Comm Ch 6

worldview

a perpective shared by a culture or group of people about key beliefs and issues, such as death, God, and the meaning of life, which influences interaction with others; the lens through which people in a given culture perceive the world around them

ethnicity

a social classification based on factors, such as nationality, religion, and language as well as ancestral heritage, that are shared by a group of people with a common geographic origin

cultural context

additional information about a message that is communicated through nonverbal and environmental cues rather than through language

sympathy

an acknowledgment that someone is feeling a certain emotion, often grief; compassion

ethnorelative cultural perspective

an appreciation for and sensitivity to cultural differences

empathy

an emotional reaction that is similar to the reaction being experienced by another person

mindful

aware of what you are doing and how you are communicating with others

androgynous

exhibiting both masculine and feminine characteristics

homophobia

fear or, aversion to, or discrimination against gays or lesbians

culture shock

feelings of confusion, loss, stress, and anxiety that a person may experience when encountering a culture different from his or her own

egocentric

focused on oneself and one's importance

self-talk

inner speech; communication with the self,; the process of mentally verbalizing messages that help a person become more aware or mindful of how he or she is processing information and reacting to life situations

intercultural communication competence

the ability to adapt one's behavior toward another person in ways that are appropriate to the other person's culture

ethnocentrism

the belief that one's own cultural traditions and assumptions are superior to those of others

globalization

the integration of economics and technology that is contributing to a worldwide, interconnected business environment

discrimination

the unfair or inappropriate treatment of people based on their group membership

ethnocentric cultural perspective

the view that one's own culture is superior to all other cultures

adapt

to adjust behavior in response to someone else

stereotype

to place a person or group of persons into an inflexible, all-encompassing category

cultural values

whatever a given group of people values or appreciates

social decentering

a cognitive process through which we take into account another person's thoughts, values, background, and perspectives

high-context culture

a culture in which people derive much information from nonverbal and environmental cues and less information from the words of a message

low-context culture

a culture in which people derive much information from the words of a message and less information from nonverbal and environmental cues

co-culture

a culture that exists within a larger cultural context (ex: gay and lesbian cultures, Amish culture)

collectivism culture

a culture that places a high value on collaboration, teamwork, and group achievement

masculine culture

a culture that values achievement, assertiveness, heroism, material wealth, and traditional male and female roles

feminine culture

a culture that values being sensitive toward others and fostering harmonious personal relationships with others

individualistic culture

a culture that values individual achievement and personal accomplishments

prejudice

a judgment of someone based on an assumption that you already know relevant facts or background information about the person

culture

a learned system of knowledge, behavior, attitudes, beliefs, values, and norms that is shared by a group of people and shaped from one generation to the next

intercultural communication

communication between people who have different cultural traditions

other-oriented communication

communication in which we focus on the needs and concerns of others while maintaining our personal integrity; achieved through the processes of socially decentering and being empathic