LL250: Intercultural Communication                                   Name________________
Prof. Bauer-Ramazani                                                                                                                           
 

Worksheet for Chapter 9
“Intercultural Challenges: Recognizing and Dealing with Difference”
Problems In Intercultural Communication

Directions: Use the information in this chapter to support your answers to the following questions.
  1. Why are the authors optimistic that intercultural communication will improve?  What is hoped to be gained?


    2.  
  2. Is this book unbiased (= free from cultural influence)? Why or why not?

 

  1. What are 3 common problems in intercultural communication?
     
  2. What is the problem with the "pull of similarities"? Give examples.


     
  3. What is meant by uncertainty reduction and how/when does it happen?

     
  4. When do people withdraw from communication?

     
  5. Define stereotyping in your own words.

     
  6. What are the four sources of stereotypes?



     
  7. Give an example of a stereotype about another culture that is prevalent in your country.

     
  8. What is wrong with stereotyping? Give 4 reasons.




     
  9. Define prejudice in your own words.

     
  10. Explain the functions that various forms of prejudice serve.




     
  11. What are the 5 forms of escalating prejudice?





     
  12. Define racism in your own words and state how the authors suggest overcoming it in your own life.
    .

     
  13. What does power have to do with prejudice and racism?

     
  14. What do the expressions "captains of their ships," "masters of their own fate" illustrate about American cultural beliefs? Give examples.

     
  15. Define culture shock in your own words.

     
  16. List several symptoms of culture shock.

     
  17. Explain why culture shock resembles a U-shaped curve. List the 4 phases and their characteristics.

    18.  

     

     

     

  18. What is reverse culture shock and what is its symptom?

    19.  

  19. Define ethnocentrism in your own words.

    20.  

  20. Give examples of expressions of ethnocentrism.

    21.  

  21. Name 3 major problems/consequences of ethnocentrism.

    22.  

     

    ©2004  Christine Bauer-Ramazani, Saint Michael's College. Last updated: July 09, 2017