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- Introduction
- What is culture?
- Culture is like an Iceberg
- Culture and its core elements
- What is intercultural communication?
- Which are the challenges in intercultural communication?
- Transnational communication skills
- Enhancing cultural awareness for transnational communication
- Choosing adequate communication strategies
- Intercultural Conflict Management
- Stumbling blocks in Intercultural Communication
- Which are the elements that may lead to a conflict situation?
- Conflict strategies
- Conflict prevention
- Working on the intercultural image of the organisation
- What is the “image” of an organisation?
- Why should you adapt the image of your organisation to cultural premises?
- How can you work on your intercultural image?
- Quiz
- External resources
Which are the elements that may lead to a conflict situation?
LaRay M. Barna (1991, pp. 345f.) identified six stumbling blocks that may lead to cross-cultural misunderstandings:
- Assumption of Similarities: The fact that humans have biological and social needs in common doesn’t mean that we all share the same set of values and attitudes.
- Language Differences: Not to speak the “same” language can also refer to a different communication style, choice of words or attribution of meaning to the words. These language barriers may exist even when counterparts share one common language.
- Nonverbal Misinterpretations: Gestures and other body movements can be equally as meaningful as verbal language. Not being able to read them can lead to a communication barrier.
- Preconceptions and Stereotypes: Stereotypes reduce the complexity of our world and help us to orientate ourselves. But they also can lead to a biased view of the world around us.
- Tendency to Evaluate: It lies in human nature to approve and disapprove of opinions, values, behaviour or to judge about the righteousness of something.
- High Anxiety: stress often leads to defence mechanisms that hinder the appropriate interpretation of a certain situation.
Especially if one of the involved parties does not meet the expectations that exist due to the cultural values, beliefs, norms and communicative habits of the counterpart, a conflict can easily arise [see Iceberg Model Unit 1 LINK]. The root of a conflict can often be explained by considering the different culture-specific manifestations of cultural dimensions [see Dimensions Unit 1 LINK].