978-1111349103 Chapter 10 Part 1

Unlock access to all the studying documents.

View Full Document

183

CHAPTER 10

Cultural Influence on Communication

Contexts: Responding to the Setting

OVERVIEW

Chapter Ten, the final chapter in the text, explores the influences that influence communication:

The cultural impact on context in intercultural communication. The authors begin the chpater by

explaining the assumptions of context, how context is assessed, and the role it plays in

intercultural communication. Using the contexts of business, education, and healthcare, cultures

are compared and contrasted in an effort to promote awareness and understanding of cultural

differences.

OUTLINE

I. Culture and context

II. Underlying assumptions about context

A. Communication is rule governed

B. Context helps specify communication rules

C. Communication rules are culturally diverse

III. Assessing the context

A. Formality and informality

1. Informality

1. Assertiveness

184

2. Interpersonal harmony

C. Power distance relationships

1. Egalitarian

2. Hierarchical

IV. Intercultural communication in the business context

A. The international business setting

B. The domestic business setting

V. Communication in the multicultural business context

A. Business protocols

2. Greeting behavior

a. Brazil

b. China

B. Business cultures

1. Brazilian business culture

3. Indian business culture

C. Negotiation and conflict resolution

2. Negotiating with the Chinese

4. Developing intercultural negotiation skills

VI. The education context

A. Culturally diverse educational systems

VII. Multicultural education

A. Challenges of multicultural education

B. Culture and learning

1. Cultural ways of knowing

2. Cultural learning preferences

a. Field independence vs. field dependence

b. Cooperation vs. competition

c. Trial and error vs. “watch, then do”

d. Tolerance vs. intolerance for ambiguity

VIII. Linguistic issues in multicultural education

A. Linguistic diversity

B. Language and identity

C. Culturally and linguistically diverse students

IX. Culturally responsive classroom communication

A. Communicator characteristics

2. Immediacy

3. Empathy

a. Communicate a supportive climate

b. Attend to students’ nonverbal and verbal behavior

186

d. Be genuine and congruent

B. Communication strategies

X. The health care context

XI. Diverse health care belief systems

A. Supernatural, mágico, and religious tradition

2. Causes of illness

1. Underlying premises

3. Treatment of illness

C. Scientific and Biomedical tradition

2. Causes of illness

XII. Language diversity and health care communication

A. Language diversity

B. Employing interpreters

1. Need for interpreters

2. Selecting and using interpreters

1. Know your own culture

187

2. Learn about diverse health care beliefs

B. Developing effective health care communication strategies

2. Conducting interviews

3. Communication about death and dying

XIV. Summary

ACTIVITIES

Activity 10-1: Three managers

This activity illustrates how cultural values show themselves in the workplace and the problems

that can arise when values are at conflict in an intercultural working situation. Students will

examine the case study below and isolate those values manifested in the behavior of managers

from South Korea and the U.S. Have students read the case study that follows the explanation of

this activity individually or in small groups. After the students have read the case, ask them to

answer the questions that follow. If they are in small groups, ask them to discuss their answers

with other group members.

Possible discussion questions following the exercise:

• Is it possible to do “value–free” business? Should special rules and values be

allowed to govern business that may contradict the values of a culture?

• Would an American facing the same situation as Manager B be reluctant to take

responsibility over older members that are “subordinate” to him/her? Why or why

not?

• Is it possible for Manager B to work around his situation and make the X branch

successful? Or is he/she bound by the values of the Korean culture regarding

status and respect, particularly toward employees of greater age and/or seniority?

• Can you think of other examples where individuals must choose between the

values they hold in their own culture and the values of the workplace or

company?

The three managers*

Manager A was making a second trip to a country in which his/her company had been

doing business for a few years. The previous year Manager A had helped select a new

branch coordinator for the X branch in this country. Manager A had enjoyed the

188

interview with the person who filled the position, Manager B, and was interested to learn

how the X branch was progressing under Manager B’s leadership. Manager A was

greatly surprised, therefore, when he/she asked the district supervisor, Manager C, how

the branches were doing and heard the reply.

“All the branches are doing well, Manager A, except for the X branch. We’re having

some difficulty there. Since Manager B has been the branch coordinator, it has been just

standing still.”

“That really surprises me, Manager C. As you know, I had a rather lengthy interview with

Manager B last year. At that time I was quite impressed with Manager B’s ability and

potential.”

Manager C nodded in agreement. “Your assessment of Manager B was correct. Manager

B is one of the most able people in our entire district. And Manager B has been eager to

fulfill the responsibilities as branch coordinator.”

