Culture and Relationships
Theory & Research in Intercultural
Communication—COM 372
John R. Baldwin—Illinois State University
A systems explanation
A systems explanation
Input:
Motives/Goals
Process
(Throughput):
Definitions of
relationship
Communication
patterns:
Cultures of
origin
•Conflict
Cultural values,
communication
•Power negotiation,
etc.
Family cultures
•Self-disclosure
Output:
Stability
Satisfaction
Family
adjustment
Increased
society tolerance
“Third”
(family/rel)
culture”
More on Systems Approach
 System
 Environment
– Open/closed systems
 Input/Throughput/Output
 Homeostasis/Dynamic Equilibrium
 Feedback
– Positive: Change the system!
– Negative: Keep the system the same!
 First/Second-order system change!
– The problem may not be that there is no feedback
but that the rules the system is following do not
work! Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose…
Input: Questions
 What are some “input” factors that might
impact intercultural, intergroup, or other
sorts of relationships?
 How might the input factors change
between:
– International couples
– Intergroup couples (religious, ethnicity, etc.)
– Stigmatized couples
Input: Motives
 Lampe (1981, 1982):
– What are the main reasons that people date
interethnically?
– What are the main reasons people do not?
 Do people date & marry for the same
reasons? (Brazil example)
Input: Differences (issues)
(Romano, 1988)
Values
In-laws
Food and drink
Sex
Male/females roles
Time
Place of residence
Politics
Dealing w/stress
Friends
Illness/suffering
Religion
Food & drink
Social class
Language/Comm
Raising children
Ethnocentrism
Process: Issues (Markoff, 1977)
 Problems in communication





(verbal, NV differences)
Difference in values
The concept of marriage (e.g.,
Char, Collier)
Individual behavior and
practices (not cultural)
Prejudices and stereotypes
(yes, even in marriage!)
The surrounding family
(distance --> greater success!)
Process Issues
 What are some “process”
issues intercultural couples
might face?
 What leads (IC)
relationships to develop?
 What are some ways IC
couples might resolve
cultural differences?
Process: Issues
(Graham, Moeai, & Shizuru, 1985)
 The Romeo & Juliet Effect
 “Internal” versus “External” problems
– individual living habits
– interference with extended family
– children
– different cultural customs
– time with friends
– language difficulties
– financial problems
Process: IR Dating/Marriage
 Are the issues the same
in interracial dating and
marriage as in
“intercultural” dating
and marriage?
 What about “interfaith”
marriage?
Process: Solutions
Tseng’s 5 Patterns of ICM Adjustment
 One-Way Adjustment: One partner gives in to the




culture of the other
Alternative Adjustment: The couple alternates between
cultural
Simultaneous Adjustment: Elements of both cultures
are adopted at the same time.
Mixing: Within a given culture or time, the couple uses
aspects of one culture or the other. Tseng uses an
example like "enchiladas tonight, sushi tomorrow
night." = Compromise (as opposed to submission,
consensus, or obliteration).
Creative Adjustment: The couple adopts elements of
neither culture, but finds their "own" way
Intercultural Relationships
 Some explanations of relational growth
– Propinquity: Shared spaces interaction potential
– Similarity-Attraction Hypothesis: It’s similarity that
makes relationships grow
– URT: No…it’s your ability to predict and explain the
other or (AUM) to reduce your anxiety
– Social Penetration Theory: : Self-disclosure
• Depth & breadth of SD
• 4 stages of relationships
– Dialectical approach: Tensions…
– Turning points: Key moments…
Evaluating a theory
 Does it make sense with everyday life?
(e.g., by working through a single example)
 Are there enough counterexamples to
expand the theory?
 Does it fit prior research?
 Does it meet goals of type of theory?
 How does it address theory evaluation
standards?
 How does it compare to other theories?
Theory evaluation standards
•Scope, boundaries: How broad is it? Is what it
covers clear?
•Logical consistency: Does it hold together well?
•Parsimony: Is it appropriately simple?
•Testability (if scientific): Can the propositions be
measured and tested?
•Predictive ability (if scientific): Can we make good
predictions with the variables provided?
•Heurism: Does it lead to new study or theory? Does
it stand the “test of time”?
•Explanatory power: Does it explain most cases, or
are there classes of cases it does not explain?
•Utility: Is it useful in everyday life?
Anxiety-Uncertainty
Management
 Background: URT
 Concepts:
– Stranger
– Anxiety and Uncertainty (not =!)
– Effectiveness (and adaptation)
– Mindfulness vs. Scripts
– Thresholds
– Management
AUM: Refining the structure
 A list of variables
 Knowledge, Motivation, Skills
 Hofstede’s Dimensions
 Current structure
– Proximal factors
– Distal (secondary) factors
– Order and direction of influence
AUM
 Application: My Big Fat Greek Wedding
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcAL5ljKvqE (3.57)
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6mAAky_5og (3.25)
 Evaluation:
International Marriaegs in Japan
(Quasha & Quasha, 2012)
 Method
 Concepts specific to Japanese relationships?
 What are some specific aspects of the
relationships the authors describe that
illustrate the role of culture in relationship?
 What are some other specific aspects of
relationships you recall from the readings?