Components of Culture  (But remember - cultures are systems.  the components are interrelated.)

1. Beliefs - what is thought true (or false) - usually based on faith, personal experience, or authority (science).
2. Values - what is considered right or wrong, good or bad
3. Norms - informal rules that guide behavior or decisions, what is usual and appropriate
4. Language - including verbal language and related sign systems (including non-verbal behaviors)
5. Artifacts - material objects of significance to a people - objects reflect 1-4 above.

Cultures are shaped by history and geography

Cultures change over time.  By innovation, diffusion, calamity or communication.

Improving Cross-cultural Communication

1. Resist Ethnocentric Bias.  Acknowledge cultural relativism as best you can.
2. Dealing with diversity is a process.  Responses to diversity of cultures.

   Resistance

      Assimilation occurs when people give up their own ways and take on the ways of the dominant culture.

   Tolerance

      A person accepts differences but does not approve or even understand them.

   Understanding

      Recognize that differences are rooted in culture.

   Respect

   Participation

      We incorporate some of the practices and values of other groups into our own

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   Homework Assignment for Wednesday, 12/12: 

   Between now and class on Wednesday, find someone who has spent a significant amount of time in a culture other than the U.S.  (That person could be an international student here at Monmouth or an MC student or teacher who has spent several months in another country or someone you know from home. etc.)

   Have a discussion with that person to discover at least one example for each Component of the "other" Culture (see the list above and in the textbook) that is different from the U.S.  What do these differences say about life in the other culture?  Come prepared to discuss your findings