“I’m afraid I don’t understand, then. Aren’t the branch employees supporting Manager

B?”

“Oh, they are all quite willing to help Manager B to make the branch progress. No, I’m

afraid the problem is one that must be overcome by Manager B. You see, several of the

more capable employees of the X branch are graduates of the local university and are

some years older than Manager B, so he/she is hesitant to ask them to help.”

“I still can’t understand,” said Manager A. “Doesn’t Manager B realize we are all equal

in this organization?”

1. What culture do you think Manager A is from? How do you know?

2. What culture do you think Managers B and C are from? How do you know?

3. What two sets of values are in conflict here?

4. How do you think Manager A should handle this situation?

5. How do you think Manager B should handle this situation?

* Adapted from Language and Intercultural Research Center. (1977). Communication Learning

Aid. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Press.

Activity 10–2: Critical incident

This activity illustrates the importance of context within the working and social environments of

the Japanese culture. Students will gain an understanding of both the formal and informal nature

of Japanese life and when certain behaviors are appropriate and inappropriate. Ask students to

189

read individually the critical incident that follows the explanation of this activity. They should

then choose an answer and form small groups of four to six students to discuss their individual

answers. Each group member should share and justify his or her individual answer, but

ultimately the group should reach a consensus regarding their group answer. In the large class

discussion, ask each group to share and justify their answers. To assist instructors, a short

discussion of the explanations is provided at the end of this activity.

Possible discussion questions following the exercise:

• Do you agree with the explanations given on the handout? Why or why not?

• How do you feel about the way the Japanese employees treated Carl after the

meeting?

• How do individuals in your culture handle situations where someone has violated

the norms of protocol?

• Do the rules for informal gatherings and the rules for more formal workplace

meetings differ in your own culture?

• How do people know the “rules” for acting appropriately in different contexts

within their own cultures?

• How can we learn the contextually-correct behavior or protocol for other

cultures?

Critical incident*

Carl was pleased that he was invited to a company party shortly after his first assignment

to a Japanese firm. Desiring to experience the Japanese culture as much as he could, he

was eager to attend such informal events. At the party, everyone was expected to

entertain. Even the senior managers got up to sing a little song or to tell a joke. Carl

recited part of Edgar Allen Poe’s poem “The Raven” in a mock serious tone. After the

party, Carl was asked to go along with a group of people to one of their favorite bars.

Carl thought that he would enjoy this sojourn. People seemed so informal and

cooperative, not like the rather stodgy, stuffy people he had read about before coming to

Japan.

At a meeting shortly after the party, Carl found himself in the same room as several of the

co-workers and senior managers who were at the party and who had contributed to the

merriment of the evening with their songs and stories. One of the senior managers

mentioned to Carl how much he had enjoyed “The Raven.” Noting the manager’s

informality, Carl spontaneously decided to use the meeting as an opportunity to discuss a

proposal that he had been thinking about ever since his arrival in Japan. When Carl

brought up his proposal mid-way through the meeting, however, he was met with a wall

of silence. After the meeting, Carl was noticeably not included in the numerous informal

conversations as people left the meeting.

Discussion of Carl’s actions:

190

1. The raven is a sacred symbol in Japan, and Carl made a major blunder in reciting

3. Carl thought that the informality he observed at the party would also be part of the

meeting at work.

4. Suggest your own alternative.

Discussion of Carl’s alternatives:

1. There is no reason Carl should not have recited part of “The Raven.” While there

2. It is quite proper for guests to contribute to the entertainment if they wish. Most

3. This is probably the best answer. Carl thought that informality at the party would

not be differentiated from informality at the company meeting. In reality, there is

a sharp distinction. Senior managers can be very informal, even silly, at parties,

but they expect respect and adherence to the agenda and accepted procedures at

company meetings during the work day. Carl probably made a trait attribution of

“informal” from his observations at the party. Sojourners have a strong tendency

to make trait attributions and to not take situational factors into account. Here the

situational distinction is the party versus the company meeting. The sophisticated

sojourner must gather information that goes beyond his or her first impressions to

make responses considered proper and acceptable by hosts in varied contexts.

* Adapted from Brislin, R. W., Cushner, K., Cherrie, C., & Yong, M. (1986). Intercultural

Interactions: A Practical Guide (pp. 171-172, 186-187). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

Activity 10–3: Cultural views of job satisfaction

Just as people oftentimes want different things from their intimate relationships with others,

people may want different things from their employment. While some people may be looking for

a stable income, others may be interested in working with and/or for people who are friendly and

supportive. And just as in our romantic relationships, if we assume that the people we work with

seek the same kind of working conditions and environment that we do, our assumptions may

result in crossed signals and miscommunication.

