Immersion Paper Rubric

As you proofread your work compare it to the descriptions provided below:

The A paper will describe your interactions with your subject culture carefully and thoroughly.  It will discuss subtleties of your subject culture’s communication in terms used in the course and text and provide examples of these in every case.  The A paper will include minute details of your culture’s dimensions, Primary Messaging Systems, Chronemics, Proxemics, Language Use, Nonverbal communication, Stereotypes, typical environment, and how this culture has adapted to its current environment if it originated somewhere other than where you experienced it.

It will apply theories covered in the course to these interactions and include language that demonstrates why you think this is so.  These statements will be defended in thoughtful ways that reveal an in depth understanding of course concepts.

If this culture has experienced conflict or culture shock as it became a part of the broader North American culture, address these events and processes in your writing.

The A paper will be about 1250-1750 words, free from grammatical errors, and in APA format.  It will be printed in Times New Roman, size 12 font only.

The B paper will describe your interactions with your subject culture carefully.  It will discuss your subject culture’s communication in terms used in the course and text and provide examples of these in most cases.  The B paper will include details of your culture’s dimensions, Primary Messaging Systems, Chronemics, Proxemics, Language Use, Nonverbal communication, Stereotypes, typical environment, and how this culture has adapted to its current environment if it originated somewhere other than where you experienced it.

It will apply theories covered in the course to these instances and include language that demonstrates why you think this is so.  These statements will be defended in ways that reveal a solid understanding of course concepts.

The B paper will be about 1250-1500 words, free from grammatical errors, and in APA format.  It will be printed in Times New Roman, size 12 font only.

The C paper will describe your interactions with your subject culture.  It will discuss subject culture’s communication in terms used in the course and text and provide some examples.  The C paper will include some but not all details of your culture’s dimensions, Primary Messaging Systems, Chronemics, Proxemics, Language Use, Nonverbal communication, Stereotypes, typical environment, and how this culture has adapted to its current environment if it originated somewhere other than where you experienced it.

It will apply theories covered in the course to these instances and include some effort to explain your reasoning.  These statements will be defended in some way related to course concepts.

The C paper may fall short of 1250 words, there may be grammatical errors, and APA format may not be achieved.  It will be printed in Times New Roman, size 12 font only.

The D paper will include only cursory description of your interactions with your subject culture.  It may discuss these in terms used in the course or in other terms.  The D paper could touch on your subject culture’s Primary Messaging Systems, Chronemics, Proxemics, Language Use, Nonverbal communication, Stereotypes, typical environment, and how this culture has adapted to its current environment if it originated somewhere other than where you experienced it.

It will apply theories covered in the course to these instances and include some effort to explain your reasoning.  These statements probably won't be defended.

The D paper will fall well short of the assigned length, there will likely be considerable problems with a thesis, sentence structure, grammar, and little effort toward APA formatting.

(Bear in mind you have one source to cite in APA, your text.)

Let's not talk about the model for an F paper

Immersion Project

Students will conduct a research project which includes an immersion into a culture other than their own.  This will very likely involve some travel on your part and at your own risk.  Find a neighborhood, family, religious group, social club, or other association that is populated by a cultural group other than your own.  Once you are immersed in this new locale or group start observing.

What do you see, hear, smell, or taste that is different from your own culture and co-culture?  How are the values, beliefs, and worldview of this group different from your own?  How do you notice these concepts?

How do people in this cultural group communicate?  How are time and space defined?  Do they communicate in a high context way, with fewer words and less text?  What religion do they practice, if any, and how do they exemplify this to others?   How are Hall's Primary Messaging Systems present?  Note these carefully.

During your visit, photograph some of the places, buildings, foods, merchandise, or people you encounter (with their permission).  Once you have taken plenty of notes, both mental and otherwise, write up your experiences in a six to eight page paper (page count does NOT include title, abstract, or reference pages).  When you refer to one of your texts for a definition or concept cite it in proper APA format.  Include these citations in the body of your text and also in a references page.

As this project represents a significant portion of your course grade, DO NOT wait until the last week of the semester to begin your work.  Your encounter with another group or place will require some time to coordinate.

In addition to preparing and submitting their paper, students will be asked to present their findings and discuss their immersive experience with their peers a class  period.  Wise students will be well prepared for this important aspect of the project.

