Interculture_Communication

Definition of Culture:
A complex frame of reference that consists of patterns of traditions, beliefs, values, norms, symbols, and meanings that are shared to varying degrees by interacting members of a community.

1) A diverse poll of knowledge, shared realities, and clustered norms that constitute the leaned systems of meanings in a particular society.

2) These learned systems of meanings are shared and transmitted through everyday interactions among members of the cultural group and from one generation to the next.

3) Culture facilitates members� capacity to survive and adapt to their external environment.

4) Like an iceberg: the deeper layers area hidden from our view; we only see and hear the uppermost layers of cultural artifacts

Functions of cutlure:
1) identity meaning
2) group inclusion,
3) ecological adaptation
4) cultural communication
5) culture's intergoup boundary regulation

Mindful intercultural communication:

Individual bring their sense of "self-image" or "identity" to any type of communication encounter. Individuals acquire their identities via interaction with others in their culture. It is through communication that we acquire our generalized views of ourselves and others. We acquire particular ways of thinking about ourselves and others in different situations.

Stereotype:

a broad generalization about an entire class of phenomena based on some knowledge of some aspects of some members of the class. E.g. French are arrogant and rude, Chinese are good at math, Lam Smell Cheuk is X, PPF is a good prefect....etc.

Additionally our social categorization process also frames our expectations and meanings we attach to people's behavior or action. When we learn that Mandy is a Maid, we tend to be instantly guided every word and action as stemming from her Job Orientation identity. Unfortunately, polarized thinking also leads to a unidirectional view of the 'correct' or incorrect' way of behaving. E.g PPF who use assertive speech associated with masculinity are judged as arroagant and uppity

Generally, preconceived social categories help to frame our expectations and make our social world more predictable and meaningful in accordance with our own cultural and personal frames of reference. They also simultaneously delimit our thinking and percptual capabilities. By being mindful of our own categorical and hence expectancy formation system, we may start debunking some of the myths or negative images we form about out-group members (like Mandy).

Social Comparison
Through comparison with other relevant social groups, the value of one's identity group is assessed and established. The need for positive social identites prompts individuals to compare their salient identity groups with other relevant social groups. E.g Mandy have gathering with her collegues every sunday to compare Maid from PXX and maid from IXXXX.

Ethnocentrism and Communication:
Ethnocentrism is our defensive attitudinal tendency to view the values and norms of our culture as superior to other cultures, and we percieve our cultural ways of living as the most resonable and proper ways to conduct our lives. Consequently, there is the expectation that all other groups should follow our civilized ways of thinking and behaving. All human beings carry a certain degree of ethnocentric tendency in them because of their needs for identity security, in-group inclusion, and predictability.
E.g. (not mandy la this time) "Group 3 Prefect is the BEST" said PPF " Group X is not XXX"