This activity asks students to identify the components of job satisfaction for them and then to ask

someone from a different cultural background to assess his or her needs as an employee. Because

different cultures value and conceive of work differently, students may come up with some

191

interesting contrasts. Ask students to rank the following items from one to ten according to how

important they feel each is in contributing to their morale as an employee. Then have them ask

an acquaintance or friend from a different country or ethnic group to do the same. If the class is

diverse, students may wish to simply exchange and compare their responses with another

member of the class. The form for this exercise is on a separate page so that instructors can

duplicate the form and give each student a copy.

Possible discussion questions following the exercise:

• What differences do you see between the two sets of rankings? What might

account for these differences?

• How might these differences affect working relationships?

• How might employees from each culture approach their job?

• How can we adapt to the different needs of our co-workers and help them adapt to

ours?

• As supervisors, how can we adapt to different notions of job satisfaction and keep

all employees motivated?

Cultural views on job satisfaction

My Friend’s

Rankings Rrankings

______ Interesting work ______

______ Personal loyalty of supervisors ______

______ Appreciation and recognition ______

______ Help with personal problems ______

______ High wages ______

______ Job security ______

______ Tactful discipline ______

______ Feeling of being “in” on things ______

______ Good working conditions ______

______ Promotion in the company ______

______ Flexible working hours ______

______ Personal privacy ______

______ Others: _____________________ ______

______ ____________________________ ______

Activity 10-4: Translation simulation

192

This activity treats Japanese and American cultural values as though they were two separate

languages, playing on the notion of translation. In this way, the exercise makes literal the

difficulty of intercultural communication in professional settings, in particular. It suggests that

even when everyone is speaking the same language (English for the purposes of this exercise),

they are not necessarily “speaking the same language.”

Begin the exercise by asking for three volunteers to enact a business meeting between a Japanese

executive, an American manager, and a translator. Both business people will be speaking in

English for the purposes of the class, but each will adopt the verbal and nonverbal

communication styles appropriate to a professional meeting within their respective cultures. The

translator should be familiar with the communication styles of both cultures.

Explain to the three volunteers that this is an initial meeting between the two companies; the

meeting is meant to initiate interaction regarding an upcoming deal. The two individuals might

discuss how long the deal will take to negotiate, what the process will involve for each party,

how much interaction should take place between the employees of the two companies, as well as

the scheduling and content of future meetings between the two business people. Inform students

that there is a status differential between the two: the Japanese company is represented by the

company president and the U.S. company is represented by an upper-level manager.

Be sure to encourage the whole class to participate actively in the skit. If and when the translator

becomes stuck, the members of the class can help out. Also, have students take notes on what

they observe.

Instructors should advise students to base their interactions on the material covered in the chapter

about business practices in the two cultures. Although the purpose of the activity is to address the

cultural differences in a business context, instructors should be prepared to discuss any

stereotyping inserted by the volunteers. If unrealistic stereotyping does manifest itself during the

activity, it is an excellent way to connect and reinforce material from the previous chapters.

Possible discussion questions following the exercise:

• What did people observe about the verbal communication of the two business

people? The nonverbal communication?

• What did it feel like to be in this situation (question for two business people)?

What was challenging about it? What came rather easily?

• What did people observe about the translator and/or the process of translation?

• What did it feel like to be in this situation (question for the translator)? What was

challenging about it? What came rather easily?

• Based on our different perceptions of this situation, do you think this business

deal would have gone successfully? Why or why not?

• How realistic to do you think this situation was?

Activity 10–5: Playing the role of the mediator*

193

This activity is designed to give students an opportunity to work directly in a communication

situation where conflict has gone unresolved and mediation is needed to achieve some viable

compromise.

A few days before this activity takes place, divide students into groups of three. Have each triad

meet together and decide who will play the roles of disputants and who will be the mediator.

