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Influence of culture on beliefs, values, and behaviors
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Option A – Frame of reference (Topic 2)
Introduction
The aim of this essay is to discuss how people’s frame of reference may influence their communication with individuals from different cultural backgrounds, with reference to personal and cultural differences in values, beliefs, attitudes and customs, and how these differences may complicate sharing of meaning and cooperation in relationships.
Key concepts
• Frame of Reference
According to (Atherton, 2013) frame of reference is very broad in understanding and has a lot of complex set of assumptions and attitudes which we use to filter perceptions to create and share meaning. Our frame of reference is largely influenced by our values, beliefs, attitudes and our customs or culture and this often influences our understanding, response and judgement. Each and every person has their own unique frame of reference in which they use to interpret messages when communicating. This makes the process of communication a very unique and dynamic part of our everyday life (relationships). According to (Du
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Communication is very complex and thus involves a lot of entities that work together in the process. The two types of communication are verbal and non-verbal, and their main purpose is to create and share meaning. Meaning is the stream of visual, auditory and other sensory sensors that serve as mediums of transporting meaning. The transmission of meaning allows us to interpret the meaning based on our frame of reference and filters which help us associate and categorize the message. This interpretation is influenced by our values, culture, past experiences, beliefs, attitude, personal goals and many more. (Atherton, 2013). Communication is essential for all relationships to grow and work effectively, lack of communication often results in break downs and
Wright et al. (2012) suggest that communication is a process that involves a sender, a receiver, a message and a channel. The sender and the receiver of the communication may be the professionals and the channels of communication may be through hand over’s, emails, phones calls, verbal discussion and other relevant communication channel
Martin. J. and Nakayama, T. (2000). Intercultural communication in contexts, (2nd ed.). Mountain View, CA: Mayfield.
In an increasingly globalized society, people from around the world are being connected like never before. Culture clash, one consequence of this increased connectivity, is when people from different backgrounds who have opposing basic beliefs and customs come into contact. This is usually thought to be an inevitable barrier when meeting people from a culture which is not one’s own. However, I believe that being open minded and flexible can overcome culture clash. People from different backgrounds tend to conflict on basic understandings, but this can be overcome due to mutual understanding of each other beliefs and culture.
Communication involves the exchange of messages and is a process which all individuals participate in. Whether it is through spoken word, written word, non-verbal means or even silence, messages are constantly being exchanged between individuals or groups of people (Bach & Grant 2009). All behaviour has a message and communication is a process which individuals cannot avoid being involved with (Ellis et al 1995).
Experiencing a society of multi-cultures is beneficial through a variety of concepts to epitomize each individual identity. A person may vary in the degree to which he or she identifies with, morals, or...
Communication is essential in education, training and everyday life. It's a means by which a thought is transferred from one person to another. Effective communication occurs when the intended meaning of the source and the perceived meaning of the receiver are virtually the same, Schemerhorn (2005).
Communication is the process of conveying information to each another using words, actions, or by writing the information down to be read by another person. Communication is something that most people do at some point each day, and is an important part of life especially in a working environment. “The concept of communication is an essential part of every profession, and it is required to foster and maintain healthy relationships”( Jasmine, 2009, para. 1).
When one encounters a culture that has little in common with own, one may experience culture shock. This is a sense of confusion, anxiety, stress and loss one may experience. One of the barriers in effective intercultural communication is ethnocentrism. It stems from a conviction that one’s own cultural traditions and assumptions are superior to those of others. It leads to a tendency to look the world primarily from the perspective of one's own culture. It is one of the fastest ways to create a barrier that inhibits, rather than enhances communication (Jandt, 2012).
