Imperatives of Intercultural Communication
This imperative asks whether individuals of different races, ethnicities, and cultures can coexist peacefully on this planet.
The Peace Imperative
What term describes socially accepted ways of doing things that are derived from values? (Explain)
Norms are the social rules or expected behaviours that arise from a culture’s underlying values.
What term describes convictions or ideas that people hold to be true in a particular culture? (Explain)
Beliefs are the assumptions or ideas that members of a culture accept as true about themselves and the world.
In a culture where collectivism is valued, what might the greeting behaviour be when someone enters a room?
A person might greet everyone in the group to show inclusion and respect for collective harmony.
The ability to recognize one’s own cultural values and those of others is part of what competence?
This is a key aspect of intercultural competence—the ability to communicate and behave appropriately across cultures
This imperative focuses on how immigration and other population shifts change societies.
The Demographic Imperative.
According to the textbook, norms can be informal (customs) or formal (laws). True or false? (Explain)
True. Some norms are informal everyday customs, while others are formalized into written laws.
Beliefs are less visible than norms and values but influence how people interpret their world. True or false? (Explain)
True. Beliefs operate beneath the surface but shape perception, meaning, and interpretation.
If someone from a culture that values punctuality arrives late for a meeting, what value conflict might arise?
A conflict may occur between the value of time efficiency and the value of flexibility or relationship-building.
According to Krumrey, culture is ____ because its elements are interconnected and influence one another.
Culture is systematic, meaning values, norms, and beliefs interact to shape behaviour and understanding.
What is the belief that one’s own culture is superior to others, often leading to stereotyping or prejudice?
Ethnocentrism.
Give an example of a norm that might differ between cultures regarding personal space or greetings.
For example, in some cultures people greet with a hug or kiss, while in others a handshake or nod is considered more appropriate.
Provide an example of a belief that might underpin a cultural value of respect for elders.
Many cultures hold the belief that age brings wisdom and authority, which supports the value of respecting elders.
You witness a colleague from another culture avoid eye contact out of respect. Which cultural value explains this?
The value of humility or respect for hierarchy often leads individuals to avoid direct eye contact with authority figures.
Which step in developing intercultural competence involves viewing behaviour through another culture’s scope?
Perspective-shifting, or empathy, helps communicators interpret actions within the other culture’s context.
What term describes the gap between those who grew up with technology and those who did not?
The Digital Divide.
How do cultural norms function as a bridge between a society’s values and the behaviours of its members?
Cultural norms operationalize a society’s values by providing shared behavioural expectations that make those values visible and enforceable within everyday interactions.
Why is it important for intercultural communicators to understand the belief systems of other cultures?
Understanding others’ belief systems helps communicators interpret behaviour accurately and avoid ethnocentric judgments.
A team member prioritizes harmony and consensus over quick decisions. What value is at work, and how does it affect the team?
The value of harmony (common in collectivist cultures) promotes inclusion and respect but can slow decision-making processes.
How does understanding values, norms, and beliefs help reduce ethnocentrism?
It encourages open-mindedness by revealing that one’s own cultural standards are not universal.
Who believes that no behaviour is inherently right or wrong, but should be judged within cultural context?
A Relativist.
How do norms help maintain a culture’s system of values and beliefs over time?
Norms sustain cultural stability by guiding behaviour in ways that reinforce and express shared values and beliefs.
How do beliefs, values, and norms together form the cultural system described by Krumrey?
Beliefs form the foundation of a culture’s worldview, values express what is important, and norms translate those values into everyday behaviour.
Describe a situation where values about family obligation and personal ambition might conflict in the workplace.
An employee might leave work early to care for a family member, reflecting a value of family loyalty that could be misinterpreted as a lack of professional commitment.
In a culture where loyalty is a dominant value, how might decision-making differ from a culture that values independence?
Decisions may be made collectively to preserve trust and relationships, while independent cultures prioritize personal judgment and initiative.