Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
An Introduction to
(American) Culture
John R. Baldwin
jrbaldw@ilstu.edu
January 22, 2007
An exercise: Time Capsule
Environmental Influences
Sending
Receiving
Ways to Study Values
Emic Etic
Studies behavior Studies behavior
from within system from outside of
Examines only one system
culture Examines many
Structure discovered cultures (comparing)
by analyst
Structure created by
Criteria relative to analyst
internal
characteristics Criteria considered
“Cultural” absolute, universal
Communication Cross-Cultural
Communication
Value Dimensions
(E. T. Hall)
Venezuela
Costa Rica
Hong Kong
Malaysia
Mexico
Jamaica Turkey
Argentina
India
Japan
Germany
Italy
Denmark
Individualistic
United
States
American Chinese
Communication Communication
What is said What is not said
“I” focus “We” focus
Impolite talk Polite talk
Direct talk Indirect talk
Assertive speech Hesitant speech
Self-enhancing talk Self-effacing talk
Public personal Private personal
questions questions
Expressive speech Reticent speech
• Cognitive Styles
• Intuitive-Expressive
• Axiomatic-Deductive
• Factual-Inductive
• Cyclical
Influence on the classroom?
Style Influence
Emic Approaches
• 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…
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:
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)
Nonverbal Communication (cont’d)
• Main theme:
• Types:
• Influences on:
• Influences of:
• State in U.S.? Cf other places?
• +/- of individualism?
• +/- of Bellah et al.’s coverage?
Some icons/aspects of
individualism
Independent Citizens?
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
Conclusion: Hints…
• John R. Baldwin
• Fell 451
• 438-7969
• jrbaldw@ilstu.edu