3.1 Intercultural Communication Models and Theories

Intercultural communication models and theories are crucial for understanding how people from different cultures interact. These frameworks, like Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions and Hall's Context Cultures, help us navigate cultural differences in business settings.

Cultural perspectives, including ethnocentrism and cultural relativism, shape how we view other cultures. Developing intercultural competence and nonverbal communication skills is key to effective cross-cultural interactions in the global business world.

Cultural Frameworks

Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions and Hall's High-Context and Low-Context Cultures

Top images from around the web for Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions and Hall's High-Context and Low-Context Cultures

• 

  When was the last time they did anything for you without reward or ulterior motive? View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Dimensions of Culture – CaseWORK View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  When was the last time they did anything for you without reward or ulterior motive? View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Dimensions of Culture – CaseWORK View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 2

Top images from around the web for Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions and Hall's High-Context and Low-Context Cultures

• 

  When was the last time they did anything for you without reward or ulterior motive? View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Dimensions of Culture – CaseWORK View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  When was the last time they did anything for you without reward or ulterior motive? View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Dimensions of Culture – CaseWORK View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 2

• Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions provide a framework for understanding cultural differences across countries based on six dimensions: Power Distance, Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, Uncertainty Avoidance, Long-Term vs. Short-Term Orientation, and Indulgence vs. Restraint
  • Power Distance refers to the extent to which less powerful members of a society accept and expect power to be distributed unequally (Malaysia has a high power distance while Austria has a low power distance)
  • Individualism vs. Collectivism describes the degree to which individuals are integrated into groups (United States is highly individualistic while Guatemala is highly collectivistic)
  • Masculinity vs. Femininity refers to the distribution of emotional roles between the genders (Japan is a masculine society while Sweden is a feminine society)
  • Uncertainty Avoidance deals with a society's tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty (Greece has a high uncertainty avoidance while Singapore has a low uncertainty avoidance)
  • Long-Term vs. Short-Term Orientation describes the time horizon people in a society display (China is long-term oriented while Nigeria is short-term oriented)
  • Indulgence vs. Restraint is related to the gratification versus control of basic human desires (Mexico is an indulgent culture while Latvia is a restrained culture)
• Hall's High-Context and Low-Context Cultures distinguishes between cultures based on the amount of contextual information needed for effective communication
  • High-context cultures rely heavily on implicit communication and nonverbal cues (Japan, Saudi Arabia), while low-context cultures rely more on explicit verbal communication (Germany, United States)

Trompenaars' Model of National Culture Differences and Cultural Intelligence (CQ)

• Trompenaars' Model of National Culture Differences identifies seven dimensions of cultural differences: Universalism vs. Particularism, Individualism vs. Communitarianism, Neutral vs. Emotional, Specific vs. Diffuse, Achievement vs. Ascription, Sequential vs. Synchronic, and Internal vs. External Control
  • Universalism vs. Particularism refers to the extent to which people believe rules and values should apply universally or be adapted to specific circumstances (United States tends towards universalism while China tends towards particularism)
  • Individualism vs. Communitarianism is similar to Hofstede's Individualism vs. Collectivism dimension
  • Neutral vs. Emotional relates to the degree to which people display emotions (Japan is a neutral culture while Italy is an emotional culture)
  • Specific vs. Diffuse describes the degree to which people engage others in specific areas of life or diffusely in multiple areas (United States is a specific culture while Spain is a diffuse culture)
  • Achievement vs. Ascription refers to how status is accorded, either through achievement or ascription (United Kingdom is an achievement culture while Saudi Arabia is an ascription culture)
  • Sequential vs. Synchronic relates to how people manage time (Germany is a sequential culture while Mexico is a synchronic culture)
  • Internal vs. External Control deals with people's relationship with their environment (United States has a high internal locus of control while Russia has a high external locus of control)
• Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is the capability to function effectively in culturally diverse settings
  • CQ consists of four dimensions: Metacognitive CQ (awareness and understanding of cultural interactions), Cognitive CQ (knowledge of cultural norms, practices, and conventions), Motivational CQ (interest and confidence in functioning in cross-cultural situations), and Behavioral CQ (ability to exhibit appropriate verbal and nonverbal actions in cross-cultural interactions)

Cultural Perspectives

Ethnocentrism, Cultural Relativism, and Stereotyping

• Ethnocentrism is the tendency to view one's own culture as superior to others and to judge other cultures by the standards of one's own
  • Ethnocentrism can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts in cross-cultural interactions (an American businessman may view a Middle Eastern counterpart's tardiness as a sign of disrespect, while in the Middle Eastern culture, punctuality is not as highly valued)
• Cultural Relativism is the principle that an individual's beliefs and practices should be understood in the context of that person's own culture rather than judged against the criteria of another
  • Cultural relativism encourages understanding and respect for cultural differences (a cultural relativist would seek to understand the reasons behind a particular cultural practice rather than immediately judging it as wrong or inferior)
• Stereotyping is the process of ascribing characteristics to people based on their membership in a particular group
  • Stereotypes can be positive or negative and often oversimplify reality (assuming all Italians are passionate and expressive or all Germans are punctual and efficient)
  • Stereotyping can lead to prejudice and discrimination in cross-cultural interactions

Intercultural Communication Skills

Nonverbal Communication and Intercultural Competence

• Nonverbal Communication plays a significant role in intercultural communication, as nonverbal cues can vary greatly across cultures
  • Nonverbal communication includes body language, facial expressions, eye contact, touch, space, and silence
  • Misinterpretations of nonverbal cues can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts (in some Middle Eastern cultures, sitting with the sole of one's foot pointing towards another person is considered highly offensive)
  • It is important to be aware of and sensitive to cultural differences in nonverbal communication (in the United States, direct eye contact is often seen as a sign of honesty and confidence, while in some Asian cultures, prolonged direct eye contact can be considered rude or aggressive)
• Intercultural Competence is the ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with people from other cultures
  • Intercultural competence involves knowledge of other cultures, self-awareness of one's own cultural biases and assumptions, and skills in adapting one's communication style to different cultural contexts
  • Developing intercultural competence requires openness, curiosity, empathy, flexibility, and a willingness to learn from cultural differences (an interculturally competent person would seek to understand and respect the communication styles and cultural norms of their international colleagues, rather than imposing their own cultural expectations)