Lecture 7

Question 1

When does Intercultural communication occur and what is the problem with it? (2)

Answer 1

• When a message produced in one culture must be processed in another culture
• Problem: Differences in culture lead to misunderstandings and conflicts.

Question 2

(6) Barriers in Intercultural Communication

Answer 2

• High Anxiety: Nervousness during cross-cultural interactions.
• Assuming Similarity: Thinking others are similar to us, ignoring differences.
• Ethnocentrism: Belief that one’s own culture is superior.
• Language Problems: Misunderstandings due to language differences.
• Nonverbal Misinterpretations: Misunderstanding gestures and body language.
• Stereotypes and Prejudices: Unfair and negative beliefs about other cultures.

Question 3

What is social categorization? (2)

Answer 3

• Grouping people to understand social environment.
• We make conclusions about individual behavior based on group patterns

Question 4

What is essentialism? (1)

Answer 4

Belief that group attributes come from inherent characteristics.

Question 5

What are the (2) assumptions of essentialism?

Answer 5

1. groups can be clearly delimited;
2. group members are more or less alike.

Question 6

What is ethnocentrism and its result? (2)

Answer 6

• Belief in superiority of one’s own culture.
• Result: arrogance, contempt for other cultures

Question 7

What is sterotyping? (1)

Answer 7

Unfairly characterizing people from different cultures.

Question 8

What is bias & prejudice and their roots? (3)

Answer 8

• Biais: Personal preference affecting objectivity.
• Prejudice: Hatred without reason, rooted in early socialization.
• Roots: Ignorance and fear; based on stereotypes.