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Chapter 2 Study

Guide
Communicating in a Multicultural
Society and World
Lessons of Chapter 2
Summary

● LO1: Explain the significance of intercultural


communication in the global community
● LO2: Explain how and why U.S. society has evolved
from a melting-pot philosophy to a philosophy of
cultural pluralism
● LO3: Analyze various attitudes toward diversity
● LO4: Explain influences on cultural identity and the
differences between cultures and co-cultures
● LO5: Illustrate the five main dimensions of cultural
variability
● LO6: Explain how technology brings diversity into
our lives
● LO7: Identify techniques to reduce the strangeness
of strangers
What are the faces of many cultures?

Speaking of Difference

● Globalization: Integrating multiple


cultures
● Diversity: valuing differences
● Multiculturalism: respect of different
cultures
1. Intercultural
2. Interracial
3. Interethnic
4. International
5. Intercultural
Culture: A system of knowledge, beliefs, values, customs,
behaviors, and artifacts that are acquired, used & shared
by members.

Culture & Co-Cultures Dimension of culture in


action

● Knowledge and beliefs ● Individualism vs.


● Members of the group collectivism
● high context vs. low
1. assimilation: trying to context
fit in ● High power distance vs.
low power distance
2. accommodation: maintain ● Monochromatic vs.
identity polychromatic
● Masculine vs feminine
3. separation:resist
interaction
Culture & Its Co-Cultures

Cultural identity is based on:

● gender
● age
● race
● ethnicity
● religion
● socioeconomics
● nationality
● generational identity

Co-Culture:
A group of persons who differ in
some ethnic or sociological way from
the parent culture.
What happened to the melting pot?
Melting Pot Philosophy:
View that different cultures should be assimilated into the
dominant culture.

Replaced By
Cultural Pluralism:
Allowing cultures to maintain differences while coexisting in
broader society.
How Technology Changed Our Lives

Technology and Community


● the development of technology in today’s society is changing the traditional
definition of community

High Power Distance vs. Low Power Distance


● High Power Distance cultures
○ power viewed as a fact of life
○ Subordinates defer to superiors
● Low Power Distance cultures
○ Power should be used in legitimate situations
○ Subordinates contradict their bosses
Other Definitions

Culturally Confused:
Lacking an understanding of cultural difference.

Cultural Imperialism:
The expansion of dominion of one culture over another culture.

Ethnocentrism:
The tendency to see one’s own culture as superior to all others.

Cultural Relativism:
The acceptance of other cultural groups as equal in value to one’s
own.

Prejudice:
A positive or negative prejudgment.

Digital Divide:
The information gap.
Works Cited from:
Communication Works Eleventh Edition, pages 23-41. Teri
Kwal Gamble / Michael Gamble & Published By: The McGraw-
Hill Companies ©2013

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