MGMT+642+Study+Material

MGMT 642 was taught by Dr. O. Her guidance for the comp exam was to concentrate on cultural dimensions, verbal communication, and non-verbal communication theories and concepts.

Please post any study guide material you wish to share for this section of the comp exam here. Dr. O material added by Holly Ch 3 Culture Intercultural communication is communication between and among individuals and groups whose cultural backgrounds differ Culture is defined as the shared, personal, and learned life experience of a group of individuals who have a common set of values, norms, and traditions. Culture is learned: -enculturation is when a person learns to identify with a particular cultures thinking, ways of relating, and world view -acculturation is when you become accustomed to and embrace the appropriate behaviors and rules of the host culture Culture creates community: -community is the common understanding among people who are committed to co-existing together -co-cultures are cultures within cultures -culture clash is when there is conflict over cultural expectations -culture is multileveled Intercultural contact is pervasive in the US It affects: Family structure Corporations Religious institutions Schools Media Why study communication? -technological imperative-technology has facilitated the understanding of many diverse cultures around the world ex email among cultures -demographic imperative-the influx of immigrants has changed the workforce in the US -economic imperative-the global marketplace has made intercultural understanding necessary for most all business transactions, negotiation practices -peace imperative-the resolving of world conflicts requires cultural understanding -self awareness imperative-understanding our own world view aids in cultural awareness-self reflection -ethical imperative-we are obligated to appreciated cultural variations in values, dating, marriage, and intimacy-cultural values *****Cultural Dimensions**** Cultural Variability Theory by Geert Hofstede A theory that describes the four dimensions that offer information regarding the value differences in a particular culture Uncertainty avoidance Cultures high in uncertainty avoidance desire predictability ex Greece, Japan Cultures low in uncertainty avoidance are unthreatened by change ex US, GB Distribution of power Cultures high in power distance show respect for status ex Mexico, India Cultures low in power distance have the belief that power should be equally divided among people ex US, Israel Masculinity-Femininity Masculine cultures value competitiveness, material success, and assertiveness ex Italy Austria Feminine cultures value quality of life, affection, and caring for the less fortunate ex Sweden, Denmark Individualism-Collectivism Individualistic cultures value individual accomplishments ex US, Australia Collectivist cultures value group collaboration ex Chile, Columbia Challenges of intercultural communication -Ethnocentrism-judging other cultures by your own cultural standards -Stereotyping -Anxiety and uncertainty –being uncomfortable around people who are different from us -In groups-groups of people we feel we belong to  -Out groups-groups of people we don’t feel we belong to  -misinterpretation of nonverbal and verbal behaviors -assumption of similarity or difference High context culture-a culture in which there is a high degree of similarity among members and in which meaning of a message is drawn primarily from its context, such as one’s surroundings, rather than from words Low Context culture-a culture in which there is a high degree of difference among members and in which the meaning of a message must be explicitly related, usually in works Choices for Intercultural communication -know your biases and stereotypes -tolerate the unknown Practice cultural respect -cultural empathy-understanding other perspectives and relating to them -cultural relativity-observers should never condemn a practice of a culture that they do not belong to -educate yourself -be prepared for consequences -relate to the individual, not the culture -re-evaluate and eliminate your prejudices Cultural imperialism-the process whereby individuals, companies, and/or the media impose their way of thinking and behaving upon another culture ****Verbal Communication**** Language-a system of symbols that allows us to convey meaning Grammar-a set of rules dictating how words can be combined Encoding-forming messages to be sent Decoding-applying meaning to the message or code Attributes of verbal symbols Words are symbolic, language evolves, words are powerful Referent-the thing a verbal symbol represents Meaning of words can be denotative or connotative Denotative is literal, agreed on meaning of a symbol (dictionary definition) Connotative is personal meaning based on past and subjective experiences Words vary in abstraction from concrete to abstract-ladder of abstraction Concrete-able to be seen, touched, or heard Abstract-not able to be seen smelled, tasted, touched, or heard The process of abstraction is the ability to move up and down the ladder of abstraction from specific to general and vice versa Framing theory-a theory that argues that when we compare two unlike things in a figure of speech we are unconsciously influenced by this decision Strategic ambiguity-leaving out cues in a message on purpose to encourage multiple interpretations by others Equivocation-a type of ambiguity that involves choosing our words carefully to give