Gender Differences. What is the Difference? Individual is autonomous (Self-deciding) Individual is autonomous (Self-deciding) We are socialized to communicate.

Gender Gender DifferencesDifferences

What is the Difference?What is the Difference? Individual is autonomous (Self-deciding)Individual is autonomous (Self-deciding) We are socialized to communicate We are socialized to communicate

differently as men and womendifferently as men and women Women often communicate based on Women often communicate based on

what they think their roles in society what they think their roles in society are. (caregiver)are. (caregiver)

Women who don’t feel they meet social Women who don’t feel they meet social norms, usually have a lower self-concept norms, usually have a lower self-concept and lower communication skills.and lower communication skills.

Men vs. WomenMen vs. Women When communicating, men are more likely When communicating, men are more likely

to describe others by their abilities to describe others by their abilities ““she writes well.”she writes well.” Women describe others by self-conceptsWomen describe others by self-concepts ““She thinks she writes well.”She thinks she writes well.” Men categorize people by non-social Men categorize people by non-social

things (flying airplanes)things (flying airplanes) Females categorize by more interpersonal Females categorize by more interpersonal

things (ex: relationships)things (ex: relationships)

Continued…Continued…•Men tend to mentally separate and store information in very organized

yet completely separate compartments, like in a file-cabinet-

drawer system•Women see how details and

information relate to each other, with their inherent underlying and

interrelated connections.•Men are logical, women are emotional. Pros and Cons?

Cultural differencesCultural differences American children are taught to stray away American children are taught to stray away

from dependence and being helplessfrom dependence and being helpless Most American families want to teach their Most American families want to teach their

kids to stand up on their own and kids to stand up on their own and communicate self-sufficientlycommunicate self-sufficiently

In Eastern countries, they teach In Eastern countries, they teach interdependence, to rely on each other for interdependence, to rely on each other for needs. needs.

Therefore children have a higher self-Therefore children have a higher self-esteem at an earlier age because they esteem at an earlier age because they value being helpful, in cooperative groups. value being helpful, in cooperative groups.

While Northern Europeans and European Americans feel While Northern Europeans and European Americans feel most comfortable at an arm's length away in a social most comfortable at an arm's length away in a social interactioninteraction

Hispanics would consider that distance unfriendly. Hispanics would consider that distance unfriendly. Asian cultures do not believe in touching in public settings, Asian cultures do not believe in touching in public settings,

and they don't favor direct eye contact. and they don't favor direct eye contact. Like the Asian culture, Hispanics also view direct eye Like the Asian culture, Hispanics also view direct eye

contact as a lack of respect. contact as a lack of respect. One significant difference between these two cultures is the One significant difference between these two cultures is the

way touching in public is perceived. Hispanics are a "high way touching in public is perceived. Hispanics are a "high touch" society. touch" society.

http://www.ehow.com/info_8475600_different-cultural-communication-styles.htmlhttp://www.ehow.com/info_8475600_different-cultural-communication-styles.html

How does this affect How does this affect communication?communication?

If we don’t understand each other, the If we don’t understand each other, the wall for communication breaks.wall for communication breaks.

Halo EffectHalo Effect Tendency to judge other people’s Tendency to judge other people’s

personalities upon observing a single personalities upon observing a single characteristic, trait or behavior characteristic, trait or behavior without further verification. without further verification.

Let’s look at some examples? You Let’s look at some examples? You know this person. know this person.

What do you What do you think of when think of when you see him? you see him?

Halo EffectHalo Effect What can we assume about these What can we assume about these

people?people?

StereotypingStereotyping

Definitely affects communication!Definitely affects communication! Generalizations of perceptions about a person Generalizations of perceptions about a person

or groupor group Can be positive-it forces us to find out more Can be positive-it forces us to find out more

about the person we are stereotyping and learn about the person we are stereotyping and learn from that experience. We communicate to from that experience. We communicate to reduce that uncertainty we feel.reduce that uncertainty we feel.

Can be negative (racism, sexism, ageism, Can be negative (racism, sexism, ageism, etc…)this form of discrimination harms etc…)this form of discrimination harms communication and our attempts of communication and our attempts of communicating well. communicating well.

Emotional StatesEmotional States

Our emotion affects the way we Our emotion affects the way we communicate as well.communicate as well.

Examples: mad, sad, happy, Examples: mad, sad, happy, frustrated, guilt, fear, surprise, lovefrustrated, guilt, fear, surprise, love

Good and Bad moods also greatly Good and Bad moods also greatly affect our filtering of messages affect our filtering of messages *selective hearing*selective hearing

Now What?Now What? Improving perception is an important first Improving perception is an important first

step in becoming a competent communicator.step in becoming a competent communicator.1.1. Question the accuracy of your perception: “I Question the accuracy of your perception: “I

think I saw that correctly, but what do I know think I saw that correctly, but what do I know that could help me sort this out?”that could help me sort this out?”

2.2. Seek more information to verify perceptions Seek more information to verify perceptions *TALK about it, try to understand!*TALK about it, try to understand!

3.3. Realize that the perception of people may Realize that the perception of people may need to be changed over time. Be able to say need to be changed over time. Be able to say “I was wrong.”“I was wrong.”