 
2. increase your knowledge of self and others 
3. avoid stereotypes 

CHAPTER 9 

COMMUNICATING IN CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS 

Benefits of close relationships 

(2) 

1. improve satisfaction with life 
2. health 

explains the three primary forces that draw people together to form relationships: 

1. proximity 
2. interpersonal attractiveness 
3. similarity 

attractiveness 

(matching hypothesis) 

we tend to develop relationships with people who are approximately as attractive as we are.  

(matching hypothesis)

1. breadth: describes the number of different topics dyads willingly discuss. 
2. depth: how deep of personal communication exchanges are
3. frequency: how often it occurs

1. initiating (appea pleasant, likeable) 
2. experimenting (those that want to learn more)  
3. intensifying (increase intimacy) 
4. integrating (establish dyad as a couple) 
5. bonding (public commitment) 

1. differentiating (disscusing mostly ways they are diff)
2. circumscribing (safe topics) 
3. stagnating (prevent change)  
4. avoiding (decline to interact with partner) 
5. terminating (ending relationship) 

can impair relationships, though not all

(EX: dinner was wonderful it didn't taste burned at all") 

interpersonal violence 

(2 types) 

physical violence against a partner or child

battering: descrives relationships in which one individual uses violence as a way to control and dominate his or her partner 

situational couple violence: less intense forms of violence and tends to be more mutual in its performance, although women usally suffer more serious injuries than do men.  

factors that affect relationships and how we develop and communicate

(3) 

1. societal factors (violence and rape) 
2. social norms (Morman faith, Muslim, Hindu) 
3. norms for communication (males always says "i love you") 

1. topic avoidance
2. meaning denial (hurtful comments) 
3. disqualification (allow others to speak regardless of their own position or experience)

CHAPTER 10 

SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION 

why study small groups? 

(4) 

1. fact of life 
2. enhance college performance 
3. enhance your career success 
4. enhance your personal life

social facilitation 

(advantage of group work) 

disadvantags of group work

(4) 

1. time consuming 
2. fall into trap of too much closeness and agreement
3. silence divergent opinions 
4. dominant or withdrawn members 

communication amoung a small number of people who share a common purpose of goal, who feel connected to eachother and cooridinate their behavior. 

(3 is the fewest in a group / 5-7 is optimum) 

help establish a group's social atmosphere (encourage others to talk or mediate disagreements) 

(EX: congratulatory email after group presentation) 

trait theory 

(one of five theories that explain effective leaders) 

suggests that leaders are born 

(physical- tall, male, good looking) 

team relationships become moe of a partnership in an organization.  Requires a balance of power where: 

• all members are equal partners 
• all share a common goal 
• all share responsiblity for work 
• all work together 

authoritarian leader 

(style theory) 

takes charge and has a high level of intellect and expertise (dictates) 

(EX: military, sports, crisis situation) 

democratic leader 

(style theory) 

laissez-faire

(style theory)  

transformatinal leadership 

(style theory) 

charismatic leadership

(style theory) 

a style proposed by scholars in political science and religous studies.  They have a strong belief in their vision and are extremely self-confident.  

(EX: hitler and Mussolini) 

1. cooperative conflict style 
2. respectful communication style 
3. equal participation 

1. manages conflict by integrating all parties' interests
2. group members demonstrate that other members are valued and important 
3. all members contribute 

1. define and delineate the problem
2. analyze the problem 
3. identify alternative solutions 
4. evalutate proposed solutions 
5. choose the best solution

Orientation 

(primary tension) 

(phases that represent communication that occurs in groups) 

phase of decision making, people orient themselves to the problem and to eachother.

Primary Tension: the uncertainty at this stage 

Conflict 

(seconday (recurring) tension 

(phases that represent communication that occurs in groups) 

Emergence

(phases that represent communication that occurs in groups) 

reinforcement phase 

(phases that represent communication that occurs in groups) 

occurs when members arrive at a consensus before all alternatives have been realistically assessed.  

Negatives: Too much of it can lead to premature decisions. 

1. innovation 
2. performance (efficiancy) 
3. Group process 
4. group enjoyment

two types of diversity 

1. demographic diversity (age, gender, ethnicity) 
2. deeper cultural difference in attitudes and values 

threats to get others to do what they want.  