a listener a false impression without lying Euphemisms-a milder or less direct word substituted for another word that is more blunt or negative Factors affecting verbal symbols Culture and ethnicity Idiom-a word or a phrase that has an understood meaning within a culture but whose meaning is not derived by exact translation Phatic Communication-consisting of words and phrases that are used for interpersonal contact only and are not meant to be translated verbatim Code-switching Speech communities Symbolic interactionism theory-the theory that our understanding of ourselves and of the world is shared by our interactions with those around us Linguistic determinism-a theory that argues that our language determines our ability to perceive and think about things. If we don’t have a word for something in our language, this theory predicts we wont think about it or notice it. Linguistic relativity-states that our language influences our thinking but does not determine it. Thus, if we don’t have a word for something in our language, this theory predicts it will be difficult, but no impossible to think about it or notice it. Sapir-Whorf hypothesis-a theory that points to connections among culture, language, and thought. In its strong form this theory is known as linguistic determinism in its weak form it is know and linguistic relativity. Codeabilty-the ease with which a language can express a thought Sex and gender Two culture theory-belief that being male or being female constitutes different cultures with different rules, norms, and language patterns Generation-age cohorts distinguish themselves from the generation before them Context setting or situation in which the transaction occurs The dark side of verbal symbols -static evaluation is when we use language in such a way as to imply that things don’t change -polarization is using language in extremes or an either r-or fashion -rectification is when we respond to the word or label instead of the things themselves -muting is language use that lets some ideas and experiences go unnamed -sexist language is use generic “he”-man linked words -racist language -homophobic language The bright side of verbal codes -Confirmation-use language in such a way as to validate and support another person -Disconfirmation-use language in such a way as to ignore and disregard another person Choices for improving verbal communication -perspective taking-cultivating a respect for others and their viewpoints -owning of our thoughts and feelings I messages instead of you messages -understanding the ladder of abstraction -indexing-avoiding generalizations by acknowledging the time frame in which we judge other sand ourselves -probe the middle ground ****Non Verbal Communication**** Non verbal communication refers to all behaviors other than the spoken word that communicate messages and have shared meaning between communicators -excludes electronic communication -culturally shared meaning -verbal and nonverbal communication works together to create meaning Interaction adaptation theory-individuals simultaneously adapt their communication behaviors to each other Principles of nonverbal communication -nonverbal communication is often ambiguous -nonverbal communication regulates conversations -turn taking -non verbal communication is more believable than verbal communication -nonverbal communication may conflict with verbal communication -mixed messages Non verbal communication codes -visual-auditory codes -kinesecs-body movement -delivery gestures signal shared understanding -citing gestures acknowledge another’s feedback -seeking gestures request agreement or clarification -turn gestures -body orientation-the extent we turn our legs, shoulders, and head toward or away from a communication -physical appearance -physical characteristics -body artifacts-clothing, piercing, tattoo, jewel -facial communication -eye contact -smiling -paralanguage-vocal qualities -pitch -rate -volume -speed -silence -contact codes -touch (Haptics) -used for positive affect -playful function -control or direct behavior -ritualistic or every day touch -task functions -hybrid touch-both greeting and show affection -some touch is accidental -space proxemics is the study of how people use distance or space -personal space is the distance we put between ourselves and others Expectance violations theory states that we expect individuals to maintain a certain distance from us when communicating Edward T Hall’s 4 types of personal distance -intimate distance (0-18”) reserved for intimate relationships -personal distance (18”-4’) reserved for normal conversation -social distance (4’-12’) reserved for professional or formal interactions -public distance (12’-25’+) reserved for public audiences Proximity and territoriality -personal space is the bubble we carry around from interaction to interaction -territoriality is when we claim and defend space as our own -territory markers-items or objects that humans use to mark territory Place and time codes The environment -color, lighting, room design Chronomecs (time communication) -technical time, formal time, informal time Cultural variations in nonverbal communication -kinesics -facial expressions -proxemics -haptics Choices for increasing non verbal effectiveness -recall the nonverbal-verbal relationship -be tentative when interpreting nonverbal behavior -monitor your non verbal behavior -ask others for their impressions -avoid nonverbal distractions -place nonverbal communication in a context