Deck 4: Interpersonal Communication and Diversity: Adapting to Others

Question 1

Lotan lives in a culture in which members value things like caring for the less fortunate,being sensitive toward others,and enhancing the quality of life for everyone.To which type of culture does Lotan most likely belong?

A)feminine
B)low-context
C)short-term time orientation
D)restrained

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Essa is an Australian exchange student who has just completed his first week of studies in Thailand.Essa attributes his smooth experience to the help of a native classmate,Thanh,who spent time after each class explaining local customs and etiquette to Essa.Which process does this demonstrate?

A)miscommunication
B)acculturation
C)enculturation
D)stereotyping

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which culture type relies heavily on nonverbal information to enhance message meanings not explicitly communicated through language?

A)low-context
B)individualistic
C)high-context
D)collectivistic

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Arlie possesses both masculine and feminine characteristics.Which term best classifies Arlie?

A)bisexual
B)asexual
C)anti-sexual
D)androgynous

Question 5

Trina was born in 1962 and lived a secure early childhood.In her teens,Trina's family was uprooted after her father lost his job and her parents divorced.She attributes her current determination toward building a decent savings and balancing her career and personal life to the uncertainty she faced in her early years.Trina's outlook is typical of a person in which generational group?

A)Matures
B)Baby Boomers
C)Generation X
D)Millennials

Question 6

A culture that places a high value on tradition,as well as social and status obligations,is likely to have a __________.

A)short-term orientation to time
B)long-term orientation to time
C)focus on indulgence
D)focus on restraint

Question 7

What is the process of communicating a group's culture from one generation to another called?

A)ethnocentrism
B)cultural context
C)enculturation
D)indoctrination

Question 8

Which component is included in social psychologist,Michael Argyle's five cues to identify social class distinctions?

A)level of education
B)religiosity
C)race
D)level of civic involvement

Question 9

Which term best describes a person's visible physiological attributes?

A)race
B)genotype
C)phenotype
D)sociobiology

Question 10

Racial and ethnic discrimination and conflict call for us to use __________ skills to empathize compassionately with people who are different from us in pursuit of justice and equality.

A)acculturation
B)enculturation
C)ethnocentric
D)other-oriented

Question 11

What culture type emphasizes achievement,assertiveness,heroism,and material wealth?

A)feminine culture
B)masculine culture
C)high-context culture
D)low-context culture

Question 12

What common characteristic do most individualistic cultures share?

A)exhibits strong loyalty to the community
B)values teamwork
C)values personal accomplishment
D)communicates mostly nonverbally

Question 13

Which generational group includes individuals born between 1982 and 2002 who tend to value teamwork,achievement,modesty,and good conduct?

A)Baby Boomers
B)Millennials
C)Generation X
D)Matures

Question 14

The general cultural perspective on such key issues as death,God,and the meaning of life that shapes how you perceive and respond to what happens to you is called a(n)__________.

A)prospectus
B)ethnicity
C)microculture
D)worldview

Question 15

Heterosexuals who have negative perceptions of gays and lesbians are more likely to have __________ views about gender roles.

A)rigid
B)egalitarian
C)neutral
D)ambivalent

Question 16

The culture of which country values an equal,or decentralized,distribution of power?

A)Israel
B)Russia
C)France
D)China

Question 17

Cherise and her neighbors wear designer clothing,drive luxury vehicles,and send their children to private schools.These visible symbols are used to communicate the groups' __________.

A)social class
B)inclusivity
C)generation
D)ethnicity

Question 18

How would a culture that values support from others and expects loyalty from the community probably be classified,according to the seven dimensions of culture?

A)masculine
B)tolerant of uncertainty
C)decentralized
D)collectivistic

Question 19

What is primarily learned from and socially reinforced by others?

A)race
B)age
C)gender
D)sex

Question 20

Lutherans,Baptists,and Methodists all belong to the same broad religious group called Christianity.Which concept does this exemplify?

A)individualism
B)enculturation
C)adaptation
D)co-cultures

Question 21

Scholars suggests that all human beings share common experiences and values,regardless of intercultural differences.According to linguist and scholar Steven Pinker,what is a virtue that seems to be present to some degree across the globe?

A)It is bad to harm others and good to help them.
B)The pursuit of success is most important in life.
C)Animals are sacred and should be treated with respect.
D)It is important to understand that life is unfair.

Question 22

The selection committee is looking over the résumé of Abdul Ishtar,an applicant for the Dean of the College position.His records show he was born and raised in South Yemen,but has lived in the U.S.for the past 25 years.He has chaired the psychology department of a regional university for the past 12 years and his letters of recommendation are excellent.Some committee members express concern about the ability of a man raised in an Islamic culture to treat women fairly and objectively.Their resistance results in his exclusion as a finalist.Which barrier to effective interpersonal communication does this example reflect?

A)ethnocentrism
B)different communication codes
C)stereotyping and prejudice
D)assuming similarity

Question 23

Paras,a Southern Baptist,attended Mass at her boyfriend William's Roman Catholic church.During the service she didn't know when to stand,sit,or kneel;she didn't know the words to most of what the congregation recited aloud from memory;and she decided just to stay in her seat when William went to receive the Eucharist.By remaining at the service despite being confused and uncomfortable,which strategy for developing motivation did Paras seem to employ?

A)Tolerating ambiguity
B)Developing mindfulness
C)Avoiding negative judgments
D)Developing a third culture

Question 24

When Coors implemented its "turn it loose" marketing campaign in Spain,the result was a colloquial term for diarrhea.Which barrier to communication did the marketing team fail to overcome?

