Studying intercultural communication increases self-awareness of one's own culture and avoids ethnocentrism. It is important due to demographic changes from immigration and globalization, as 4 out of 5 US jobs involve international business. Studying intercultural communication fosters creative problem solving; diverse groups produce higher quality ideas than homogeneous groups due to combining perspectives. Respect is fundamental to global and personal peace, as peace building connects to respecting oneself and others.

1. Why StudyIntercultural Communication

2. Defining the study of I.C.“The study of intercultural communication is about the study of communication that involves, at least in pat, cultural group membership differences. It is about acquiring the necessary knowledge and dynamic skills to manage such differences appropriately and effectively. It is also about developing a creative mind-set to see things from different angles without rigid pre-judgement” (Ting-Toomey & Chung, 2005, p. 3).

3. Why Study I. C.?Self-awarenessDemographic ChangesWorkplace & Economic GlobalizationMulticultural Health Care CommunicationCreative Problem SolvingFostering Global and Intrapersonal Peace

4. Increased Self-awareness One of the most important reasons for studying intercultural communication is that it increases our awareness of our own culture—our cultural identity and cultural background. And it helps us avoid ethnocentrism.Ethnocentrism is a tendency to think our own culture is superior to other cultures.

5. Demographic Changes Another important reason to study intercultural communication are the constant demographic shifts countries and communities experience. For example: immigrants, refugees or undocumented individuals.

6. Workplace & Economic Globalization4 out of 5 jobs in the U.S. are generated from international business (Ting-Toomey & Chung, 2005).To effectively compete in a global market, Americans must understand how business and cultural practices are conducted in other countries (Martin & Nakayama, 2010).

7. Creative Problem SolvingAccording to creativity research, we learn more from people who are different than us than from those who are similar to us. (Sternberg, 1999 as cited in Ting-Toomey &Chung, 2005) Small group research suggests the quality of ideas produced in ethnically diverse groups have significantly higher outcomes than ethnically homogeneous groups. This is due to the synergistic perspective.Synergistic perspective means combining the best of all cultural approaches in solving a workplace problem.

8. Global and Intrapersonal PeaceR – E – S – P – E – C – TRespect is fundamental to peace, global and intrapersonal.Peace building is closely connected to intrapersonal peace building. It we are at peace with ourselves, we will hold more compassion and caring for others around us(Ting-Toomey & Chung, 2005, p. 14).

9. ReferencesMartin, J.N. & Nakayama, T.K. (2010). Intercultural Communication in Contexts, 10 ed. New York: McGraw Hill.Ting-Toomey, S. & Chung, L.C. (2005). Understanding Intercultural Communication. New York: Oxford University Press.