Culture and Conflict

Kelly Cyko
Communication Conflict COM241
Spring Semester 2014

Culture & Conflict

During communication you will come across
people who communicate differently, due to their
culture. Our environments shape the way we think, live
and speak. This handout will help you become more
knowledgeable about the social norms of communication
in America. As well as what is normal communication in
the Asian culture.

American Culture
Low context Culture:
Rules orientated, people play by external rules
Knowledge is codified, public external and
accessible
Sequencing, separation of time, space and
activities
More interpersonal connections of shorter
duration
Individualistic:
Emphasize personal achievements regardless of
expense of groups goals
Strong competition
Individual rights are seen as most important
Rely on themselves
Autonomy and self-expression are regarded more highly
within the American culture. Generally the American
culture is also considered ethnocentric.
Asian Culture
High-context culture:
Less verbally explicit
More internalized understandings of whats
being communication

Strong boundaries who is accepted as belonging

verses outsider

Feel shame when problems are pointed at them

directly.
Ways conflict is typically dealt with in Asian
Cultures:

Saving face, emotionally invested, can be lost,

maintained, or enhanced, constantly attended to
your status.
Self-Expression is frowned upon if it does not
improve needs of the group
Discrepancies around and between what is
meant and what is actually said
Avoidance or accommodation
Inferred meaning
Generally High Individualist Culture (America)
Low collective normative expectations
Individual-orientated
Violations of individual expectations create
conflict potentials
Direct, confrontational attitude
Action- and solution-orientated
Explicit communication codes
Open, direct strategies
Mostly collectivistic culture (Asia)
Emphasize family and work. They set group
goals and put others in front of themselves
Rights of family families and communities
surpass those of individuals
Cooperation with others is normal
Integration of collective expectations create
conflict potentials

High Collective normative expectations

Concealment

Indirect, non-confrontational attitude