Cross Culture Communication

Cross-cultural Communication

Dr. Karen S. Walch

Key Terms

• Diversity

• Ethnocentrism

• Stereotypes

• Negative Treatment

Diversity= Difference

.

and MANY more . .

Race

Parental Status

Gender

Religion

Age

National Origin

Ethnicity

Veteran Status

Color

Physical Ability

Learning Style

Work Experience

Education

Income

Job Function

Diversity of Thought

Communication Style

Marital Status

Sexual Orientation

Ethnocentrism

• Ethnocentrism is the UNCONSCIOUS belief that one’s own group is superior to and a standard for judging other groups. Exists among:

• states• people• countries

Racism

• A belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.

Ethnocentrism Vs Racism

• Difference between ethnocentrism and racism:

* racism is more of a conscious process* ethnocentrism is wholly unconscious

“Nothing moves us to act more strongly than those processes within us that are unconscious.”

-Colin J. Irwin-

Ethnocentrism

It is a continuum--

1. pride in one’s country;

2. tears at hearing our national anthem;

3. willingness to go to war for our country;

4. our way is the best or only way;

5. strangers should go home;

6. immigrants are taking our jobs . . .

Stereotypes

• a commonly held, often negative, assumption about a person based upon perceptions of the group to which that person belongs.

What is the problem?

• In fact, stereotyping often prevents us from obtaining information about who this person really is--his/her feelings, skills, experience and capabilities.

• Stereotypes limit how we think about others.

What is the problem?

• Many stereotypes suggest that some groups “don’t have what it takes” to contribute to the organization and do not have the capacity to learn and develop.

What is the problem?

• Managers may feel absolved of any responsibility to get them into the learning loop.

• This is how people who have been stereotyped are often excluded from the meaningful work of the company.

What is the problem?

• Negative stereotypes, whether conscious or not, generate negative emotional reactions and negative treatment toward people who are different in some culturally significant way.

What is the problem?

• “Filters” screen out suggestions, interests

• Can be bypassed and create less psychological resistance

• Holding attention, focusing, and providing lasting suggestions

• Increased trust

Negative Treatment

• This is especially true if the judgment is about something we view as fixed and unchangeable, such as intelligence.

Key Learning Points:

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