Culture Theory: Cultural Relativism/Social Penetration Theory

(Devito) Cultural relativism holds that all cultures are different but that no culture is either superior or inferior to any other.

Not all cultural practices are equal, but there is no level of inferiority or superiority either.
You can see cultural material infused into contemporary textbooks. Naturally, you may find some cultural practices to be very unethical. According to John Dewey "Although it is hard for us in the modern world to imagine, a primitive culture might value genocide, treachery, deception, even torture. While we may not like these traits, a true follower of cultural relativism could not say these are wrong since they are merely the product of cultural adaptation."

Another Source

Click Here to visit AnthroNotes. This site explores subjects such as cultural relativism and universal human rights. From this site you can things such as:

• One cannot reject any form of culturally acceptable homicide on moral grounds because cultural acceptance or condemnation are equally valid.

• We cannot make judgments about 'right' and 'wrong' in comparing one culture to another

 

Social Penetration Theory 

According to DeVito...

Social Penetration Theory is a theory of what happens when the relationship does develop,

 it describes in terms of the number of topics that people talk about and their degree of " personalness"

the Breadth of a relationship has to do with the number of topics you and your partner talk about . the Depth of the relationship invovles the degree to which you penetratethe inner personality- the core- of the other inidivual. when relationship begins to deteriorate, the breadth and depth will, in many ways, reverse themselves, in a process called depenetration. 

Extra Information:

This is a website from the University of Kentucky which break down the realms of the Social Penetration Theory.

 

http://www.uky.edu/~drlane/capstone/interpersonal/socpen.html

President Elect: My Crazy Story: Communication Apprehension

Feeling nervous about your next presentation in class? You may have communication apprehension.


McCroskey defines communication apprehension as “an individual's level of fear or anxiety associated with real or anticipated communication with another person or persons.”

Crazy Story!

I was in the 6th or 7th grade at the time. Student council elections were coming up and instead of aiming low, I shot for the stars. I made bookmarks with witty slogans and reminded people to "Vote for me and you will see just how fun learning can be." I was ecstatic, Jameliah J. Salter, student council president. After nearly weeks of campaigning, the moment of truth came, giving a speech in front of the entire school. I was ready, or so I thought. As soon as I walked up to that podium, I left my body. When I spoke, I didn't know what I was saying. I was so nervous that I shook and stuttered. Relief only came after I was done with that tragedy of a speech. My confidence was down the drain, and I poured my eyes out in the bathroom because my nerves were so bad. It was even worse when I found out that I had lost by a few votes, the bathroom and I bonded that day. 

What happened?

• I was so scared to talk in front of so many people that my nerves got the best of me.
• Clearly, my interpersonal skills were limited to a small group.

Want More?

• The following article defines communication apprehension (speech anxiety). It covers a number of ways to overcome the very natural human condition such as breathing, relaxing, and remember to not lock those knees! READ ME!

Dealing with Communication Anxiety And Public Speaking. (2002). How to Overcome    

     Speech Anxiety. Retrieved from http://www.roch.edu/dept/spchcom/anxiety_handout.htm 

• This article actually explains the various types of communication apprehension and how it can be looked at as a trait, can be associated with a certain category of people, is only evident in ceratin setting (i.e. large crowds!), or as a state where everyone experiences it at certain levels where anxiety is temporary. READ ME!

Communication Over the Life-span: Communication Apprehension. Retrieved from 

        http://www.as.wvu.edu/~bpatters/lsc3.htm 

Communication Apprehension: Ebony's Story

When I was in my Junior year of high school, I worked at a non profit called Dreams for Kids. There was a leadership convention coming up at Northwestern University, and our organization was asked to speak. In the beginning I was not chosen to speak because all the spaces were full; however at the last minute they told me I was going to be a replacement for one of the girls. It was only 2weeks until the big event and I had a whole speech to learn. I was so nervous.

     All the speakers and myself would get together and practice in front of a mirror with our director; even in front of co-workers. My voice would shake and palms would sweat. It felt like as soon as it was my turn, someone turned up the heater. Eventually, it came down to crunch time. Our director took me to the side and talked to me explain that nobody is perfect and everyone gets Communication Apprehension. He suggested that I just practice as much as possible, take a deep breath every time and stay confident. Thus with this advice I went on to improve and on the day of show time I was ready!

