Among Cultures: The Challenge of Communication, Third Edition explores communication and the relationship between communication and culture, using narrative as a compelling thread for studying intercultural interactions.

PrefaceChapter 1: What is Meant by Intercultural Communication?CultureSystemHistorically SharedSymbolic ResourcesMake our World MeaningfulSelectionOrganizationEvaluationCommunicationInterdependentSituationalIntercultural CommunicationIntercultural Communication as a Field of StudyHazards of Studying Intercultural CommunicationOversimplificationOvergeneralizationExaggerationBenefits of Studying Intercultural CommunicationPersonal EmpowermentFreedom from IgnoranceProductive RelationshipsSummary Reflection QuestionsActivitiesChapter 2: What is the Relationship between Communication and Culture?Manifestations of CultureWorldviewsIndividualism/CollectivismAscript ion/AchievementEgalitarian/HierarchicalGood/EvilMastery/AdaptiveSocial lubricant/InformationHigh context/Low contextPolychronic/MonochronicFinal Thoughts on WorldviewsValuesNormsTwo Perspectives on the Culture Communication ConnectionMonolithic ForceReflexive ForceSense MakingSituationalSummaryReflection QuestionsActivitiesChapter 3: How Can We Learn About Our Own and Others' Cultures?The Learning ProcessNeedPrecedentThe Etic/Emic DistinctionHymes SPEAKING Framework: An Etic GridScenesParticipantsEndsActsKeysInstrumentalitiesNormsGenresNarrativesNarrative Teaching FunctionsThe way the world worksOur place in the worldHow to act in the worldHow to evaluate what goes on in the worldInterpreting NarrativesRitual(Mis)impressions about the Nature of RitualsJust the same thing over and over againOutdated, hypocritical and meaninglessReserved for specialized settingsEngaged in by those less sophisticated than IRecognizing Rituals Around UsThe Worth of RitualsSocial DramasKey TermsSummaryReflection QuestionsActivitiesChapter 4: How is Culture Related to Our Identities?IdentityExpectations Related to Ourselves and OthersRole ExpectationsLanguage ExpectationsInterplay between Similarities and DifferencesPersonal, Relational and Communal Levels of IdentityPersonalRelational CommunalCommunication's Relationship to IdentityReflectiveConstitutivePathways to IdentityAvowalAscriptionReactiveProactiveSummaryReflection QuestionsActivitiesChapter 5: Where Can We Look to Explain Verbal Misunderstandings?Verbal Communication and ContextContextual FramesFrames and Expected Forms of CommunicationFrames Evoking and Assuming Informal RulesFrames Evoking and Assuming IdentitiesVerbal Communication: Structure And ContentQualityIdiomsQuantitySilence Elaborated & Restricted CodesRelevanceForms of Address Questions & AnswersMannerCode-Switching Gratuitous ConcurrenceTerms of AddressPronounsHonorificsFace ConsiderationsDirect/Indirect CommunicationLanguage and ThoughtSapir-Whorf HypothesisSummaryReflection QuestionsActivitiesChapter 6: Where Can We Look to Explain Nonverbal Misunderstandings?Roles of Nonverbal CommunicationRepetitionContradictionSubstitutionAccentuationComplementaryRegulationForms of Nonverbal CommunicationKinesicsFacial ExpressionsBody MovementsFive FunctionsEmblemsIllustratorsAffect displaysRegulatorsAdaptorsProxemicsSpaceTouchParalanguageSilenceSilence and sociocultural identitiesSilence and social relationshipsSilence and conflictOther Forms of Nonverbal CommunicationLiving environmentClothesFoodSmellTimeIntercultural Listening and Nonverbal CommunicationSummaryReflection QuestionsActivitiesAnswers to Face Test and to Intercultural Kinesics Cues QuizChapter 7: Why Do So Many People Get Treated Poorly?StereotypingCategorizationFundamental Attribution ErrorFive Points of VarianceDirectionIntensitySpecificityConsensusAccuracyEthnocentrismConcern/IndifferenceInvolvement/AvoidanceEnjoyment/Intolerance PrejudiceForms of PrejudiceBlatantConceitSymbolicTokenismArms-lengthRationalizing Narratives of PrejudiceMorally betterPersonally afflictedSocial pressure Their