Intercultural Communication Concepts

Digital Technology and National Boundaries

• Digital technology is eroding the concept of national boundaries.

Intercultural Communication

• Intercultural communication occurs when cultural differences influence communication.

Types of Intercultural Communication

• Interracial communication: Meaning sharing between people of different races.
• Interethnic communication: Interaction with people of different ethnic backgrounds.
• International communication: Communication between people from different nations.
• Intracultural communication: Interaction within the same racial/ethnic or co-culture group.

Culture Definition

• Culture is a system of knowledge, beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and artifacts shared and used by members of a group in daily life.

Co-Culture

• A co-culture is a subgroup within a larger culture that differs in some way from the parent culture.

Cultural Adaptation Strategies

• Assimilation: Co-culture members try to fit in with the dominant culture.
• Accommodation: Co-culture members keep their identity while forming relationships with the dominant culture.
• Separation: Co-culture members avoid interaction with the dominant culture.

Individualism and Collectivism

• Individualism: Cultures prioritizing individual goals.
• Collectivism: Cultures prioritizing group goals.

Power Distance

• Power distance: Measures acceptance of power differences between individuals.
• High power distance cultures: Subordinates accept and defer to superiors.
• Low power distance cultures: Power should be used legitimately.