To learn more about communication apprehension Click Here!    N.A (n.d.). Communication Apprehension. Cornell.edu. Retrieved March 20, 2012, from http://www.cns.cornell.edu/documents/CAPESBerggren3-2-05.pdf
This article defines and breaks down the causes of Communication Apprehension. It goes through outlooks, widespread, and how to deal with anxiety. It tells various ways to go about giving and preparing for a speech. This website even looks into pyshcological factors that may play and role and can help and one's understanding.

Here's another resource: McCroskey, J. C. (2009). Communication Apprehension: What Have We Learned in the Last Four Decades. Human Communication. A Publication of the Pacific and Asian Communication Association, 12(2), 157-171. Retrieved March 20, 2012, from http://http//web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=08fa10e0-441d-4a85-a030-ee992d33bc3e%40sessionmgr11&vid=8&hid=18

This article is from Pennsylvania State University and the author that wrote it is a professor of communication. In this article they discuss Communication Apprehension and look at how it has been one of the most researched things since the 1960's. He looks into the traits of Communication Apprehension and how that plays a role in the condition. The author goes into how these traits can be developed and looks into the past history of these traits to see what we can learn from them.

Intercultural Do's

5 Intercultural Do's

1. Be patient
2. Ask Questions
3. Be respectful
4. Be positive
5. Establish rules

5 Cross Cultural Fun Facts

1. In Russia, if you are invited to a Russian home for a meal, you have to bring a small gift.
2. If you are invited to a Greek home, arriving 30 minutes late, it is considered punctual.
3. New Zealanders are reserved with people they do not know.
4. In the Bahamas, writing on someone's business card in front of them is considered rude.
5. In Vietnam, you have to cover your mouth when using a toothpick.

5 Don'ts of Cross Cultural Communication

1. Not taking time to understand the cultural diversity
2. Avoiding to develop awareness of individual cultures
3. Not being tolerant
4. Making things purposely complex
5. Stereotyping

The first 3 Relationship Stages

Contact

According to Devito the first stage of a relationship is where the people become aware of one of one another's existence. This may be very brief and very distant. It may be formal, as in a job relationship or more informal, such as seeing a person on a train.

Perceptual- That moment when you first notice someone visually. You may or may not see each other a the same time. Just think of when you check out someone that you think is super sexy.

Interactional- Contact is usually brief and no personal information is exchanged. If you're lucky that sexy crush of yours will say hi to you each day they see you.

Initial Assessment- We all do it out of nature, judging a book by its cover.
You quickly make some assessment of a person, categorize them, and base your interaction with them based on how you categorize them. For example, you may categorize a boring professor differently from how you would categorize a hilarious classmate.

Involvement

You are now awkward friends/acquaintances and are slowly making a small bond.

Mutuality- It's not just a hello when passing through the halls anymore, you actually interact more with that person and may develop have certain feelings associated to instances when you see them.

Testing- Remember those personal pieces of your life you wouldn't exchange? Devito says that you may start to contemplate whether or not you want to become intimate with that person and that you test that person to determine so, "Tests may first be around the level of involvement at this stage that the other person is seeking, and then whether they want to move to the more intimately engaged next stage. Typically this asks them to do something that demonstrates whether they are ready to move to the next stage."

Intimacy

Ever been in a deep committed relationship? Well now you are! This is as deep as it gets.

Personal commitment- Time builds a great connection that courses through your veins or your brain, it depends. If the feelings are mutual, you're all good, but look out for unrequited love. Even Shakespeare got bit by the love bug.

Interpersonal Commitment- Him: I love you baby. Her: I love you too sweetheart!. Both parties express their affections for one another.  But, love isn't always the case, Him: I love you as a friend Her: I was thinking the same thing Them: Friends Forever!

Social Bonding- In the words of Devito, "Beyond the personal and interpersonal levels, communicating the depth of their relationships to others makes it more difficult for either to back out. This may include a formal ceremony, from signing joint declarations to marriage.no one likes to be stuck in a boring relationship, Will things always be fun?

Social bonding demonstrates to one another their longer-term commitment and should strengthen the relationship. Having formalized the arrangement. any dissolution will also need a formal process."

Anxiety- No relationship is perfect!

     ~ Security Anxiety no one likes yo be dumped, at least not for someone else!

     ~Fulfillment Anxiety keeping that connection.

     ~Excitement Anxiety


Sorry About the information OVERLOAD! Jameliah J. Over and out!