Effective communication with people of difference cultures can be especially challenging. The way people interpret the world can be strikingly different between cultures. Intercultural communication occurs when a member from one culture produces a message that is absorbed by a member of another culture. How that message is understood by the communicating party is a vital part in intercultural communication. For example, in Cambodia it would be considered rude to discuss business in a social setting (Language, culture, customs and etiquette, n.d.). However, in the United States this is a common practice and is almost an encouraged event. Another important factor and consideration in intercultural communication is the importance of understanding cultures, values, history and beliefs. For instance, in Cambodia, if you deliver a present that is wrapped in white paper, this is considered to represent mourning. This is one of the many reasons why it is important to assimilate into a culture and be mindful of communication between cultures (Language, culture, customs and etiquette, n.d.).
According to Hofstede’s (1980), ‘culture is the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one human group from another… culture in the sense, includes systems of values: and values are among the building blocks of culture.’ It is necessary to determine how culture impacts our communication behavior as culture directly influences our perception and understanding of the message that is transmitted from one party to another. People from different cultures encode and decode messages differently; this therefore increases the chances of misunderstanding. Intercultural communication refers to interactions between people whose cultural assumptions are so different that the communication between them is altered. Verderber, Verderber, & Sellnow, (2010).
Clearly, communication plays a significant role in every aspect of our life. Communication is the simply act of conveying information from one person to another by using voice (verbally), gesture or body language (nonverbally), books or magazines (written), pictures (visually). The better communication skills that one has is the better the information could be transferred and received. The ability to convey information successfully and clearly is a fundamental life skill and should not be underestimated. Additional, effectively communication is the key to solve problems in any situation. With good communication skills, you can absolutely improve your professional life as well as strengthen your social and family relation ship. Indeed, communication allows us to relate and understand each other. “It also provides us with a significant frame of reference and relational context that sustain our identities.” (Imberti, 2007)
Many people who go to visit or work in another country suffer some misunderstanding from the local people, because they have a different culture. Different culture will cause disparity points of view about almost everything. In the article, Intercultural Communication Stumbling Blocks by Laray M. Barna, there are five stumbling blocks mentioned that are seen in a cross-culture communication. These blocks are: language, nonverbal signs and symbols, preconceptions and stereotypes, the tendency to evaluate and high anxiety. Barna wants to use these stumbling blocks to show the common blockades between different cultures. I agree with what she thinks about the language, nonverbal signs and symbols, preconceptions and stereotypes, and the tendency
Humans have been communicating since four million years. On the other hand, the birth of culture is estimated to have taken place about 35,000 years ago. Today, both culture and communication have evolved considerably and have become interdependent of one another, to the point that communication is considered to be a product of culture. Thus, our own culture has a deep impact on our thoughts and behaviors. Since each culture has its distinct aspects, intercultural communication can be the cause of conflict and disorder. There are three main issues which are at the root of the problem of intercultural miscommunication : language as a barrier, cultural diversity and ethnocentrism. I will analyze these three notions in situations in which intercultural communication is frequent such as : the workplace, the classroom and vacation trips.
As in all aspects of personal and professional life, having effective communication is a key element of success. Effective communication can benefit your relationships with people. By conveying your message and integrating them as a member of the team and not just a subordinate leads to better production. By effectively communicating you can clearly define job responsibilities and expectations. The better you are able to communicate the less likely organizational turnover of personnel will occur. Supervisors and leaders in the professional workplace find that the most important factor in advancement and retain ability is effective communication. Senior level executives and human resources managers are stressing the importance of communication and providing more training for mid-level management. Emphasis is placed on communication being clear by being transmitted strongly.
Communication is one of the most important factors in our lives. It dictates the relationships formed with the individuals in personal and professional lives. Effective communication provides a foundation for trust and respect to grow. It also helps better understand a person and the context of the conversation. Individuals often believe that their communication skills are much better than what they actually are. Communication appears effortless; however, much of what two people discuss gets misunderstood, thus leading to conflicts and distress. To communicate effectively, one must understand the emotion behind the information being said. Knowing how to communicate effectively can improve relationships one has at home, work and in social affairs. Understanding communication skills such as; listening, non-verbal communication and managing stress can help better the relationships one has with others.