Intercultural Communication

Cultural adaptation is the long-term process of adjusting to and finally feeling comfortable in a new environment (Kim, 2001, 2005). How one adapts depends to some extent on the host environment—whether it is welcoming or hostile. There are three communication approaches to studying cultural adaptation, and they vary in the degree to which they emphasize individual or contextual/environmental influences in the adaptation process. A dialectical perspective incorporates both the individual and the contextual. The social science approach emphasizes the role of personal characteristics of the migrant; the interpretive focuses on the experience of the migrant in the adaptation context; and the critical explores the role of larger contexts that influence cultural adaptation: social institutions and history, politics, and economic structures. Social Science Approach The social science approach focuses on the individual in the adaptation process, individual characteristics and background of th...

People have always traveled from their homelands, but with the increasing technological ease of travel, people are moving much more than ever before. Sojourners, business travelers, tourists, immigrants, and refugees have very different reasons for traveling. These people are waiting for international arrivals at the Atlanta airport. How might reasons for traveling shape intercultural experiences? (Mark Spowart/Alamy Stock Photo) People leave their countries for many reasons, including wars and famine (Iraq, South Sudan, and Syria). In addition, millions of global nomads are roaming around the world as transnational corporate or government employees, guest workers, refugees, tourists, or study-abroad students, like Bakari (see Figure 8-1). And there are also millions of internal migrations—where people move from one place to another within national boundaries—often for the same reasons: for better economic opportunities or because of war or famine. Perhaps you can look at your own fami...

 There are many different types of conflict, and we may manage these types in different ways. Communication scholar Mark Cole (1996) conducted interviews with Japanese students about their views on conflict and found most of the same general categories as those identified in the United States. These categories include the following: ▪▪Affective conflict occurs when individuals become aware that their feelings and emotions are incompatible. For example, suppose someone finds that his or her romantic love for a close friend is not reciprocated. The disagreement over their different levels of affection causes conflict. ▪▪A conflict of interest describes a situation in which people have incompatible preferences for a course of action or plan to pursue. For example, one student described an ongoing conflict with an ex-girlfriend: “The conflicts always seem to be a jealousy issue or a controlling issue, where even though we are not going out anymore, both of us still try to control the o...

The need to understand intercultural conflict seems more important now than ever. One thing we can be sure of is that conflict is inevitable. Conflicts are happening all around the world, as they always have, and at many different levels: interpersonal, social, national, and international. For example, at the interpersonal level, friends or romantic partners may disagree about their relationship between themselves or with friends and family. Interpersonal conflicts can be intergenerational. You may disagree with your parents about where to attend college, or what you spend your money on, or where to live in the summer. These conflicts can have varying outcomes. Intergenerational conflicts can occur in the workplace. For example, experts say that Baby Boomers, Generation Y, and Millennials have different characteristics and sets of work-life values that can clash. While Boomers tend to be work-obsessed, Millennials are demanding flexible schedules that allow them to pursue an active lif...