Understanding Intercultural Communication

Stella Ting-Toomey is Professor of Human Communication Studies at California State University, Fullerton. Leeva C. Chung is Professor at the University of San Diego.

• ContentsPrefaceAbout the AuthorsAcknowledgmentsPART I FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS IN INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATIONChapter 1 Why Study Intercultural Communication?Six Practical Reasons to Study Intercultural CommunicationThe Impact of Technology on Everyday Intercultural CommunicationThe Global and Domestic Diversity WorkforceThe "New Norm": Nontraditional Interpersonal Relationships (Relationship Development, Families, and Identity Complexity)Global Health Care Concerns and OpportunitiesPersonal Empowerment, Social Advocacy, and Social JusticeInclusivity Reason: Increasing Self-Awareness and Other-SensitivityCulture: A Learned Meaning SystemSurface-Level Culture: Artifacts and Pop CultureIntermediate-Level Culture: Symbols, Meanings, and NormsDeep-Level Culture: Traditions, Beliefs, and ValuesUpdating Your (Virtual) Intercultural PassportDiscussion and Practical Application QuestionsChapter 2 What Is Intercultural Communication Flexibility?Defining Intercultural Communication: A Process ModelIntercultural Communication Process: Overall CharacteristicsIntercultural Communication: Meaning Construction CharacteristicsCultivating Intercultural Communication FlexibilityThree Content Components: Knowledge, Attitude, and SkillsThree Criteria: Appropriateness, Effectiveness, and AdaptabilityPracticing Intercultural Communication CompetenceA Staircase ModelAn Essential Hook: A Mindful PerspectiveDeepening Intercultural Process Thinking and Outcome GoalsProcess Consciousness: Underlying PrinciplesMovements Toward Outcome GoalsIntercultural Reality Check: DoablesDiscussion and Practical Application QuestionsChapter 3 What Are the Essential Cultural Value Patterns?Functions of Cultural ValuesAnalyzing Cultural ValuesIdentity Meaning FunctionIngroup-Outgroup Evaluative FunctionExplanatory FunctionMotivational FunctionAnalyzing Cultural Value Continuum DimensionsDiscovering Cultural Continuum ValuesIdentity: Individualism-Collectivism Value DimensionPower: Small-Large Power Distance Value DimensionUncertainty: Weak-Strong Uncertainty Avoidance Value DimensionSex Roles: Feminine-Masculine Value DimensionUnderstanding Personality Styles and Value TendenciesIndependent Self-Construal Versus Interdependent Self-ConstrualHorizontal Versus Vertical Personality StyleUncertainty-Oriented Versus Certainty-Oriented AttributesAndrogynous Versus Conventional Sex Role DispositionsCultural Values Connecting With Personality Styles and Social SituationsAdditional Classical Value Orientation PatternsValue Orientations: Background InformationMeaning: Activity Value OrientationDestiny: People-Nature Value OrientationTime: Temporal Value OrientationIntercultural Reality Check: DoablesDiscussion and Practical Application QuestionsChapter 4 What Are the Keys to Understanding Cultural and Ethnic Identities?Family and Gender SocializationFamilies Come in Different ShapesGender Socialization and Interaction PatternsGroup Membership: Intercultural Boundary-Crossing FactorsThe Process of Acculturation and EnculturationSystems-Level FactorsIndividual-Level FactorsInterpersonal Face-to-Face and Relational Network FactorsMass Media and Social Media Usage FactorsIntergroup Adaptive StrategiesSociocultural Group Affiliation and Identity FormationConceptualizing Cultural IdentityConceptualizing Ethnic IdentityEthnic-Racial Identity Change ProcessCultural-Ethnic Identity Typological ModelRacial-Ethnic Identity Development ModelIdentity ComplexityMultiracial and Biracial IdentityIntercultural Reality Check: DoablesDiscussion and Practical Application QuestionsPart II CROSSING CULTURAL AND COMMUNICATION BOUNDARIES ADAPTIVELYChapter 5 What Is Culture Shock?Unpacking Culture ShockCharacteristics of Culture ShockPros and Cons of Culture ShockCulture Shock Encounters: A Variety of Culture Shockers International Students and Cultural Exchange StudentsGlobal Workplace Transferees and Global Mobility FamiliesThird Culture Kids/Global Nomads (TCK/GN)International Tourists as Short-Term SojournersInitial Tips to Manage Culture ShockCulture Shock Factors, Adjustment Approaches, and StrategiesMotivational Orientations and Personal ExpectationsCultural Distance Factors and Two Adjustment ApproachesInitial Cultural Adjustment, New Media, and Social SupportCultural Adjustment Competence StrategiesPersonality AttributesIntercultural Adjustment: Developmental PatternsThe U-Curve Adjustment ModelThe Revised W-Shaped Adjustment ModelCulture Shock Adjustment Summary: Peaks and ValleysReentry Culture ShockReentry Culture Shock: Surprising Elements

Understanding Intercultural Communication is an up-to-date and practical text designed to foster student thinking about intercultural interactions. The examples and scenarios presented in each chapter provide students an opportunity to explore intercultural concepts in depth." - Todd Lee Goen, Christopher Newport University