Hall's Primary Messaging Systems

Hall argues that cultures communicate to themselves and others using primary messaging systems.  Each of these systems, according to Hall, must be:

A: Rooted in biological activity.

B: Able to be isolated from all other PMS's

C: Relate to all other PMS's in an integral way.

Here it is important to remember that humans are animals and exist in our environments in much the same way as animals do.

PMS

Exploitation:  Refers to the adaptation of organisms to take advantage of available resources in the surrounding environment.

* it affords survival through the manipulation of the environment.

Exploitation relates to other systems, Interaction and Association, by sharing knowledge with others.   Scarcity of resources might insist that one group interact with another.  Exploitation brings jobs or responsibilities within a community developing new cycles.  It relates immediately to territory and gender roles as certain tasks could be exclusive to one gender.

Defense:  Refers of nature's attempt by the organism or body to preserve its life through means available to it by its environment.

Plays a role in the need to survive all obstacles or threats.

It relates to other PMS's Interaction, to work with others safely. Associations can bring war or conflict. Subsistence relates to defense as we defend our mates and young. Bisexuality comes into play as we defend our partners or young.  Territoriality in defense is obvious.  Temporality effects Defense as we defend ourselves differently at different times. Learning and Play are impacted by defense if we consider learning to use weapons and playing war games.

Play:  Play is a system by which people socialize and build strategies.

Play is isolated from PMS's as it is the only one where people entertainment themselves.

It relates other PMS's, Defense through the play of war games. Play relates to Learning as we learn our neighborhood.  It relates to Interaction as we build relationship through games or sports.

Learning:  is a system through which we adapt to and acquire knowledge about the environment around us.
Learning is different from other PMS's as it is resistant to change.

Learning relates to ALL other PMS's as we learn our culture.

Temporality:  is the the way all aspects of culture relate to time, including past present and future.

Temporality is isolated from PMS's as it is the measure of periods and is always occurring.

Interaction relates to temporality as we dedicate time to social needs.  It relates to association as it represents the occurrence of patterns over time.  Time tells us when to eat what.  Temporality determines adulthood and the use of time. Territoriality relates to time as the length of time one has occupied a space legitimates a claim to ownership.

Territoriality:  describes what you proclaim as your possessions; how you use them and hang onto them.

Territoriality relates to defense as you preserve your space.   Spaces within the home are reserved for one gender and not the other.  Perhaps kitchens or cooking spaces were at one time exclusively "women" spaces.  Alternatively, garages or outdoor workspaces were reserved for men.  for instance, a nursing school would be run and be the domain of women.

Territory relates to Learning as we adapt to the spaces we create.  We learn that certain spaces are reserved for certain purposes.  In the documentary, Europeans needed to learn which lands belonged to certain tribes.

Gender Roles:  are a set of cultural and societal norms that dictate norms, behaviors, attitudes, and activities that are then considered appropriate for members of that group.

In terms of learning, many believe that males are better at certain subjects, i. e. math or science.  In the past many were pushed toward gender specific education,  wood shop or home economics.  It relates to territory, as there are specific masculine spaces or feminine spaces such as, the kitchen, or a garages. 

In nature there are designated nesting spaces that may be the female's territory.

Gender relates to Interaction as women are more descriptive and often softer-spoken.

It relates to Association as there are clubs and organizations reserved for one gender and not the other, sexes behave differently in social settings. 

In the film, women played only domestic roles in the groups depicted.  All major decisions were made by men.  Men were dominant and territorial in their dealing with others.

Subsistence: is the use of minimal resources that are essential for survival including everything from individual food habits to working and making a living.

Subsistence relates to Interaction because regardless of culture you still need to interact to meet your needs. It relates to Association as social class is defined by the job you hold and its place in society.  it relates to Territoriality as people need the land to harvest or hunt to subsist.  Your ability, or use of Defense may determine your ability to survive or subsist.

