Cultural Patterns: Beliefs, Values, and Norms

• Cultural patterns consist of shared beliefs, values, and norms
• These patterns remain stable over time
• Cultural patterns lead to similar behaviors in similar situations

Basic Components of Cultural Patterns

• Beliefs are ideas about the world that people assume to be true
• For example, Thais believe spirits reside in all things
• Values are things considered worthwhile or desirable
• Values are communicated explicitly and implicitly through symbolic behavior
• Communication is influenced by values
• Norms are socially enforced rules that define appropriate behavior
• An example of norms are Filipino social norms in college

Types of Values

• Valence can be positive or negative
• Intensity reflects the importance of a value

Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativity

• Ethnocentrism involves judging others based on one's own cultural values
• Cultural relativity involves studying cultural values from their own framework instead of comparing them to one's own values

Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions

• These dimensions were developed by Geert Hofstede, a Dutch social psychologist

Individualism vs. Collectivism

• In collectivist cultures, identity is based on social networks
• Collectivist cultures emphasize "we" thinking
• Collectivist cultures prioritize harmony and avoid direct communication
• In collectivist cultures, relationships prevail over tasks
• In individualistic cultures, identity is based on the individual
• Individualistic cultures emphasize "I" thinking
• Individualistic cultures value speaking one's mind
• In individualistic cultures, tasks prevail over relationships
• Individualism prioritizes personal achievements and independence
• Collectivism values group harmony and cooperation

Power Distance

• Small Power Distance minimizes inequality
• Small Power Distances include consultation with subordinates and few status symbols
• Large Power Distance expects inequalities
• Large Power Distances include top-down authority and power based on connections or force
• Small Power Distances include less hierarchy and open communication
• Large Power Distance includes strong hierarchy and respect for authority

Uncertainty Avoidance

• Weak Uncertainty Avoidance accepts uncertainty
• Weak Uncertainty Avoidance includes low stress, tolerance of deviant ideas, and fewer rules
• Strong Uncertainty Avoidance fears uncertainty
• Strong Uncertainty Avoidance includes high stress, strict rules, and suppression of deviant behaviors
• Weak Uncertainty Avoidance is comfortable with ambiguity and open to risks
• Strong Uncertainty Avoidance prefers structure, rules, and stability

Masculinity vs. Femininity

• Feminine cultures care for others and are relationship-oriented
• Feminine cultures value people and warm relationships
• In feminine cultures, both men and women can be tender
• In feminine cultures, fathers and mothers share responsibilities
• Masculine cultures value material success and are progress-driven
• Masculine cultures value money and things
• In masculine cultures, males should be assertive and ambitious
• In masculine cultures, fathers handle facts, and mothers handle emotions
• Masculine cultures are competitive, achievement-driven, and value success
• Feminine cultures emphasize relationships, nurturing, and modesty

Perception Process

• Perception is how individuals interpret and make sense of information from their environment
• There are 5 key steps in the perception process
• Observe the available data and collect sensory information from the environment
• Choose what data to process, also known as selective perception, where we focus on specific details while ignoring others
• Define the person or event and build expectations; interpretations shape expectations of how others will behave
• Expectations influence behavior; how one anticipates actions affects how one interacts with people
• Behavior affects the other person's perception; actions shape how others perceive one, completing the cycle

Social Cognition

• Social cognition refers to how we form a mental picture of social interactions
• It involves the situation
• It involves people involved in the social episode
• It involves the relationship or connection or label given to the interaction, such as teacher-student or friends
• It involves behavior and the actions and mannerisms displayed in the interaction

Components of the Perception Process

• The attributive component are the characteristics assigned to a person, object, or event based on perception
• The expectative component are the expectations formed based on perception
• The affective component are the emotions or feelings associated with what is perceived

Attribution Theory

• Developed by Fritz Heider (1958), attribution theory explains how people assign causes to events or behaviors

Types of Attribution

• Internal Attribution (Dispositional Attribution) attributes behavior to personal characteristics relating to personality or attitude
• External Attribution (Situational Attribution) attributes behavior to external factors relating to stress or environment

Common Attribution Errors

• Personality Error is overemphasizing personal traits and underestimating situational influences
• Group Bias is seeing in-group members positively and out-group members negatively
• Egocentric Bias views one's behavior as normal while others' behavior is unusual
• Premature Closure stops at the first reasonable explanation without further investigation
• Negativity Bias focuses more on negative information than positive

Two Types of Personalities in Attribution

• Uncertainty-Oriented People are open to questioning and adapt well in new environments
• Certainty-Oriented People hold rigid beliefs and struggle with new ideas

Improving Attribution Accuracy

• Perception Checking confirms observations by stating what was seen, drawing a conclusion, and asking if it's accurate
• Active Listening pays close attention, maintains eye contact, and paraphrases
• Feedbacking provides a response about someone's behavior to clarify perceptions

Communication and the Transactional Model

• Communication is a transactional process, meaning simultaneous role-taking exists
• It involves exchanging symbols and developing mutually dependent relationships

Factors Affecting the Transactional Model

• Social Context consists of society's norms, values, laws, and restrictions on communication
• Cultural Context consists of a person's lifestyle and identity
• Relational Context consists of relationship history and manners

Culture and Intercultural Communication

• Culture is the set of values, beliefs, norms, customs, rules, and codes that define a group of people
• Intercultural Communication occurs when at least two people from different cultures/microcultures communicate
• Context in Intercultural Communication includes factors like setting, relationship, and situation

Intercultural Communication Competence (ICC)

• ICC is the ability to communicate effectively in different cultural contexts
• Key Components consist of motivation, mindfulness, and cognitive flexibility
• Motivation is a desire to foster intercultural relationships
• Mindfulness is self- and other-monitoring in communication
• Cognitive Flexibility is adjusting knowledge to new situations

Cultural Patterns

• Beliefs are assumed truths about the world
• Values are cultural priorities and ideals
• Norms are manifestations of beliefs and values