***usually unproductive because group members resent the threats and may reciprocate by using coercive power when they get the chance. 

CHAPTER 11 

COMMUNICATING IN ORGANIZATIONS 

central to a persons ability to navigate successfully the myriad legal and educational organizations confronted in life. 

** communication constitutes organizations -- it enables or creates them 

Function: the goals and effects of communication 

Production: communication that coordinates individuals activities so they can accomplish tasks.  

Maintenance: serves to maintain existing aspects of the organization(preserves the stability of system) 

formal structure 

vs. 

informal structure 

Formal: refers to the officially designated channels of communication 

Informal: refers to unspoken but understood channels. 

1. assimilation 
2. supervisor-subordinate communication 
3. coworker communication 

referes to the communicative, behavioral, and cognitive processes taht influence individuals to join, indentify with, become integrated into and exit an organization.  

(pledge for sororities) 

supportive supervisors 

& motivation 

& empowerment 

provide their subordinates with access to information and resources.  

Motivation: when they feel personally invested in accomplishing a specific activity or goal.  

Empowerment: improves communication, relates to the supervisors ability to increase employees feelings of self-efficacy.  (like a coach) 

Ingratiation: behavior and communication designed to increase liking.  

Assertiveness: subordinates who can express their opinions forcefully without offending or challenging their bosses also tend to engender liking approval.  

Rationality: meaning that they communicate with their bosses through reasoning, bargaining, adept at manging their supervisors.  

three types of orgnaizational dilemmas: 

emotion labor - alter your behavior specifically for job

stress and burnout -(exhaustion, cynicism, ineffectiveness)

work-life conflict - difficulties individuals and families face as they try to balance job and home responsibilites 

1. New social contract - loyalty is not expected by workers job security doesn't exist.  
2. contingent workforces  - part time positions.  
3. urgent organizations - companies taht attempt to "shorten" the time in which they develop new products and respond to customer demands
4. blurred boundaries between work and life.  

1. know what you want to occur as a result.
2. decide if the issue is worth confronting 
3. want to try to understand the other party's goals
4. think about when and where the conversation should take place.  

CHAPTER 12 

RHETORICAL COMMUNICATION 

communication that influences the attitudes or behaviros of others; the art of persuasion 

(EX: president's communication following 9/11 as an attempt to guide us to view this topic in a way that suits his particular goals.) 

rhetoric is essential to a vital democracy

helps people seek justice (courtroom) 

helps people clarify their own beliefs and actions.  

a person or institution that addresses the public 

the originator of a communication message, not necessarily the peson deliverying it.  

(EX: president speaking to the nation) 

related to the notion of identity that describes the identity one creates through one's public communication efforts.  

(certain aspect of ethos) 

EX: public persona vs. private

"logic" 

refers to reasoning or argumentation more generally.  Refers to how rhetors construct arguments or present evidence so that audiences reach a particular conclusion.  

(EX: fingerprints to build case) 

refers to more than the prestige of one's family. Comes from the way society is structured.  

(Related to concept of ethos)

** allows for certain rhetors to be more powerful than others.** 

are those people who could take the appropiate action. 

(Only registered voters are a part of this audience)  

refers to any event that generates a significant amount of public discourse

(unusual weather or natural disasters / holidays / sport events/ weddings/ funerals/ retirement parties) 

the type of rhetoric used to argue what a society should do in the future (deeply embedded in the democratic process) 

(EX: argue about raising taxes to pay for new roads) 

this form addresses events hat happened in the past. 

(EX: "Where were you on the night of April 24?"

The goal is to set things right after an injustice has occured.  

a mass movement of people motivated to create social change. 

(Use rhetoric to mobilize a large number of people) 

three objectives for public speaking: 

1. to inform
2. to persuade 
3. to entertain  

1. informative speech 
2. persuasive speech 
3. evocative speech 

1. explains, instructs, defines, clarifies or teaches. 
2. influences, convinces, motivates, sells, stimulates action. 
3. entertain, insprice, celebrate, commemorate, or build community. 

special-occasion speeches

(evocative speeches) 

focuses on what you would like to inform or persuade your audience about, or what type of feelings you want to evoke.  

