Interpersonal Communication

There are many ways that my culture influences my self-concept. First let’s take a look at the

many kinds of cultures there are. Culture is defined as the relatively specialized lifestyle of a

group of people that is passed on from one generation to the next through communication, not

through genes. Culture is transmitted from one generation to another through enculturation, the

process by which you learn the culture into which you’re born (your native culture). Parents,

peer groups, schools, religious institutions, and government agencies are the main teachers of

culture. Through enculturation you develop an ethnic identity, a commitment to the beliefs and

philosophy of your culture that, not surprisingly, can act as a protective shield against

discrimination. A different process of learning culture is acculturation, the process by which you

learn the rules and norms of a culture different from your native culture. In acculturation your

original or native culture is modified through direct contact with or exposure to a new and

different culture. Cultures, of course, differ in a wide variety of ways; and for purposes of

communication, the difference that probably comes to mind first is that of languages. Certainly,

cultures do differ in language spoken and understood. Masculine cultures emphasize success and

socialize their people to be assertive, ambitious and competitive. Members of masculine cultures

are thus more likely to confront conflicts directly and to competitively fight out any differences;

they are more likely to emphasize win or lose strategies. Feminine cultures emphasize the quality

of life and socialize their people to be modest and to emphasize close interpersonal relationships.

Members of feminine cultures are thus more likely to emphasize compromise and negotiation in

resolving conflicts; they are more likely to seek win – win solutions. Members of cultures with

high