Telephone Number of Mmh College
Emotions in Intercultural Communication
1
Emotion and Intercultural Communication David Matsumoto San Francisco State University Seung Hee Yoo Yale University Jeffery A. LeRoux San Francisco State University
To appear in Helga Kotthoff and Helen Spencer-Oatley (eds.), Handbook of Applied Linguistics, Volume 7: Intercultural Communication. Mouton – de Gruyter Publishers.
Keywords: Emotion, emotion regulation, openness, flexibility, critical thinking, intercultural communication, intercultural sensitivity, intercultural adaptation, intercultural adjustment Address all correspondence to David Matsumoto Department of Psychology San Francisco State University 1600 Holloway Avenue San Francisco, CA 94132 TEL: 510-236-9171 FAX: 510-217-9608 Email: dm@sfsu.edu
Emotions in Intercultural Communication
2
Emotions and Intercultural Communication In this chapter, we examine the role of emotions in intercultural communication, and suggest that the ability to regulate emotion is one of the keys to effective intercultural communication and adjustment. Previous work on intercultural communication effectiveness has generally focused on its cognitive components, including cultural knowledge, language proficiency, and ethnocentrism. Instead, we focus on emotion in intercultural communication episodes, and particularly on the skills necessary for the resolution of inevitable intercultural conflict. We argue that emotion regulation is a gatekeeper ability that allows people to engage in successful conflict resolution that leads to effective, long-term intercultural communication. We first describe the role of culture in the communication process, and then the concepts of intercultural communication, adaptation, and adjustment. We describe factors that previous research has identified related to adjustment, and then discuss strategies for engaging in successful intercultural communication, focusing on the role of emotions, but also highlighting the importance of
1
Emotion and Intercultural Communication David Matsumoto San Francisco State University Seung Hee Yoo Yale University Jeffery A. LeRoux San Francisco State University
To appear in Helga Kotthoff and Helen Spencer-Oatley (eds.), Handbook of Applied Linguistics, Volume 7: Intercultural Communication. Mouton – de Gruyter Publishers.
Keywords: Emotion, emotion regulation, openness, flexibility, critical thinking, intercultural communication, intercultural sensitivity, intercultural adaptation, intercultural adjustment Address all correspondence to David Matsumoto Department of Psychology San Francisco State University 1600 Holloway Avenue San Francisco, CA 94132 TEL: 510-236-9171 FAX: 510-217-9608 Email: dm@sfsu.edu
Emotions in Intercultural Communication
2
Emotions and Intercultural Communication In this chapter, we examine the role of emotions in intercultural communication, and suggest that the ability to regulate emotion is one of the keys to effective intercultural communication and adjustment. Previous work on intercultural communication effectiveness has generally focused on its cognitive components, including cultural knowledge, language proficiency, and ethnocentrism. Instead, we focus on emotion in intercultural communication episodes, and particularly on the skills necessary for the resolution of inevitable intercultural conflict. We argue that emotion regulation is a gatekeeper ability that allows people to engage in successful conflict resolution that leads to effective, long-term intercultural communication. We first describe the role of culture in the communication process, and then the concepts of intercultural communication, adaptation, and adjustment. We describe factors that previous research has identified related to adjustment, and then discuss strategies for engaging in successful intercultural communication, focusing on the role of emotions, but also highlighting the importance of