Definition:
An individual's learning and adopting the norms and values of the new host culture.
Four possible modes of acculturation:
Assimilation:
Definition:
Members of an ethnic group are absorbed into the dominant culture, losing their culture in the process.
Integration:
Definition:
desiring a high level of interaction with the host culture while maintaining identity with their native culture.
Separation:
Definition:
individuals prefer low levels of interaction with the host culture and associated microcultural groups while desiring a close connection with, and reaffirmation of, their native culture.
Special case:
If such separation is initiated and enforced by the dominant society, this is called segregation.
Marginalization:
Definition:
the individual chooses not to identify with his or her native culture or with the host culture.
Three factors to explain the acculturation process:
the role of the communication
the role of the host environment
the role of predisposition
Culture shock:
Definition:
The traumatic experience that an individual may encounter when entering a different society.
Symptoms:
psychological(insomnia and frustration)
Intercultural adaptation:
Definition:
The process of increasing our level of fitness to meet the demands of a new cultural environment.
Reverse culture shock:
Definition:
When people return home after an extended stay in a foreign culture, they experience another round of culture shock in their native culture
Intercultural communication competence:
Definition:
The ability to accomplish effective and appropriate intercultural communication between communicators of different cultures.
Several dimensions to analyze:
the psychomotor dimension
the situational features dimension
Skills to be a successful intercultural communicator:
work to emphasize areas of similarity with others
try to accept differing opinions
make your verbal messages consistent with your nonverbal messages
avoid dominating conversations
avoid being submissive in conversations