Intercultural Adaptaion
Intercultural Adaptation
Introduction
Many of us have travel or lived abroad always wondering which will be the correct way of behavior or the proper manners to successfully communicate with others. We wonder if it’s better to bow or to give a hand shake, to give a kiss or a hug. This and many other questions are presented upon us because each and every country has a different cultural background. This paper will explore into the intricate process in which people may or may not successfully adapt when performing in and cross-cultural environment. We will specifically look at the Intercultural Adaptation Model (IAM).
I.A.M.
Let’s first explore the main concept of cross-cultural interaction. First, intercultural adaption is understood as a process in which a person changes or adjusts his/her normal or habitual way and manner of communication in order to successfully communicate with other in a cross-cultural encounter. Cross-cultural encounters is define as interaction between two or more person who posses significantly different communication behavior due to different cultural background. This does not necessary implicates that they are from different countries, but have different set of norms, values and beliefs instead. The Intercultural Adaptation Model (IAM) focuses on the first interaction between individuals. Specifically the first speech and subsequent response that occur during initial cross-cultural interaction. The Intercultural Adaptation Model (IAM) states that the rate of success of the current cross-cultural interaction is influence by previous positive and negative experiences. Therefore, experience with interaction of cross-cultural communication is key element of succeeding success. The more differences between two cross-cultural individual the higher the chances of intercultural adaptation and positive communication normally lead to positive adaptation while negative ones impel to ineffective or withdrawal of interaction. For
Introduction
Many of us have travel or lived abroad always wondering which will be the correct way of behavior or the proper manners to successfully communicate with others. We wonder if it’s better to bow or to give a hand shake, to give a kiss or a hug. This and many other questions are presented upon us because each and every country has a different cultural background. This paper will explore into the intricate process in which people may or may not successfully adapt when performing in and cross-cultural environment. We will specifically look at the Intercultural Adaptation Model (IAM).
I.A.M.
Let’s first explore the main concept of cross-cultural interaction. First, intercultural adaption is understood as a process in which a person changes or adjusts his/her normal or habitual way and manner of communication in order to successfully communicate with other in a cross-cultural encounter. Cross-cultural encounters is define as interaction between two or more person who posses significantly different communication behavior due to different cultural background. This does not necessary implicates that they are from different countries, but have different set of norms, values and beliefs instead. The Intercultural Adaptation Model (IAM) focuses on the first interaction between individuals. Specifically the first speech and subsequent response that occur during initial cross-cultural interaction. The Intercultural Adaptation Model (IAM) states that the rate of success of the current cross-cultural interaction is influence by previous positive and negative experiences. Therefore, experience with interaction of cross-cultural communication is key element of succeeding success. The more differences between two cross-cultural individual the higher the chances of intercultural adaptation and positive communication normally lead to positive adaptation while negative ones impel to ineffective or withdrawal of interaction. For
Cited: Website Cai, Deborah A. ; Rodriguez, Jose I. “Adjusting to Cultural Differences: The Intercultural Adaptation Model” 1997. Univ. of Maryland, California State Univ. www.trinity.edu/org/ics/ICS%20Issues/ICS%20VI/ICS-VI-2-%20Cai.pdf