turfSystem AbuseFunctions of PrejudiceUtilitarianSocial statusEgo-defensiveValue-expressiveEasy knowledgeSummary Reflection QuestionsActivitiesChapter 8: How Can We Manage Conflict in Intercultural Settings?Cultural Approaches to ConflictAvoidingAccommodatingCompetingCompromisingCollaboratingTypes of Intercultural ConflictObject conflictsRelationship conflictsPriority conflictsIntergroup ConflictGroup Membership and CommunicationGroup Membership and ConflictIngroup biasFears surrounding intergroup communicationOrigins of Intergroup Conflict HistoriesDividing up the pie: competition and powerStrategies for Managing Intercultural and Intergroup ConflictAppropriate Conditions for Successful ContactJoint goalsSupportive social climateEqual statusVariety of contextsDesire for contact Recognizing ReasonablenessFactoring in FaceOne Final Point to Ponder: ForgivenessSummaryReflection QuestionsActivitiesChapter 9: How Can We Succeed in Our Intercultural Travels?Hierarchy of Human NeedsAcculturationU-curve ModelHoneymoonCrisisRecoveryAdjustmentThe Hero's Journey: Osland's Model of Working AbroadCall to adventureIn the belly of the whaleThe magical friendRoad of trials (paradoxes)Ultimate boon and returnSurprise and Sense-making ModelChangeContrastSurpriseSense-makingAttribute meaningUpdate expectationsSelect behavioral approachKim's Adaptation ModelPersonal communicationPredispositionEnvironmentSocial communication Intercultural transformationReturning Home: Readapting to Our Own Cultural CommunityReverse Culture ShockChange in Self and OthersUnrealistic ExpectationsLack of Appreciation in Home CommunityFinal Thoughts on Cultural TransactionsSummaryReflection QuestionsChapter 10: How does Culture Impact Applied Contexts?Environmental CommunicationEnvironmental Communication as a Symbolic Resource for Making Sense ofour World.Environmental Communication as a Place of ConflictEnvironmental Communication as GenderedEnvironmental Communication in the Context of EcotourismEnvironmental communication as Inherently CulturalHealthcare and Intercultural CommunicationDiffering Cultural ExpectationsSpecific Applications of Cultural Communication in HealthcareSensitivity to Cultural Communication Considerations in HealthcareVerbal and Nonverbal Communication in HealthcareOther Cultural Considerations and Applications of CommunicationPublic HealthHolistic ApproachesOrganizational Leadership and Intercultural Communication Social Scientific Approach: Dimensions of Intercultural Leadership SuccessInterpretive Approach: Leadership and Sense-Making in InterculturalSettingsSummaryReflection QuestionsActivitiesChapter 11: What Diversity Exists in the Study of Intercultural Communication?Major Perspectives in Intercultural CommunicationInterpretive PerspectiveCritical PerspectiveSocial Scientific PerspectivePopular Culture Characteristics of Popular CultureEasily AccessedCommercialTells Us What We Believe and What We Should BelieveTells Us Who We Are and Who We Should BePopular Culture ArtifactsIcons: Real and ImaginedCelebrities: Real and ImaginedCritical Perspectives of Popular Culture and the MediaSocial Scientific Perspectives of Popular Culture and the MediaImpact of the Media on CultureImpact of Culture on the MediaCulture as an Intervening VariableSummaryReflection QuestionsActivitiesChapter 12: Can Judgments of Right and Wrong Be Made when Dealing with Other Cultures?EthicsGeneral PerspectiveSix Golden ApproachesGolden PurseGolden MeanGolden PublicGolden LawGolden ConsequenceGolden RuleEthics and CommunicationConstraintEmpowermentEthics and CultureUniversalismRelativismCritiqueEfforts to Find Universal Ethics that Acknowledge the Relativistic Nature of CulturesEthical Principles for Intercultural RelationsEffort to UnderstandTeachable AttitudeMutual LegitimacyDialogueConsidering ContextPeaceful DisagreementNonviolenceTruth/OpennessLoving RelationshipsIntercultural Marriage MicrocosmNature of loveSummaryReflection QuestionsActivitiesActivitiesNotes