After the decision is made, the mediator should not have any further contact with the disputants

until the day of the activity. The other two students need to decide on the basic nature of their

dispute and the roles they will play. This activity needs to take place outside of class so they

might have an opportunity to work out the details of their controversy. They can choose to play

any roles they desire; that is, they may represent labor and management, two employees who

simply cannot work together, a couple thinking of divorce, two siblings who cannot get along

together, or two students assigned to work on a common project who have incompatible personal

styles. Once the disputants have chosen their roles, they need to meet with the mediator and

describe the basic conflict situation. Then the mediator must be given time alone (preferably out

of class) to choose his or his strategy. When the mediator is ready, have the three meet together

to attempt to resolve the dispute. Leave time at the end for all parties to evaluate the

communication that transpired, the conflict styles used, and to make suggestions for

improvement.

* Adapted from “Playing the Mediator,” prepared by Baster, H., Andrews, P., & Baird,

J. (2000). Communication for Business and the Professions. New York: McGraw-Hill Higher

Education.

Activity 10–6: Classroom visitors

This activity is designed to give students an in-depth understanding of the role that culture plays

in the classroom by allowing students to listen to and ask questions of teachers. Students will

gain insight into how cultural interaction patterns impact U.S. classrooms.

Invite two or three K-12 teachers who teach in a multicultural school and/or who are culturally

diverse among themselves. These visitors can be contacted through local schools and/or the

school district offices in your community. People may also be able to direct you to individuals in

charge of multicultural programs and multicultural specialists at certain schools. Ask your

visitors to address the influence that culture has on the classroom and share some of their

intercultural experiences with students and/or co-workers. Ask them to describe the cultural

backgrounds of their students and the different learning styles to which their students are

accustomed.

In addition to students’ own questions, instructors might ask visitors to address the following:

• What are the specific needs of students who come from other cultures?

• What difficulties arise in a multicultural classroom?

• What aspects do the teachers find particularly enjoyable and rewarding?

194

• What strategies do they use to teach children from different cultures?

• How are non-English-speaking students assisted in their school and classroom?

A debriefing session during the class session after the visits would be helpful to allow students to

discuss some of their own thoughts about the visitors and the impact of culture on teaching and

learning. Possible discussion questions following the exercise:

• Of the strategies used to teach students from different cultures, which did you find

most impressive and why? Were any strategies less than impressive?

• What are your own cross-cultural experiences in the educational environment?

• Do you think society sufficiently addresses the issue of cultural differences in the

classroom? How has U.S. society conceptualized and administered education

from a mono-cultural perspective?

• What type of training would you suggest for educators in order to make them

more aware of cultural differences and of the need to be sensitive to these

differences?

Activity 10-7: Motivation strategies

This activity illustrates some of the problems teachers face in teaching students from cultures

where formal education may not be a primary value. Students will critically examine the case

study below and generate strategies to help the teacher motivate pupils from another culture

where family matters take precedence over education. Divide the students into groups of four to

six for this activity. A discussion should follow to compare and contrast the students’ strategies.

Mr. Jilka is a sixth-grade teacher with an ethnically diverse classroom. One-fourth of the class is

white, one-fourth is African American, one-fourth is Asian, and one-fourth is Mexican-

American. Recently, two Mexican-American students, Jesus and Juanita, have begun to miss two

or three days a week. In addition to a pattern of absences, Jesus has stopped turning in his

homework. Juanita has begun to do poorly on classroom assignments and often stares out the

window during class. Prior to this, Jesus and Juanita had been enthusiastic students despite the

fact that English is their second language. Mr. Jilka is not sure what action to take. However, he

did overhear Juanita telling another Mexican-American student that her father had lost his job

and has been unable to find a new one close to home.

Possible discussion questions include:

• Should Mr. Jilka respond to this situation?

• How should Mr. Jilka respond to this situation?

• What exactly should Mr. Jilka say to whom?

• Assuming your first strategy does not work what else could Mr. Jilka do and/or

say to whom?

Activity 10–8: Teachers from different cultures

195

This activity is designed to give students an understanding of cultural diversity in the classroom

from the perspective of an ethnically diverse teacher. Students are to interview a professor or

administrator at their school who is from a culture other than the dominant culture. If it is not

possible to interview a professor or administrator, students can sit in on a class taught by a

professor whose ethnicity is different from that of the dominant culture and respond to the

questions below based on their observations.

Possible interview questions:

• What is the ethnic composition of your classroom?

• What are some of the challenges you face in teaching a culturally diverse class?

• About how much time do you spend lecturing? Facilitating discussion?

• What is expected of students’ participation and how do they actually participate?

• How is classroom time structured?

• How do you motivate students?

• How do you accommodate different learning styles?

• What are some of the primary values of your culture and how are they manifested

in your teaching?

• Are classroom activities group oriented or focused on the individual?

• Is language diversity a problem for your classroom?

