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Lesson 4 - Intercultural Communication

Intercultural communication involves interactions between people from different cultural backgrounds. It is influenced by factors like ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation. Miscommunication can occur when cultural differences are not understood. There are six stages of intercultural sensitivity - from denial of cultural differences to fully integrating different cultural perspectives. Competent intercultural communicators are flexible, reflective, open-minded, sensitive, and adaptable. Effective communication requires avoiding stereotypes, being respectful of religious and age differences, and maintaining politeness.

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563 views10 pages

Lesson 4 - Intercultural Communication

Intercultural communication involves interactions between people from different cultural backgrounds. It is influenced by factors like ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation. Miscommunication can occur when cultural differences are not understood. There are six stages of intercultural sensitivity - from denial of cultural differences to fully integrating different cultural perspectives. Competent intercultural communicators are flexible, reflective, open-minded, sensitive, and adaptable. Effective communication requires avoiding stereotypes, being respectful of religious and age differences, and maintaining politeness.

Uploaded by

KuteSchofield
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Intercultural Communication

Definition of Intercultural Communication


 happens when individuals interact, negotiate, and create meanings
while bringing in their varied cultural backgrounds (Ting-Toomey, 1999)
 communication among people from different nationalities (Gudykunst,
2003)
 communication that is influenced by different ethnicities, religions, and
sexual orientations.
 takes place when people draw from their cultural identity to understand
values, prejudices, language, attitudes, and relationships (Gudykunst,
Kim, 2003)
 things may not go as planned when communication is disrupted by
cultural collisions
 is the sending and receiving of messages across languages and cultures
6 Stages of Intercultural Sensitivity

1. DENIAL
- Denial of cultural difference is the state in which one’s own
culture is experienced as the only real one. Other cultures are avoided
by maintaining psychological and/or physical isolation from differences.

Ex. “All cities are the same, they all have tall buildings, fast food
chains, and coffee shops.”
6 Stages of Intercultural Sensitivity

2. DEFENSE
- Defense against cultural difference is the state in which one’s
own culture (or an adopted culture) is experienced as the only good
one. The world is organized into “us and them”, where “we” are
superior and “they” are inferior. These people tend to be highly critical
of other cultures.

Ex. “This culture does not view life the way we do; our culture is
certainly better.”
“Their ways are better than my own; I wish I were one of them.”
6 Stages of Intercultural Sensitivity

3. MINIMIZATION
- Minimization of cultural difference is the state in which
elements of one’s own cultural worldview are experienced as universal.
People of this development level expect similarities, and they may
become insistent about correcting others’ behavior to match their
expectations.
Ex. “Once we see through the cultural differences, we really are just
the same.”
“Everyone should practice this certain type of tradition, after all,
we are all the same.”
6 Stages of Intercultural Sensitivity

4. ACCEPTANCE
- Acceptance of cultural difference is the state in which one’s
own culture is experienced as just one of a number of equally complex
worldviews. People reaching this level are curious about and respectful
toward cultural difference, but this doesn’t mean that the observed
cultural differences may not be judge negatively.
Ex. “These people and I have different values and experiences, and I
think we can learn from one another.”
“Their way is not the right way.”
6 Stages of Intercultural Sensitivity

5. ADAPTATION
- Adaptation to cultural difference is the state in which the
experience of another culture yields perception and behavior
appropriate to that culture. People reaching this level are able to look
at the world “through different eyes” and may intentionally change
their behavior to communicate more effectively in another culture.
Ex. “To address our issue, I have to adjust my approachto consider
both my own and my counterpart’s background.”
6 Stages of Intercultural Sensitivity

6. INTEGRATION
- Integration of cultural difference is the state in which one’s
experience of self is expanded to include the movement in and out of
different cultural worldviews.

Ex. “I can look at things from the perspective of various cultures.”


Characteristics of Competent Intercultural Communicator
World Bank (2010)

1. Flexible
2. Reflective
3. Open-minded
4. Sensitive
5. Adaptable
6. Creative/divergent thinker
Tips on how to become an effective
Intercultural Communicator:
1. Avoid stereotypes
2. Challenge gender norms
3. Do not talk down on younger people or the
elderly
4. Be sensitive to the religious practices of others
5. Be polite at all times

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