(nutshell of what you want the audience to know) 

theisis statement

&

Supporting materials  

you create a statement nof your topic and your position.  It is the foundation on which you construct your presentation.  

Supporting materials:research that supports your idea.  

(electronic, print, personal)  

five organizational patterns

chronological pattern (timeline) 

spatial pattern (arrange by location)

topical pattern (main points have no innate pattern)

problem-solution ( various aspects of a problem then propse solutions)

cause-effect ( used to create understanding)  

1. understand the comm event 
2. research and organize your presentation 
3.  rehearse and deliver your presentation 

delivery 

& 3 important aspects 

referes to the presentation of the speech you have researched, organizsed, and practiced 

1. being aware of time 
2. developing a speaking persona 
3. putting your speech into action 

CHAPTER 13 

MASS MEDIA AND COMMMUNICATION 

the plural form of medium 

mass-market paperbacks

& 

E-books 

these books include romance novels, self help books, comic books 

** E-books: books read on a computer screen ** 

emphasizes the effect of media messages on the individual 

(media message --> recievers) 

factors that influence media choices

(2) 

1. age 
2. regional identity 

studies and explores how people use media messages and what types of gratifications they find in some media text rather than others. 

( EX: why someone chooses the Bachelor over DWS ) 

Key questions to think about 

1. what effect media messages have on individuals? 
2. how individuals choose, resisit and interpret them?

1. confirming social identities 
2. helping people understand the world 
3. helping individuals undserstand important public events

effects media violence has on children 

(4) 

increased aggressiveness 

increased fear of becoming victims 

less sensitivity to violence 

increased appetite for more violence

published in 1930, established strict rules for media content with the goal of wholessome enertainment 

(EX: ban on exposing children's sex organs)

MPAA 

(Motion Picture Association of America) 

devised its rating codes 

** G, PG< PG-13, R ** 

media activism concentrated on the ethics of what four areas? 

children's programming

representations of cultural groups 

news reporting 

alternative programming 

How to become more effective in your media consumption

(3)  

1. be an active agent in your media choices 
2. be mindful of the media choises 
3. speak out if you find media content offensive 

CHAPTER 14

COMMUNICATION AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES 

a collection of mediated communication technologies that are digital and converging and tend to be interactive.

(internet and web-based) 

computer-mediated communication

(CMC) 

Social Networking Sites (SNSs) 

& 

Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) 

Potential benefits of media augmentation approach

(2) 

asychronicity: allows time to think 

absence of nonverbal cues can also have a positive effect

filtering

(media deficit approach)

Face-face is always better 

refers to the feelings of psychological closeness or immediacy that people experience when they interact with eachother.  

(nonverbal cues, smiling, leaning forward etc.) 

face-face is more effective because it is richer. 

describes the potential information-carrying capacity of a communication medium.  Face-to-face communication is the richest medium for communicating bc you can see facial expressions and body gestures.  

(cetain media allows for a certain amount of richness : skype, video/ audio) 

synchronous

& 

asynchronous

(media deficit approach)

messages are sent and recieved at the same time.  

&

messages may be recieved at a later time.  

proposes that patterns of connections amoung people affect their social behavior and communication.  

** Different media used for different purposes

informative aspect 

accountability issues 

different group norms 

phishing 

& 

cyberbullying 

the practice of trying fradulently to get consumer banking and credit card information is another problem for new media users. 

& 

the deliberate and repeated misuse of communication technology by an individual or group to threaten or harm others.  

Pseudoanonymity 

& 

avatars 

projecting a false indentity 

 & 

digital aler-egos/versions of themselves

field of availables 

(positives and negatives) 

describes the fact that the universe of potential paetners and friends accessible through new media is much larger than in traditional relationships.  

(Positive: potential to extend relationship / negative:  online relationships can be fragile)

1. the ease of finding similar others 
2. getting past the gates 
3. achieving intimate exchanges 

standard information (name or email)

sensitive personal information (birthday, jobs) 

potentialy stignamtizing information (political view) 

three issues media causes in the workplace? 

1. status and boundary issues 
2. surveillance issues 
3. confidentiality issues 

certain bodies of cultural knowledge and cultural competencies.  

(can be the ability to use new media in appropiate ways) 

access to computer hardware 

access to four levels of technocapital: 

1. mental 
2. material 
3. skills 
4. usage