Understanding Intercultural
Communication Second Edition
Chapter 4
What are the Keys to Understanding Cultural
& Ethnic Identities?
Stella Ting-Toomey & Leeva C. Chung
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
PowerPoint Slides Designed by Alex Flecky and Noorie Baig
TODAY’S MENU
I. Family and Gender Socialization
II. Group Membership: Intercultural
Boundary Crossing
III. Group Affiliation and Identity Formation
IV. Ethnic–Racial Identity Change Process
V. Intercultural Reality Check: Do-Ables
An Application Exercise
Who Am I?
and
Who Are YOU?
I. Family and Gender Socialization
Identity: reflective self-conception or self-image
that we derive from family, gender, cultural,
ethnic, and individual socialization processes.
“Social identities” cultural, ethnic, gender,
sexual orientation, social class, age,
disability, or professional identity.
“Personal identities” unique attributes we
associate with our individuated self
in comparison with others.
I. Family and Gender Socialization
A. Families Come in Different Shapes
1. Types of families: diverse types
2. Two family types: personal and positional
B. Gender Socialization and Interaction
Patterns
1. Gender identity: Meanings and
interpretations concerning gender images
2. Expectations concerning “femaleness” and
“maleness” in our socialization process
II. Group Membership: Intercultural
Boundary Crossing
A. The Process of Acculturation & Enculturation
Acculturation: incremental identity-related
change process of immigrants and refugees
in a new environment from a long-term
perspective.
Enculturation: sustained, primary
socialization process of
individuals in their original home
culture wherein they have
internalized their cultural values.
II. Group Membership: Intercultural
Boundary Crossing
B. Systems-level Factors
C. Individual-level Factors
D. Interpersonal F2F and Network-Level
Factors
E. Mass Media–Level Factors
III. Group Affiliation and Identity Formation
A. Cultural Identity Conceptualizations
Cultural identity
Cultural identity salience
B. Ethnic Identity Conceptualizations
Ethnic identity
Ethnic value content
Ethnic identity salience
Click here to find out about the origin of the Hapa identity.
IV. Ethnic–Racial Identity Change Process
A. Cultural–Ethnic Identity Typological Model
1. Ethnic-oriented identity or traditional option:
Identifies strongly with ethnic traditions and values,
identifies weakly with dominant culture’s values.
2. Assimilated identity:
Identifies weakly with ethnic traditions and values;
identifies strongly with larger culture’s values, norms.
3. Bicultural identity or integrative option:
Identifies strongly with ethnic traditions and also
with the values and practices of larger society.
4. Marginal identity state:
Disconnected ties with both ethnic group and larger
society, often experiences alienation, invisibility.
IV. Ethnic–Racial Identity Change Process
A. Cultural–Ethnic Identity Typological Model
10
IV. Ethnic–Racial Identity Change Process
B. Racial–Ethnic Identity Development Model
IV. Ethnic–Racial Identity Change
Process
my.blogs 4.2 and 4.3
Assess your Cultural Identity and Marginal
Identity on p. 78
Assess your Ethnic Identity and Bicultural
Identity on p. 80
IV. Ethnic–Racial Identity Change Process
C. Multiracial and Biracial Identity
Social identity complexity theory
a. Intersection:
Compound identity with 2 (or more) social
membership categories cross to form a single,
claimed identity.
b. Dominance:
Individual adopts one major social identity.
c. Compartmentalization:
Shifting of social identity category serving as
basis of identification based on context or
situation.
d. Merger:
Deep awareness of the complex multifaceted
spheres of identity memberships and the
importance of multiple ingroups.
V. Intercultural Reality Check:
Do-Ables
A. Practice Mindful Listening
•
•
•
Thoughtful attention to both verbal and
nonverbal messages.
Check responsively for accuracy.
Involves a consciously competent shift of
perspective. (How do things look from the other’s
identity perspective?)
B. Practice Identity Validation Skills
•
•
•
Use verbal and nonverbal confirming messages.
Recognize group- and person-based identities.
Validate other people’s experiences as real.
Parting Thoughts. . .
He who knows others
is learned;
He who knows himself
is wise.
~ Lao Tzu