• What recommendations do you have for the multicultural teacher? For students in

multicultural classrooms?

Possible discussion questions following the exercise:

• Was multicultural teaching competency important for this teacher? Did this

teacher have an awareness of cultural differences among his or her students?

• How did the teacher’s ethnicity affect the classroom? Are the challenges faced by

ethnically diverse teachers the same as those facing teachers from the dominant

group?

• What multicultural characteristics and/or practices did you find most appealing?

Activity 10-9: Case study at a university in the U.S.

This activity illustrates how cultural values are acted out in the classroom and how problems

may arise when values are conflicting. Divide the classroom into groups of four to six students

and have the groups examine the case study below. Students will decide on a course of action to

resolve the conflict presented. A representative from each group should summarize the group’s

solution for the class in an open discussion.

Amir is from Saudi Arabia. He is attending college in the U.S. to pursue a degree in

Business Administration. Upon completion of his degree, Amir will return to Saudi

Arabia to run the family business with his father and two brothers. Amir is not used to

196

having females in the same classroom, and the idea of women participating in business is

alien to him. As a result, Amir pays little attention to the contributions made by female

students. He often interrupts them and discounts what they have to say. When forced to

converse with female students in small group exercises, he is often silent and contributes

little to the discussion.

The female students at first ignored Amir’s behavior in hopes that he would quickly

become aware of their competence. After all, the other males in the classroom considered

them equal. But Amir’s behavior continued and several female students began to

challenge him on many issues. Amir, whose culture emphasizes spoken language,

retaliated against the women’s challenges, and the classroom has since turned into a

battleground. The situation has escalated to the point that no student interaction involving

Amir can be facilitated without an argument.

• Should Amir be more accommodating and flexible in his attitude towards having

women in the classroom? Should the women be more understanding? Why does

the cliché “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” not always play out realistically

in communication situations?

• How could this situation be resolved? What could the male students do? What

could the female students do? What could the instructor do?

• As fellow students in this business class, what would you tell Amir and how

would you say it?

Possible discussion questions following the exercise:

• What could the instructor and other students have done long before this situation

arose?

• What could the instructor and other students have done to prevent this situation

from escalating to this point?

• Have you ever been in a similar situation where one student seemed to discount

the contributions of other students? How did you handle the situation? How do

you wish you would have handled the situation?

Activity 10-10: Gendered Education

This activity gives students an opportunity to conduct their own field research with regard to

gender differences in the classroom. Before coming to class the day of the exercise, students

should use the handout that follows the explanation of this activity to make observations in one

or two of their other college classes. The identity of the instructor and title of the course should

be kept anonymous. On the day of the exercise, students should be prepared to share their

findings in small groups or in a large class discussion.

Possible discussion questions following the exercise:

197

• In addition to the course content, what else is being taught to male and female

students? What are students learning about their gender and the gender of others?

• Should educators and students teach gender roles in this way? Why or why not?

• What can we do as students to make the classroom a positive learning

environment for all students?

• What can or must instructors do to improve their communication with male and

female students?

Guidelines for students:

Identify one or two other courses that you are currently taking and that you would like to observe

for gender differences. Take notes before and during your observation and be prepared to share

your findings with our class.

• Is generic male language (i.e. “he” and “man” to mean either sex and/or all

people) used?

• How many passages feature women? How many feature men?

• How often are females presented as dependent, independent, leaders, and/or

supporting others?

• How often are males presented as dependent, independent, leaders, and/or

supporting others?

• How often do males contribute comments?

• How often do females contribute comments?

• Do people use an equal number of examples featuring each sex? Are the sexes

portrayed in similar or different ways within these examples?

• Does anyone use generic male language?

• Are there any gender patterns with regard to asking questions, interrupting others,

or raising hands to speak?

• Do you notice any differences in the length of comments made by male and

female students?

• Do you notice any differences in how others respond to comments made by male

and female students?

Activity 10-11: Educational awareness essay

This activity is designed to help students find out about educational expectations of other

cultures by interviewing and getting to know someone from another country. Assign students to

interview someone from another country focusing on educational expectations of that culture.

Then write a three-four page typed paper about what they learned. Have them write about what

educational values are different from their culture and what values are the same. Students should

include the following questions in their interview:

• What is the value of education in your culture?

• What courses or subjects were emphasized during your schooling?

198

• Are women and men entitled to the same educational advantages?

• Did you have homework?

• If so, who in your family made sure your homework was done?

