This chapter discusses adapting communication to different cultures and genders. It covers how culture, including co-cultures, shapes communication and worldviews. Key cultural dimensions that influence communication include masculinity vs femininity, uncertainty avoidance, power distribution, and individualism vs collectivism. The chapter also addresses gender-based expectations in communication and barriers to bridging cultural differences, providing strategies for adapting to others who are different.

1. Chapter 6Chapter 6
Adapting to Others:Adapting to Others:
Bridging Culture and GenderBridging Culture and Gender
DifferencesDifferences
Prepared by,
A.Johny Renoald M.E., (Ph.D.,)

2. Communication PrinciplesCommunication Principles
Be aware of
your
communicatio
n
Appropriately
adapt your
message to
others
Effectively use
and
interpret verbal
messages
Listen and
respond
thoughtfully to
others
Effectively use
and
interpret
nonverbal
messages

3. Adapting to OthersAdapting to Others
 Culture and CommunicationCulture and Communication
 Gender and CommunicationGender and Communication
 Barriers to Bridging Differences andBarriers to Bridging Differences and
Adapting to OthersAdapting to Others
 Adapting to Others Who Are DifferentAdapting to Others Who Are Different
Chapter 6: Adapting to Others

4. Religion: Evolution of ManReligion: Evolution of Man

5. Culture and CommunicationCulture and Communication
 CultureCulture is a learned system of knowledge,is a learned system of knowledge,
behavior, attitudes, beliefs, values, and normsbehavior, attitudes, beliefs, values, and norms
that is shared by a group of people.that is shared by a group of people.
 Cultures are not static.Cultures are not static.
 AA Co-cultureCo-culture is a cultural group within ais a cultural group within a
larger culture.larger culture.
– AmishAmish
– gendergender
Chapter 6: Adapting to Others

6. Culture and CommunicationCulture and Communication
 Intercultural communicationIntercultural communication occurs whenoccurs when
individuals or groups from different culturesindividuals or groups from different cultures
communicate.communicate.
 Culture shockCulture shock
 Our culture and life experiences determine ourOur culture and life experiences determine our worldworld
viewview—the general perspective that determines how—the general perspective that determines how
we perceive what happens to us.we perceive what happens to us.
Chapter 6: Adapting to Others

7. Cultural ContextsCultural Contexts
 People from different cultures respond to theirPeople from different cultures respond to their
surroundings orsurroundings or cultural contextcultural context cues incues in
different ways.different ways.
 High-Context CulturesHigh-Context Cultures
– nonverbal cues are extremely importantnonverbal cues are extremely important
– communicators rely on the contextcommunicators rely on the context
 Low-Context Cultures rely moreLow-Context Cultures rely more
explicitly on languageexplicitly on language
Chapter 6: Adapting to Others

8. Cultural ValuesCultural Values
 Masculine andMasculine and
FeminineFeminine
PerspectivesPerspectives
 Avoidance orAvoidance or
Tolerance ofTolerance of
UncertaintyUncertainty
 Distribution of PowerDistribution of Power
 Individualism orIndividualism or
CollectivismCollectivism
Chapter 6: Adapting to Others

9. Cultural Values:Cultural Values:
Masculine/FeminineMasculine/Feminine
 MasculineMasculine
– emphasize getting things done and beingemphasize getting things done and being
assertiveassertive
– tend to value traditional roles for men andtend to value traditional roles for men and
womenwomen
– not a reflection of biological sexnot a reflection of biological sex
 FeminineFeminine
– emphasize building relationships and seekingemphasize building relationships and seeking
peace and harmony with otherspeace and harmony with others

10. Cultural Values:Cultural Values:
Uncertainty and CertaintyUncertainty and Certainty
 Avoidance of UncertaintyAvoidance of Uncertainty
 Tolerance for AmbiguityTolerance for Ambiguity
Chapter 6: Adapting to Others

11. Cultural Values:Cultural Values:
Approaches to PowerApproaches to Power
 Decentralized ApproachDecentralized Approach
– leadership is not vested in one person,leadership is not vested in one person,
power is decentralizedpower is decentralized
– decisions are likely to be made bydecisions are likely to be made by
consensusconsensus
 Centralized ApproachCentralized Approach
– militaristic approach to powermilitaristic approach to power
– prefer strongly organized, centrallyprefer strongly organized, centrally
controlled form of governmentcontrolled form of government

12. Cultural Values:Cultural Values:
Individualism and CollectivismIndividualism and Collectivism
 Collectivistic CulturesCollectivistic Cultures
– champion what people do together andchampion what people do together and
reward group achievementreward group achievement
– strive to accomplish goals for the benefit ofstrive to accomplish goals for the benefit of
the groupthe group
 Individualistic CulturesIndividualistic Cultures
– individual recognitionindividual recognition
– self-realizationself-realization
– tend to be loosely knit sociallytend to be loosely knit socially
Chapter 6: Adapting to Others

13. Gender and CommunicationGender and Communication
 Sex-Based ExpectationsSex-Based Expectations
– start at birthstart at birth
– gender roles are transmitted viagender roles are transmitted via
communicationcommunication
 Why and How Women and Men CommunicateWhy and How Women and Men Communicate
– instrumental and expressive orientationsinstrumental and expressive orientations
– content and relational dimensions ofcontent and relational dimensions of
Chapter 6: Adapting to Others

14. Barriers to Bridging DifferencesBarriers to Bridging Differences
 Assuming SuperiorityAssuming Superiority
 Assuming SimilarityAssuming Similarity
 Stereotyping and PrejudiceStereotyping and Prejudice
– stereotypingstereotyping
– prejudiceprejudice
 Different Communication CodesDifferent Communication Codes
Chapter 6: Adapting to Others

15. Adapting to OthersAdapting to Others
 Seek InformationSeek Information
 Listen and Ask QuestionsListen and Ask Questions
 Tolerate AmbiguityTolerate Ambiguity
 Develop MindfulnessDevelop Mindfulness
– engage in self-talkengage in self-talk
 Become Other-OrientedBecome Other-Oriented
– other-orientedother-oriented
communicationcommunication
– social decenteringsocial decentering
– empathy and sympathyempathy and sympathy
 Adapt To OthersAdapt To Others
Chapter 6: Adapting to Others