1. Understanding Intercultural
Communication Second Edition
Chapter 3
What are the Essential Cultural Value
Patterns?
Stella Ting-Toomey & Leeva C. Chung
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
PowerPoint Slides Designed by Alex Flecky and Noorie Baig

2. MENU
I. Functions of Cultural Values
II. Analyzing Cultural Value
Dimensions
III. Additional Value Orientations
IV. Individual Socialization Development
V. Intercultural Reality Check: Do-Ables

3. I. Functions of Cultural
Values
A. Analyzing Cultural Values
B. Identity Meaning Function
C. Explanatory Function
D. Motivational Function
E. Ingroup–Outgroup Evaluative
Function

4. II. Analyzing Cultural Value
Dimensions
IDENTITY: Individualism Collectivism
Power
distance:
Small Large
Uncertainty
avoidance:
Weak Strong
Sex roles: Feminine Masculine

5. II. Analyzing Cultural Value Dimensions:
Individualism–Collectivism Value
Pattern
Individualistic
Cultures
“I” Identity
Nuclear family
Privacy regulation
Individual competition
Personal competence
Direct comm. patterns
Independent self
Collectivistic Cultures
“We” Identity
Extended family
Relational harmony
Teamwork
Ingroup emphasis
Indirect comm.
patterns
Interdependent self

6. II. Analyzing Cultural Value Dimensions:
Individualism vs. Collectivism
Individualistic Cultures
“I” Identity
Nuclear family
Privacy regulation
Individual competition
Personal competence
Direct communication
patterns
Independent self
Collectivistic Cultures
“We” Identity
Extended family
Relational harmony
Teamwork
Ingroup emphasis
Indirect communication
patterns
Interdependent self

7. II. Analyzing Cultural Value Dimensions:
Small–Large Power Distance Value
Pattern
Small Power Distance
Emphasize interpersonal
equality
Children may contradict
parents
Younger people are smart
Teachers ask for feedback
Subordinates expect
consultation
Informal comm. patterns
Horizontal self
Large Power Distance
Emphasize status based
difference
Children should obey
parents
Older people are wise
Teachers lecture
Subordinates expect
guidance
Formal comm. patterns
Vertical self

8. II. Analyzing Cultural Value Dimensions:
Weak-Strong Uncertainty Avoidance Value
Pattern
Weak Uncertainty
Avoidance
Uncertainty is valued
Family is dynamic and
changing
High mobility in relationships
Challenges are welcome
Encourage risk-taking
Conflict can be positive
High tolerance for ambiguity
Strong Uncertainty
Avoidance
Uncertainty is a threat
Reinforce family rules
Low mobility in
relationships
Routines are welcome
Encourage clear
procedure
Conflict is negative

9. II. Analyzing Cultural Value
Dimensions: Feminine vs. Masculine
Feminine Cultures
Flexible sex roles
Emphasize nurturance
Both genders take initiative
Social adjustment is critical
Work in order to live
Fluid gender communication
Overlapped gender roles
Masculine Cultures
Complementary sex roles
Emphasize achievement
Males take initiative
Academic performance is
critical
Live in order to work
“Masculine” toughness vs.
“feminine” softness
Clear masculine/feminine
gender roles

10. II. Analyzing Cultural Value
Dimensions:
Self-Assessment Discussion
Four-Dimensional Values Inventory (DVI)
 What Factors Shape Your Values’ Development?
 Increase Your Self-Awareness of Value
Dimensions on Multiple Levels: Cultural/Ethnic,
Workplace, Family, and Personal Self.
 Dyadic Discussion: Increase Your Awareness of
Differences and Similarities between SELF and
OTHER. . .

11. III. Additional Value Orientation
Patterns
Orientation Range
Meaning Doing
(action-
oriented)
Being-in-
becoming
(inner
development)
Being
(expressive/
emotional)
Destiny Controlling
nature
(mastering)
Harmony with
nature
(flow)
Subjugation to
nature
(yielding)
Time Future-oriented
(schedule-
bound)
Present-
oriented
(here-and-
now)
Past-oriented
(tradition-bound)
Three Value Orientation Patterns, adapted from Strodbeck (1961 and Kohls (1996)

12. IV. Individual Socialization
Development
Independent versus Interdependent
Self-Construal
Horizontal versus Vertical Self-
Construal
Internal versus External Locus of
Control

13. V. Intercultural Reality Check: Do-
Ables
Observe verbal and nonverbal
signals attentively.
Describe specific behaviors with
a minimum of distortion.
Generate multiple interpretations
of the unfamiliar behaviors.
Suspend ethnocentric evaluation,
perform open-ended evaluation.
O =
D =
I =
S =
Flexible intercultural communicators
practice the O-D-I-S Method:

14. Values Exploration Exercise
“PARABLE” Application Exercise
 Individual Decision Ranking
 Group Discussion
 Group Decision Consensus Ranking
 In-Class Writing Assignment

15. Parting Thoughts…
Only if we understand can we care.
Only if we care will we help.
Only if we help shall they be saved. ~ Jane