• Was it mandatory that you complete at least 12 years of schooling?

• What’s the educational background of your parents/other siblings?

Activity 10-12: Health care interviews

This activity gives students an opportunity to find out how doctors, nurses, and other health care

professionals perceive and respond to the influence of culture in their interpersonal relationships

with patients and colleagues who are from a culture different from their own. Before coming to

class the day of the exercise, ask students to contact one to three professionals in the health care

field and talk with them for approximately thirty minutes about their interactions with patients

who are in some way culturally dissimilar to themselves. The health care providers can be

contacted through medical schools as well as through nursing and public health programs on

campus. Planned Parenthood, women’s and community clinics, hospices, local hospitals, and the

city health department are also excellent resources.

Encourage students to send a copy of the “Possible interview questions” listed below to the

people they will be interviewing before the day of the actual interview. This will give the health

care providers an opportunity to reflect on their interactions with patients.

After conducting their interviews, students should individually answer the “Post-interview

questions” listed below. On the day of the exercise, have students share their responses to these

questions with a small group of four to six students. Each group should then pool their “data” and

choose a spokesperson to present the group’s findings to the rest of the class.

Possible interview questions:

• Describe some of the patients whom you see in your work.

• Describe the cultural backgrounds of some of your patients.

• How would you describe the relationship between a client and a health care

worker?

• How does communication play a role in a patient’s treatment?

• How is communication more challenging when the patient is from a cultural

background different from your own?

• What do you do to adapt to the patient’s way of communicating?

• Describe a situation when you found communication with a culturally different

patient particularly challenging.

• How have a patient’s cultural beliefs about doctors and illness affected your

communication with and subsequent treatment of this person?

1. What was the cultural background and gender of the person(s) you interviewed?

199

2. In what specific ways might their cultural background be influencing their

interactions with clients?

3. How does culture generally affect the relationships between health care

professionals and their clients?

4. Do you believe their gender influenced their responses to a patient’s culture? If so,

how?

5. How does culture affect communication between health care professionals and

their clients?

Activity 10-13: Classroom visitors

This activity is designed to give students an in-depth understanding of the role that culture plays

in the health care setting by allowing students to listen to and ask questions of health care

professionals. Students will gain insight into how cultural interaction patterns impact the U.S.

health care system.

Invite two or three health care providers who work with a diverse group of patients and/or who

are culturally diverse among themselves. These visitors can be contacted through medical

schools, as well as through nursing and public health programs on campus. Planned Parenthood,

women’s and community clinics, hospices, local hospitals, and the city health department are

also excellent resources. Ask your visitors to address the influence that culture has on health care

and to share some of their intercultural experiences with patients and/or co-workers. Ask them to

describe the cultural backgrounds of their patients and the health care their patients are

accustomed to receiving.

In addition to students’ own questions, instructors might ask visitors to address the following:

• What are the specific needs of patients who come from other cultures?

• What difficulties arise in the intercultural health care setting?

• What aspects do the health professionals find particularly enjoyable and

rewarding?

• What strategies do they use to care for people from different cultures?

• How are non-English-speaking patients assisted?

A debriefing session during the class session after the visits would be helpful to allow students to

discuss some of their own thoughts about the visitors and the impact of culture on the health care

context.

Possible discussion questions following the exercise:

• Of the strategies used to care for people from different cultures, which did you

find most impressive and why? Were any strategies less than impressive?

• Do you think society sufficiently addresses the issue of cultural differences in

health care? How has U.S. society conceptualized and administered health care

from a mono-cultural perspective?

• What additional training would you suggest for health care providers in order to

make them more aware of cultural differences and the need to be sensitive to

these differences?

Activity 10-14: What’s wrong with me?

In this activity, students will use the supernatural/magico/religious, Holistic, and

biomedical/scientific to address various maladies. How would each of the traditions define the

causes, symptoms, and treatments?

sore throat stomach pain headache depression

weight gain hair loss fatigue backache

For example, how would each of the traditions explain the cause of back pain?

• Supernatural/magico/religious – insulted or harmed a spirit, God’s will, a spell

was cast on the victim

• Holistic – imbalance in spirit, mind, and body

• Biomedical/scientific – strain or other physical damage to the spine

What questions would each tradition ask?

• Supernatural/magico/religious – What have you done recently that might have

offended the spirits?

• Holistic – Have you been doing, thinking, eating, and/or feeling differently than

usual?

• Biomedical/scientific – What physical activities have you been engaging in that

might have caused the injury?

What solutions would each tradition offer?