Interpersonal Communication
There are many ways that my culture influences my self-concept. First let’s take a look at the
many kinds of cultures there are. Culture is defined as the relatively specialized lifestyle of a
group of people that is passed on from one generation to the next through communication, not
through genes. Culture is transmitted from one generation to another through enculturation, the
process by which you learn the culture into which you’re born (your native culture). Parents,
peer groups, schools, religious institutions, and government agencies are the main teachers of
culture. Through enculturation you develop an ethnic identity, a commitment to the beliefs and
philosophy of your culture that, not surprisingly, can act as a protective shield against
discrimination. A different process of learning culture is acculturation, the process by which you
learn the rules and norms of a culture different from your native culture. In acculturation your
original or native culture is modified through direct contact with or exposure to a new and
different culture. Cultures, of course, differ in a wide variety of ways; and for purposes of
communication, the difference that probably comes to mind first is that of languages. Certainly,
cultures do differ in language spoken and understood. Masculine cultures emphasize success and
socialize their people to be assertive, ambitious and competitive. Members of masculine cultures
are thus more likely to confront conflicts directly and to competitively fight out any differences;
they are more likely to emphasize win or lose strategies. Feminine cultures emphasize the quality
of life and socialize their people to be modest and to emphasize close interpersonal relationships.
Members of feminine cultures are thus more likely to emphasize compromise and negotiation in
resolving conflicts; they are more likely to seek win – win solutions. Members of cultures with
high
many kinds of cultures there are. Culture is defined as the relatively specialized lifestyle of a
group of people that is passed on from one generation to the next through communication, not
through genes. Culture is transmitted from one generation to another through enculturation, the
process by which you learn the culture into which you’re born (your native culture). Parents,
peer groups, schools, religious institutions, and government agencies are the main teachers of
culture. Through enculturation you develop an ethnic identity, a commitment to the beliefs and
philosophy of your culture that, not surprisingly, can act as a protective shield against
discrimination. A different process of learning culture is acculturation, the process by which you
learn the rules and norms of a culture different from your native culture. In acculturation your
original or native culture is modified through direct contact with or exposure to a new and
different culture. Cultures, of course, differ in a wide variety of ways; and for purposes of
communication, the difference that probably comes to mind first is that of languages. Certainly,
cultures do differ in language spoken and understood. Masculine cultures emphasize success and
socialize their people to be assertive, ambitious and competitive. Members of masculine cultures
are thus more likely to confront conflicts directly and to competitively fight out any differences;
they are more likely to emphasize win or lose strategies. Feminine cultures emphasize the quality
of life and socialize their people to be modest and to emphasize close interpersonal relationships.
Members of feminine cultures are thus more likely to emphasize compromise and negotiation in
resolving conflicts; they are more likely to seek win – win solutions. Members of cultures with
high