Intercultural Class Notes

Chapter 8: Culture, Communication, and Conflict

I. Introduction to Intercultural Conflict

a. It is unavoidable

b. It is happening all around the world

i. Mediated communication (t.v., film, etc.)

II. Characteristics of Intercultural Conflict

a. Conflict is usually defined as a perceived or real incompatibility of goals, values, expectations, processes, or outcomes between two or more interdependent individuals or groups

b. Intercultural conflicts are characterized differently—

i. Ambiguity or confusion

1.

2.

ii. Language skills

1. When people don’t know the other person’s language,

2. Remaining silent

3. Contradictory conflict styles

III. Conflict Types, Strategies, and Contexts

a. Types of Conflicts

i. Affective Conflict—

ii. Conflict of Interest—

iii. Value Conflict—

iv. Cognitive Conflict—

v. Goal Conflict—

b. Importance of Context: How we choose to manage conflict may depend on the particular situation

i. Conflict context

ii. societal context

IV. Cultural Influences on Conflict Management: Our cultural background and how we were raised determines in large part how we deal with conflict

a. Family Influences

i. Default style

ii.

b. Approaches to Conflict

i. Direct/indirect approach—

1. Direct—

2. Indirect—

a. Pacifism—

ii. Emotional expressiveness/Restraint Conflict Style

1. Emotionally expressive—

2. Restraint—

c. Intercultural Conflict Styles

i. Discussion Style—

ii. Engagement Style—

iii. Accommodating Style—

iv. Groups influenced by Eastern religion—

v. Nonviolence—

vi. Dynamic Style—

d. Gender, Ethnicity, and Conflict

i. Men and Women in the US have different communication styles, which sometimes leads to conflict and how they handle it

1. Women

2. Men

ii. Men’s storytelling

iii. Women’s discussion processes

e. Ethnic background affects the way people deal with conflict

i. People of different ethnic backgrounds

1. African-American style

2. Whites

3. Mexican-American males

4. In general, males and females

f. Religion and Conflict

i. Religions are often a source of very strong views that can lead to conflict

1. Conflict may occur

2. conflict may occur

3. not all religious conflict is nonviolent

ii. There is a history and living legacy to religious conflict in our world

g. Value Differences and Conflict Styles

i. Value differences in Individualist / Collectivist cultures

1. Individualistic societies

2. Collectivist societies

ii. These contrasting values may influence communication patterns during conflict

1. Individualists shared characteristics

a. Tend to be more

b. More

c. Use

2. Collectivists shared characteristics

a. More concerned with preserving

b. Use a less

c. May use

V. Managing Intercultural Conflict

a. Productive vs. Destructive

i. Productive characteristics—

1. Individuals carefully narrow

2. Individuals limit their conflict

3. they trust leaders

ii. Destructive characteristics—

1. Individuals make

2. escalate the issues and

3. escalate the conflict from

4. try to seize the power using

5. people polarize