The Last 3 Stages of A Relationship

DETERIORATION

 

This is the stage of the relationship where conflict is starting and bonds are weakening. Arguments may come about more than often, along with petty issues that can lead to major confrontations. There beings to seem like, there is always something going wrong.  The realm of communication, between partners starts to break down and people beginning to become resentful toward one another.

REPAIR

 

This is the stage where individuals try and give it another shot. Individuals try and analyze what went wrong and how it can be solved; take on interpersonal communication.  They can take the steps in going to counselors and talk out their issues, with a third party present to mediate the two. This is the stage that one can basically refer to as make it or break it. If both individuals are open and ready to try something great can come about and they can be even stronger than they started. On the other hand, if one or both people are lacking in the will to try, then the relationship will not work out because there will  the two are not on the same page.

DISSOLUTION

This is the end.

Interpersonal separation starts; couple may not see/communicate with each other. Nothing is working out for the two individauls they are definitely not on the same page and it is just NOT working. There can be a spot of anger in resentment in this stage. Sometimes things can become public which can add unwanted fuel to the fire and create even more tension/stress. This stage can be labeled as Divorce.       

Interaction Action

Forms of human communication:

 

Interpersonal communication

According to DeVito, “through interpersonal communication you interact with others, learn about them and about yourself; and reveal, yourself to others…through interpersonal communication you establish, maintain, and sometimes destroy/repair your personal relationships.”

The easiest way to think about interpersonal communication is by comparing it to daily interactions with others. People interact with one another on a day to day basis, whether it’s a daily conversation with a coworker, a deep talk with your parent, or some small talk with a stranger while waiting on the bus.

Professor Donn from Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, TN, believes there are four principles of interpersonal communication;

1)    Inescapable

a.    This principle deals with the idea that it is Impossible not to communicate. Even when an individual is trying not to communicate, they are giving off some type of appeal that can be seen as a form of communication. Professor Donn says “people judge you by your behavior, not your intent.”

2)    Irreversible

a.    This principle informs that an individual cannot really take back what they have said, after saying it. Perhaps, somebody says something they do not whole heartedly mean, this still does not change the fact of what has been said, was spoken. Donn quotes the Russian proverb, stating, “ Once a word goes out of your mouth, you can never swallow it again.”

3)    Complicated

a.    This principle speaks on how communication is not as simple as it seems. Donn exposes how theorists claim, that when someone is communicating, “at least six people are involved.”  People around the world have communication yet differing forms of it. Thus this is how communication can be complicated. Even in terms of symbols, another form of communication, people have their own meaning for various symbols; which can be misread.

4)    Contextual

a.    This principle elaborates on how communication does not happen in isolation. According to Donn there are five levels to this:

                                          i.    Psychological context – what or who the individual brings to the interaction

                                        ii.    Relational context – reactions to the other person

                                       iii.    Situational context – the effect of the location and person is communicating in (classroom vs. bar)

                                       iv.    Environmental context – where you are communicating physically

                                        v.    Cultural context – “includes all the learned behaviors and rules that affect the interaction”

http://www.pstcc.edu/facstaff/dking/interpr.htm

Wat is the type that keeps Media in Mind?

In honor of or theme I decide to look into a form of human communication that is coincidentally my major at Saint Xavier. Have you ever heard of mass communication? It’s not just writing a one page article, reporting the news, or being a radio personality on the weekdays, it’s all of that.  In the 10^th Edition of Human Communication, mass communication is defined as a means of entertaining, informing, and persuading others with media. Media includes movies, television, radio, newspapers, and books. With one’s habit of viewing and buying, the media’s form and content is completely influenced.

History No Mystery!

According to Wise GEEK mass communication was coined as a term around the 1920s, as nationwide radio networks, newspapers, and magazines began to surface. The distribution of information to a wide range of people remains the main function of mass communications, even today. Mass communications are widely used, primarily because it is a rewarding exercise which may award a person or company with brand and name recognition, instantly increasing credibility. Commonly used units for analysis of mass communications are the messages, medium for communication, and the audience for whom the message is intended.

How Do You Communicate?

As a freelance journalist I have the opportunity to have my articles published seasonally for a good number of Chicagoans to see. In my spare time I dabble in the world of videos with my bog. How do you communicate with the general public? Ever done some acting for a commercial? How about a YouTube video that you just had to upload? How about radio? At the end f the day, in this day and age, we all communicate somehow and it is that that makes mass communications so special!

Here's An example from my health blog entitled Meliah's World