In the film natives and Europeans cooperated to hunt and harvest and use animal products to survive winters.  natives taught others subsistence techniques.


Association is when two or more beings come together and have their own roles that when put together build a society.

In individual has a role and must Interact with other members.  In a business, each person has a role to play and when they associate effectively, the company is functional.   Language will influence association by "how" members communicate with each and other with whom they communicate.

Association relates to Territory as we must communicate with those we visit or border or with whom we negotiate. 

In the film leaders initiated conversation as it was their role.  Only later did women or followers interact or associate with others.  When Massasoit died, his son Metacom took over is position as leader. 

Interaction: is the behavior and actions of living organisms and their environment. 

Interaction is the way  organisms communicate in order to fulfill their needs. 

Interaction is a foundation to the other Primary Message Systems as all of them must be carried out by Interaction.  For example in Association we Interact with others as a function of living in groups.  For Bisexuality, the way genders interact is determined.  For Temporality and Territoriality all functions take place in a certain time and place.   Learning and Play demand that creatures Interact with each other.    Show strength to defend themselves and their families against a threat.

Microcultural Context

Micro cultures are subsets of broader cultures. 

Microcultures MUST possess or some physical or cultural state that distinguishes them from others.  Groups are distinguished by race, religious practice, ethnicity,  language, etc. 

A second characteristic is that membership in a microcultural group is usually not voluntary.  You do not choose your race, gender, or ethnicity.  Usually, although it is possible, we do not choose our religion. 

Usually members of a microculture marry within their group.  This practice is called endogamy. 

Members of microcultures know their subordinate status to the broader culture.  they are aware that they are apart from the dominant cultural group.  Because they are less powerful, some groups become cohesive.  Often they prefer to remain in the same neighborhoods and socialize among themselves. 

Often, members of microcultures are subject to discrimination or unequal treatment from the dominant group.

Dimensions of Culture, Part One

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyrYJAOdMkE


The Cultural Context is the most defining influencer of human communication.  EVERYTHING takes place within this context.  In fact ALL communication is culture and ALL culture is communication.

While you are "born" into a culture, none of it is innate.  You LEARN your culture from your first day until your last.  It will teach you how to think, feel, act, and interact.

All culture is communication.  All communication is culture.
How is this so?  What do the above sentences mean when applied to various cultural elements?

Individualism versus Collectivism

Whether a cultural group is Individualist or Collectivist depends on the ways most within that group would determine their Self-Perception, whether they see themselves as a distinct individual or as a part of a group.   How you relate to others is also key.  What kinds of goals to members of these cultures have?    What is their motivation?

Individualism is a "Cultural orientation is which the individual is unique and individual goals are emphasized over group goals.

Collectivism is a "Cultural orientation in where the group is the primary unit of culture.  Group goals take precedence over individual goals.

As we saw in class, Americans are, by-and-large, highly individualist in their thinking.  But it may interest you to know that we are more collectivist that many countries including France, Tanzania, Costa Rica.

Context, High and Low

Context refers to the culture, micro-culture, and environment in which a communication effort takes place.  It includes the Culture, Physical Location, Socio-relationship between the participants, and the Perceptions of each of them.

Cultural groups differ in the degree to which they rely on context to make meaning.  There is a mix of Text (explicit language) and Context that makes up the messages.

Values, Value Orientations

What a culture values can differ greatly between groups.  According to Schwartz, "Values are concepts that pertain to outcomes and behaviors, guide the selection and evaluation of behaviors, and are ranked according to their relative importance to the individual."

Basic Human Values (across many, if not all, cultures)

Self Direction  (Independence)

Stimulation (maintenance of interest)

Hedonism (pleasure)

Achievement (success)

Power (control)

Security (assurances)

Conformity ( inclusion in broader groups, family, community)

Tradition (consistency of experiences)

Benevolence (helping others)

Universalism (concern for all)

Value Orientations

Values can be focused on the SELF.  This is often so in Western, individualistic cultures.  The single person can be subject to powerful emotions based on whether or she or he is successful  Failure, in these cultures is shunned.  When it occurs, "blame" is placed on one person.  Or, achievement is attributed to one person who savors in that feeling.   Collectivist cultures share the burden of these strong emotions, making them, as some would say, easier to bear.

