Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.

Chapter Two describes the Cultural Context, which is perhaps the most defining influence on human interaction. Culture provides the overall framework wherein humans learn to organize their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in relation to their environment. Although people are born into a culture, it is not innate. Culture is learned. Culture teaches one how to think, conditions one how to feel, and instructs one how to act, especially how to inter-act with others; in other words, communicate. Over the past few decades, anthropologists, communication researchers, psychologists, and sociologists have isolated several dimensions of cultural variability that can be used to differentiate cultures. These include individualism-collectivism, large-small power distance, and weak-strong uncertainty avoidance.

1. Web Link: Clearly Cultural: Making Sense of Cross Cultural Communication

Description: On the web page, Clearly Cultural: Making Sense of Cross Cultural Communication, you will see a map of the world and where three of the major dimensions of cultural variability (i.e. individualism-collectivism, large, small power distance, uncertainty avoidance) can be found geographically. Click on the specific dimension of cultural variability and the map will change.

2. Video Link: Collectivism and Individualism

Description: This video examines Collectivism and Individualism from the perspective of two philosophers.

3. Video Link: High vs Low Context

Description: This video explains high and low context cultures.