Intercultural Communications -- 2 Questions

Intercultural Communications -- 2 Questions (300 Words Each)

In what way do ethnocentrism, stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination act as barriers to effective intercultural communication?

Ethnocentrism is a natural tendency in human societies; it is responsible for a strong preference for individuals and institutions sharing the same ethnic, national, and cultural identity (Orbe & Harris, 2007). It creates a barrier to effective intercultural communications as a natural negative consequence that corresponds to the positive elements served by ethnic and cultural unity within individual groups.

In fact, that is precisely why progressive sociological theorists suggest that it is largely impossible to identify with any cultural or ethnic heritage or to bond with others on the basis of a shared ethnicity or culture without negatively impacting relations with other ethnic or cultural groups, by definition. According to this view, there is no such thing as ethnic, racial, or cultural pride that does not automatically cause mistrust of other groups that interferes with effective communications (Aronson, Wilson, & Akert, 2003).

Stereotyping is also a natural consequence of ethnocentrism. It causes individuals from one group to view members of other groups with very generalized expectations of values and behavior and it reinforces negative beliefs that are often either untrue or unfairly attributed to specific individuals based on generalized beliefs about other groups.

Typically, those expectations and negative assumptions generate unfair prejudices against members of minority groups on the part of majority group members (Martin & Nakyma, 2007). Prejudices further inhibit effective intercultural communications by inspiring subjective and biased interpretations of actions and statements that may be completely benign. Under the color of prejudicial interpretation, those biases serve to reinforce erroneous and exaggerated perceptions that continually perpetuate communication barriers.

Ultimately, those barriers often become operationalized in the institutions of society and manifests (Aronson, Wilson, & Akert, 2003). Meanwhile, the perception of unfairness and prejudice within the predominant group on the part of minorities increases their negative perceptions and generates reciprocal negative expectations with respect to predominant social groups.

2) How can communication strategies be used to reduce discrimination or stereotyping among people with differences according to factors such as age, gender, physical ability, race or sexual orientation?

In the professional vocational environment, the most effective strategies for reducing discrimination and stereotyping among different individuals involve the use of mixed working groups (Blair, 2003). Mixed working groups naturally promote better mutual understanding and can often reduce biases and negative expectations such as those attributable to ethnocentrism and prejudices (Blair, 2003).

More active methods of reducing discrimination and stereotyping include practical group demonstrations led by experienced counselors and organized discussion groups (Myers & Spencer, 2004). Specifically, organized discussion groups provide an opportunity for members of different social groups to raise their concerns and to express their personal experiences in relation to prejudice and discrimination.

Typically, the opportunity of sharing real-life experiences of others has a natural tendency to increase intercultural sensitivity through several different mechanisms: by personalizing general perceptions, by allowing individuals from different groups to consider things from the perspectives of other groups, by appreciating some of the specific experiences of others in relation to discrimination and prejudices, and by demonstrating the commonalities between members of different social groups (Aronson, Wilson, & Akert, 2003; Blair, 2003). More focused methods of reducing communications barriers in the workplace involve specific guided discussions in which individual members of different age, gender, racial, and other groups share their specific concerns and detail the ways that stereotyping and discrimination have adversely affected them (Aronson, Wilson, & Akert, 2003; Blair, 2003).