Further, Orientation can be centered on the family, society, nature, or the supernatural.

Power Distance
Power Distance  refers to the extent to which members of a culture expect and accept that power in society is unevenly distributed.  In cultures with a small power distance inequalities are minimized and there should be interdependence between less powerful and more powerful people.  Family decisions are made collectively and with all parties considered.  Here, power is "earned" at times.  Individuals gain the power they deserve through hard work and talents.

In cultures with a larger Power Distance, large variations in influence are expected and accepted.  Younger people are expected to be obedient and respectful of older people.  Positions provide authority, too.  Larger countries often have a greater degree of power distance.  Perhaps this is a management issue.


Uncertainty Avoidance
Cultures are Oriented toward Certainty or Uncertainty.  This term refers to the degree to which the members of a group feel threatened by unpredictable, uncertain, or unknown situations.  Although an amount of uncertainty is always present, a culture's religion, laws, and use of technology can give researchers an idea of this value.

Generally Eastern cultures have a preference for certainty, while Western cultures are uncertainty oriented.  Highly individualistic cultures tolerate uncertainty better than others.  Certainty-oriented cultures tend to be more group-oriented as the group provides an understanding for expectations and norms.

Uncertainty Orientation
                                         Uncertain Situation -------> Active Engagement

                                <

                                          Certain Situation ---------> Passive Disengagement




Certainty Orientation

                                            Uncertain  Situation -------------------> Passive Disengagement

                                     <
                                           
                                               Certain Situation ------------------------> Active Engagement

Why Communicate?  To meet your needs.

Communication, roughly, is a dynamic process though which we create shared understanding.  It is the way we make group action possible.

We as animals have needs.... physical, relational, identity, and spiritual needs as well as instrumental needs that must be met every day.  You should be able to define these from your >>text.

Humans communicate in a variety of ways.  Your text describes three of them as Action, Interaction, and Transaction.  They work as follows:

Action is a one way model

Sender (encodes)  @ (message) ------------------ (channel)-------> Receiver (decodes)
remember the Cavemen we talked about in class

Interaction is two way communication... the second Caveman talks back

@ --------------------------->
<------------------------------@

Transaction is where both parties are communicating simultaneously.  This is used most frequently in Interpersonal Communication

Sender/Receiver <------------------------@---------------------------> Receiver/Sender

both encode and decode a variety of messages over many channels at once.

Six Characteristics of Communication

Communication relies on many channels... some contexts are channel-rich, others are lean.

Communication passes through perceptual filters... filters are pre-existing conditions that might change what a new message means to you

People give meaning to Communication...  symbols change in meaning based on the audience

Communication has both literal and relational implications...  content has meaning(s) but may also signal changes in the understanding of your relationship with another
(Metacommunication)

Communication sends a message, whether intentional of unintentional...  you try to stay awake in class, even though you eyes might give your tiredness away.

Communication is governed by rules... explicit or tacit they still count and you kind of have to go along.


Interpersonal Communication has even MORE qualities!

It occurs between at least two people.

Those people have some relationship with one another

Communication evolves as the relationship evolves.  Often it is a catalyst for the evolution.

Communication defines and negotiates the status of the relationship itself. (kind of important, no?)

Good Communicators are

effective at meeting the goal of their communication efforts

appropriate to the context, relationship, and nature of the communication effort

self aware.  They monitor their status and surroundings and become other-oriented in their communication

adaptable to a variety of communication settings, styles, and relationships.

empathetic.  They take on the feelings others have about an issue to understand it better.

capable of understanding a topic from a variety of positions.  Your text calls this cognitive complexity.

ethical.