A)different communication codes
B)stereotyping and prejudice
C)assuming differences
D)ethnocentrism

Question 25

Which barrier to effective intercultural communication is involved when Maddox,an American exchange student,is confused when his British host mother tells him to put the luggage in the "boot"?

A)ethnocentrism
B)different communication codes
C)stereotyping and prejudice
D)assuming similarity

Question 26

The theory that suggests that all people adapt their behavior to others to some extent is __________.

A)other-orientation
B)uncertainty reduction
C)social decentering
D)communication accommodation

Question 27

A confirmation class from the local Methodist church visited a nearby synagogue to experience worship from a different perspective.The synagogue provided the group with a guide.The guide explained what would happen during the service,showed them where to sit,how to respond at different times during the service,and was available afterwards to answer any questions.The participants here demonstrated their commitment to which strategy for improving intercultural communication?

A)developing knowledge
B)developing motivation
C)developing skill
D)developing critical evaluations

Question 28

Several researchers suggest that one of the best ways to enhance understanding when communicating over a period of time with someone from a different cultural background is to develop __________.

A)a combination language
B)mindfulness
C)a third culture
D)a friendship

Question 29

Alexi is from the Netherlands and has made every attempt to "fit in" with her new American friends.While they may not be consciously aware of it,those friends have also been trying to adapt to Alexi's communication behaviors.This example demonstrates __________.

A)culture shock
B)the communication accommodation theory
C)the evolutionary psychology theory
D)contact theory

Question 30

After receiving a bad grade on his chemistry exam,Liam decided to __________ by improving his studying habits in the hopes of scoring better on the next test.

A)adapt predictively
B)socially decenter
C)adapt contextually
D)adapt reactively

Question 31

Parker believes everything about America is better than anywhere else,and is especially proud of American culture.Parker may be said to be __________.

A)in culture shock
B)from a high-context culture
C)ethnocentric
D)collectivistic

Question 32

Which idea suggests that the more contact you have with someone who is different from you,the more positive regard you will have for that person?

A)accommodation theory
B)contact hypothesis
C)intercultural communication competence theory
D)ethnocentrism

Question 33

Frederique is the leader of a country in which citizens tend to have a low tolerance for uncertainty.Which action should Frederique undertake to make his people feel most secure?

A)make expectations for citizens more relaxed and informal
B)enforce rigid rules and elaborate codes of conduct
C)allow issues to sort themselves out naturally
D)assume a laissez-faire approach to leadership

Question 34

What skill is involved when you take into account the other person's thoughts,feelings,values,background,and overall perspective when communicating?

A)social decentering
B)negative judgments
C)causal attribution
D)enculturation

Question 35

Communication researcher Milton Bennett calls the ultimate other-oriented principle the "Platinum Rule," which states: __________.

A)Do to others as you would have them do to you.
B)Do to others as you assume they themselves would like to be treated.
C)Do to others the best you can do.
D)Do to others what you think will benefit them most.

Question 36

Jamal is visiting Norway as a Rotary exchange student.Shortly after his arrival there,he began to feel confused,anxious,and stressed,causing him to question the wisdom of committing himself to this exchange.Based upon Jamal's reaction,what is he most likely experiencing?

A)culture shock
B)ethnocentrism
C)intercultural communication
D)enculturation

Question 37

What term describes a judgment formed about someone before you know all the facts or background information?

A)caricature
B)discrimination
C)prejudice
D)communication code

Question 38

Haile celebrates Christmas each year,while her husband,Pietro,grew up celebrating Hanukkah.During their first winter season together,the couple observed a common theme between both traditions,gift giving;cooked food that was representative of both traditions;and listened to jazz music rather than traditional holiday music.Which strategy does this best demonstrate for adapting communication?

A)Be mindful.
B)Develop a "third culture."
C)Ask questions and listen effectively.
D)Become other-oriented.

Question 39

Which element of intercultural competence is defined as an internal state of readiness to respond to something?

A)knowledge
B)skill
C)motivation
D)mindfulness

Question 40

Svetlana and Kyla have a close friendship despite the fact that the leader of Svetlana's country has labeled Kyla's country as an enemy.Which suggestion to avoid ethnocentrism does this demonstrate?

A)be mindful
B)avoid stereotypes
C)communicate interpersonally rather than impersonally
D)separate the politics from the person

Question 41

Dr.Higgins has a Japanese foreign exchange student in his class.He understands that typically,foreign students have difficulty writing papers in English.Consequently,he intends to be more lenient when evaluating this student's grammar.Which strategy is Dr.Higgins most likely employing: social decentering,empathy,or predictive adaptation? Justify your answer.

Question 42

What are the main differences between a low-context and a high-context culture?

Question 43

How are stereotyping and prejudice related? Name three ways they are perpetuated.

Question 44

What are the differences between sex and gender?

Question 45

Your friend,Tasha,is about to move to Italy with her family.She fears interacting with people she doesn't know,who speak a language she doesn't speak,and who have different cultural traditions and worldviews.What advice can you give Tasha about understanding and communicating with the new people she will meet?

Question 46

Define co-culture and describe a co-culture currently existing within the United States.

Question 47

How does social class affect communication? Provide an example.

Question 48

Define the contact hypothesis and provide an example to illustrate the hypothesis.

Question 49

In what way might ethnocentrism sometimes be viewed as a positive cultural characteristic?

Question 50

Your text claims that assuming similarity and assuming differences are barriers to effective intercultural communication.How can these two seemingly contradictory barriers both be true?