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COM 472 An Introduction to (American) Culture

COM 472 An Introduction to (American) Culture. John R. Baldwin jrbaldw@ilstu.edu January 22, 2007. An exercise: Time Capsule. 3 items to go into a “time capsule” to be opened in 500 years Size and cost do not matter Must represent some aspect of “American Culture” in 2004. Culture is….

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COM 472 An Introduction to (American) Culture

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  1. COM 472An Introduction to (American) Culture John R. Baldwin jrbaldw@ilstu.edu January 22, 2007

  2. An exercise: Time Capsule • 3 items to go into a “time capsule” to be opened in 500 years • Size and cost do not matter • Must represent some aspect of “American Culture” in 2004

  3. Culture is… • Learned, not innate (inborn) • Transmissible (transferable) • Dynamic…yet static • Selective • Interrelated in its aspects • Ethnocentric

  4. Aspects of culture • Social perception • Beliefs and attitudes • Values • Rules and Norms • World View • Social Organization • Family • Education • Law, etc.

  5. Aspects of culture • Verbal processes • Thought patterns • Inductive • Deductive • Cyclical • Intuitive • Verbal language • Nonverbal processes • “Contact” behaviors • “Display rules” (showing emotion) • Time • Space

  6. An Iceberg Model of Culture

  7. Environmental Influences Cultural Sociocultural Psychocultural Sending Receiving The IC Communication Process

  8. Emic Studies behavior from within system Examines only one culture Structure discovered by analyst Criteria relative to internal characteristics “Cultural” Communication Etic Studies behavior from outside of system Examines many cultures (comparing) Structure created by analyst Criteria considered absolute, universal Cross-Cultural Communication Ways to Study Values

  9. Value Dimensions (E. T. Hall)

  10. Value Dimensions Hofstede’s Dimensions • Individualism/ Collectivism • Power Distance • Uncertainty Avoidance • Masculinity/ Femininity

  11. Value Dimensions Collectivistic Venezuela Costa Rica HongKong Malaysia Mexico Jamaica Turkey Argentina India Japan Germany Italy Denmark UnitedStates Individualistic Low Power Distance High Power Distance

  12. A video example… • How do you see the different aspects of Hofstede’s dimensions or High-Low context communicated in this video (Iron & Silk)?

  13. Influence on the classroom?

  14. Affectivity  Affect Neutrality Universalism  Particularism Diffuseness  Specificity Ascription  Achievement Instrumental Orientation  Expressive Orientation Value Dimensions Parson’s Pattern Variables

  15. Value Dimensions Kluckhohn & Strodtbeck’s Value Dimensions

  16. “American” Values Materialism Success Work & Activity Progress Rationality Democracy Humanitarianism Middle Eastern Values Hospitality Generosity Courage Honor Self-Respect Specific Values(Vander Zanden, 1965; Patai, 1976)

  17. “American” Communication Direct “Elaborated” Informal Low context Less differentiated codes Middle Eastern Communication Indirect Emphatic Formality High context More differentiated codes ValuesCommunication

  18. American Communication What is said q “I” focus q Impolite talk q Direct talk q Assertive speech q Self-enhancing talk q Public personal questions q Expressive speech Chinese Communication What is not said “We” focus q Polite talk q Indirect talk q Hesitant speech q Self-effacing talk q Private personal questions q Reticent speech American & Chinese Communication (Gao & Ting-Toomey, 1998)

  19. Cognitive Styles • Intuitive-Expressive • Axiomatic-Deductive • Factual-Inductive • Cyclical

  20. Influence on the classroom?

  21. Emic Approaches • Your own artifacts! • http://www.zompist.com/amercult.html • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_the_United_States

  22. Readings: Althen, etc. • What are some of the key influences on American Values? • What did you find out about American culture, communication from your reading?

  23. Cultural Values (“emic”) • Individual freedom/self-reliance/privacy • Equality of opportunity-competition • Material wealth (consumerism)/hard work/achievement/action • Future/change/technology/progress • Informality • Goodness of humanity • Time • Directness/Assertiveness

  24. Influences on values • Protestant Heritage hard work • Immigration; England, Europe, “Melting Pot” pragmatism • Frontier heritage the rugged individual • The heritage of business entrepreneurs as heroes

  25. American Proverbs A penny saved is a penny earned Idle hands are the devil’s workshop God helps those Who help themselves Cleanliness is next to godliness Early to bed, early to rise… makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise Look out for Number One! Time is money Every problem has a solution When the going gets tough… the tough get going

  26. American Proverbs A penny saved is a penny earned Idle hands are the devil’s workshop God helps those Who help themselves Cleanliness is next to godliness Early to bed, early to rise… makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise Look out for Number One! Time is money Every problem has a solution When the going gets tough… the tough get going

  27. Verbal Communication • Based on values, notions of logic • Talk/Communication as: • A solution • A vehicle of meaning (essentially pragmatic), e.g., “Grice’s maxims” • A mirror of reality (close connection) • Diversity of Communication • Male/female • Ethnic group

  28. Verbal Communication (cont’d) • General characteristics • Less formal • Less “differentiated” in code (more “universal” than “particular”)—that is, status differences less important • Less code switching • More instrumental (than expressive) • More “outcome” than “process” • More pragmatic than philosophical • More “open”…and yet…

  29. Verbal Communication (cont’d) • Face-Saving behaviors? • More focused on self than other • More focused on “negative” face (autonomy, freedom) than “positive” face (inclusion)…but… • More direct than indirect • Conflict preference: dominating, collaborating (“conflict is good”) rather than yielding, obliging. . . Thus, expect:

  30. Nonverbal Communication • Affiliative behavior (and the “need to be liked”) • Contact: “moderate” • Differs by status, gender/sex, ethnicity • Some channels differ by status of the other person (e.g., touch)

  31. Nonverbal Communication (cont’d) What to Expect by Channel • Gestures: moderate • Space: “large”; 4 zones • Posture (in the classroom) • Pace: “brisk” • Touch: moderate, but based on relationship • Gaze and body angle: “direct” (?) • Smell: notions of “cleanliness” • Facial expression: more emotion, less differentiated by status, etc.

  32. Habits of the Heart • Main theme: • Types: • Influences on: • Influences of: • State in U.S.? Cf other places? • +/- of individualism? • +/- of Bellah et al.’s coverage?

  33. Some icons/aspects of individualism

  34. Independent Citizens?

  35. Conclusion: Hints… • Describe, don’t evaluate • Recognize value differences • Be aware of attribution • Be aware of stereotypes (yours & theirs!) • Be aware of different meanings • Know yourself! • Look for similarities (too) • Don’t confuse people with cultures • Talk…the American solution

  36. Conclusion: Hints… • How to “talk” through differences • Give complete, explicit (low context) detail • Paraphrase • Ask questions • Ask for verification

  37. Any questions? • John R. Baldwin • Fell 451 • 438-7969 • jrbaldw@ilstu.edu But….just call me John… 

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