Communication Styles across Ethnic Groups
Introduction
The paper reviews three articles that are aimed at analyzing communication across ethnic groups. The three articles reviewed are based on: non-verbal communication, contrasting communication styles, and strategies for therapist to view diverse people as individuals.
Non Verbal Communication styles across ethnic groups
The article by Vrij, Dragt, & Koppelaar (1992) is very useful in examining the various non-verbal communication styles across ethnic groups. The article tries to discover why there is high employment amongst ethnic minorities in Western European countries. The case of Netherlands is highlighted and it was discovered that the Dutch (minority) were more likely to be employed compared to ethnic minorities—Surinamese, Turkish, and Moroccans. The two hypotheses that are tested in the study are: judgment of interviewees is solely based on their non-verbal behavior; and Dutch selection boards negatively assess ethnic minorities exhibiting non-verbal presentation
The main research presented in the article was to investigate differences in non-verbal communication between the Dutch interview panel and ethnic minorities. The study was divided into two studies: style of presentation, and effects of style of presentation. Under style of presentation 25 Dutch and 31 ethnic interviewees were videotaped unaware for analysis of their non-verbal communication. Through statistical analyses like ANOVA, the results showed that ethnic interviewees exhibited gaze aversion, slower speech rate, had an indirect response pattern, and a lower voice volume compared to their counterparts. This affected the results of the interviews, which were studied under part two of the research. Ethnic minorities were negatively judged hence the reason why majority were unemployed.
The article is relevant in psychology because it provides an opportunity to understand behaviors and the mind of ethnic minorities in a society. Therefore, it was chosen because as the society gets globalized there is a tendency of more ethnic minorities seeking employment, hence with their non-verbal communication not understood they are at risk of missing the opportunity in interviews. I liked the qualitative and quantitative analyses of results that proved the research to be more solid. However, questions still arise as to how to tackle the problem of unemployment. The article did not clearly define the strategies to be used.
Contrasting communication styles when working with culturally diverse clients
The article by Pryor and Boehringer (2005) highlights the concept of CA (Communication Apprehension) which is degree at which communication is avoided. Styles of communication are categorized depending on their CA level. Globally, people from different cultures have different styles of communication, which can be categorized into two; high context and low context. Low context communication style is that with high CA levels and is characterized by directness of communication. They are seen to never beat around the bush and value individualism over collectivism and group harmony. Alternatively, High context communication style has a low CA level. Members are seen to be indirect with their responses and prefer group harmony or collectivism over individualism. Examples of high context cultures can be found in Japan, while low context are in USA or Israel.
Therefore, Pryor and Boehringer (2005) carried out a research on comparing the CA levels between Japanese and USA students. Japanese samples included 200 undergraduate students all over Japanese universities, while American undergraduate students were 122. Both groups were given a Personal Report of Communication Apprehension at regular class intervals. The results were analyzed using the T-test and it was found that Americans had a high CA degree that is associated with loneliness, low self-esteem, depression, self-criticism, and negative societal factors. Japanese recorded lower CA levels because of emphasis on group harmony and less of individual assertiveness.
The article is relevant in psychology where different organizations have to work in tandem with people from diverse cultures who communicate using different styles. This can be in organizations, schools, hospitals, and even in political platforms. I chose the article because there is a need to identify the two forms of communication styles amongst diverse cultures so that conflict in the work places and misunderstandings can be avoided. The article was comprehensive and accurate in pointing out the contrasting CA levels; however, queries on external validity should be addressed with replicas from other high and low context cultures carried out.
Strategy by Therapists to view members of diverse groups as individuals
The article by Moodley (2007) tries to bring into focus the complexity and hurdles counselors and psychotherapists experience when they deal with clients from diverse cultures. Therapists from these countries have emphasized on differences of cultural groups instead of looking at their clients from an individualistic angle. However, the fault is that multiculturalism is not entirely theorized and so no adequate information through which therapists can carry out assessment tests and diagnosis, understand clients personally, and cure them. Therefore, Moodley (2007) proposes strategies that are aimed at changing multiculturalism from an ethno-culturalism-centered philosophy to that which is centered on clients’ needs.
The author of the article posits that the strategies are all hinged on relocating multiculturalism within a ‘third space’. ‘Third Space’ means an area where current cultural perceptions are re-written and rephrased to integrate and empower marginalized voices. The three strategies that Moodley (2007) explores that are aimed at creating a third space in therapy are: uniting of sexuality, disability, class, sex, and race; incorporation of native and customary practices of healing, and including White people as clients. Ensuring that all the strategies are under critical multiculturalism or diversity will certify that ethical and proven practices at therapies are all based on individualism as opposed to as group members of diverse groups.
The article applies in psychology and counseling through dealing with clients who are from diverse cultures. I chose the article because there is a tendency of therapists stereotyping clients based on the fact that they are from certain ethnic groups. This affects diagnosis and cures of complications that these clients possess. I liked the article as it provided three strategies that therapists from developed societies could implement in dealing with diverse people; more so from ethnic minority groups. However, there is a likelihood that the strategies do not comply to set psychological and counseling guidelines; hence the need for them included in the guidelines.
Conclusion
The three articles highlighted the challenges that people experience when communicating with diverse groups. The first article highlighted the challenge of understanding non-verbal communication in minority ethnic groups. The second article explained the two contrasting communication styles all influenced by culture. The high context and low context found in Japan and USA respectively. The third article highlighted the challenge therapists had when they classified their patients on the basis of their ethnicity. It proposed strategies to deal with patients as individuals.
References
Moodley, R. (2007). (Re)placing multiculturalism in counselling and psychotherapy. British Journal Of Guidance & Counselling, 35(1), 1-22. doi:10.1080/03069880601106740
Pryor, B., Butler, J., & Boehringer, K. (2005). Communication Apprehension and Cultural Context: A Comparison of Communication Apprehension in Japanese and American Students. North American Journal Of Psychology, 7(2), 247-252.
Vrij, A., Dragt, A., & Koppelaar, L. (1992). Interviews with Ethnic Interviewees: Non-verbal Communication Errors in Impression Formation. Journal Of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 2(3), 199-208.