Just a matter of time... Chronemics

Time talks.  The use of time to communicate is called Chronemics.  This understanding varies between different cultural groups.  Broadly, two concepts determine a culture's use of time, Monochronic, one time; or Polychronic, multiple times.

Monochronic cultures understand time to be linear, ongoing, and universal.  It can be compartmentalized, segmented, and is easily measured.

Polychronic cultures stress that the involvement of people and the completion of work is as important as the rigid adherence to schedules.  Time is not necessarily measurable.


In class, we demonstrated that our perception of P-Time as being inefficient can be incorrect.  It's just that the focus is on human connection and interaction and not the clock.


 

STEREOTYPE CONTENT MODEL

Stereo Content Models proposes that all stereotypes are based on social perceptions of warmth and competence.  Judgments of out-group members concern two things: Do they intend to harm me?  Are they capable of harming me?

These answers stem from appraisals of warmth, meaning social perceptions of honesty, trustworthiness, friendliness, sincerity, etc.; OR appraisals of competence, like skillfulness, knowledge, intelligence, confidence, etc.

When we stereotype, competitors lack warmth, while noncompetitors are warm.  When we stereotype, high-status people seem competent while low-status people seem incompetent or incapable of harming us.

These assessments determine, often how we might feel about others.

Low-competence/low warmth others      Receive our contempt (out-groups)

Low-competence/high warmth others      Receive our pity (paternalism)

High-competence/low warmth others      Receive our admiration (envy)

High-competence/high warmth others      Receive our pride (in-group status)

Out Group Homogeneity Effect = the tendency to see members of an out-group as highly similar while seeing members of our own group as unique and individual.

Illusory Correlation Principle = When two objects or people are noted to be linked in some way, others have a tendency to believe they are always linked.


ETHNOCENTRISM

The belief that your ethnic group is somehow superior to other groups.

Ethnocentric Attribution Bias: The tendency to make internal attributions for the positive behavior of the in-group while making external attributions for its negative behavior.  The ULTIMATE attribution error.

Goffman's Frame Theory

Micro Cultural Context

LGBTQ Microculture


  Distinguished by their sexual orientation.  Controversy over whether their orientation is voluntary or not.  They tend to live in certain metropolitan areas.

Difficult to designate otherwise.

No distinctive communication styles.  Researchers considering in-speak traits and vocabulary choices.

LGBTQ people are aware of unfair treatment under the law, i.e. marriage rights.

Arab-Americans

After the WTC attacks of 9-11-01 even though they weren't a part of it..  Many were harassed and some killed due to backlash.  3.6 million Americans can trace their heritage back to an Arab country.  Census bureau classifies them as white and they are found in all states.

They are very diverse, not all are Muslim.  A majority descend from Christian groups.

Native Americans

Over 5 million people, under 2% of the USA is Native.  Two largest are Cherokee and Navajo. They live mostly in Alaska Oklahoma, and New Mexico.  Poverty rate is 26%.

they have a high context culture and a high power distance. Silence is highly valued in this culture and can be an answer on its own.

They are highly collectivist and believe that WE is more important than ME.
they prize equality and wouldn't interupt or even make direct eye contact.

Traditions are very important.

Stereotypes apply strongly to understandings of Native Americans.  These come from textbooks, our families, and movies.

Each tribe has its own criteria for membership.  One is blood purity.  Someone must be 1/32 pure blood to be considered a member.

Asian Americans

Stereotypes... the are seen as the competent by cold minority.

Values include high-context communication, collectivism, caring for elders, and being humble.  They avoid confrontation and prefer indirect communication.

They are 6% of the USA, more than 60% are college educated.

Even in the classroom they prefer high context, indirect communication.

Emotionally they prefer not to show extremes of emotions.

Black Americans

These Americans sometimes use Ebonics, referring to complex speech patterns used by many.  It has evolved from times of slavery.  The language omits the last consonant of many words.

Stereotypes abound for Black Americans, especially from film and media images.

Hispanic Americans

Hispanic is a reference to people of any Spanish speaking country other than Spain.  They value harmony, religion, and family.

Men are aggressive or dominant.

Communication styles include a high power distance

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.

Interactive Map on the Dimensions of Culture

http://www.clearlycultural.com/geert-hofstede-cultural-dimensions/individualism/

Follow this link and see what you find.

Intercultural Communication

Start Here!