- Compare the strengths and advantages of “framework” approaches to “emic” understandings of a culture.
- Apply the notion of identity politics to the treatment and social construction of a minority group in your culture. This could be a religious group, an ethnic or national group, a sexual group (e.g., women), a social class group (e.g., “White trash,” “rednecks,” in the U.S.). What are the different ways in which media constructions and face-to-face communication with dominant group members build an idea of what this identity is like in the majority group’s mind? What moves, if any, has the minority group made to reclaim a more positive sense of its own identity?
- Outline and give examples of the different types of perceptual and attribution errors and how they might occur (even without you being aware of it) in your own perceptions of other people from identity groups that are not your own.
- List and give examples of five different classifications of nonverbal behaviors from a culture or co-culture to which you belong. Give examples both of behaviors that might illustrate each channel and of how behaviors might differ at different times even within that channel.
- Explain the role of music and/or digital media and social movements, providing examples of how it has been used in the past. Discuss potential strengths and limitations of promoting civic and political engagement through digital media in your own cultural setting.
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of globalization for various parties involved? Provide depth of thought, for in some cases, globalization might provide both strengths and disadvantages to a single party.
- Imagine that you have a chance to study or work abroad. Before you go, you want to think about your own qualifications. Explain your strengths and your limitations in terms of concepts from Cupach and Spitzberg’s approach to intercultural competence. Don’t just list the main categories of competence! Come up with types of examples that show both strengths and things you could work on in each category.
- Use notions from Ting-Toomey’s theory (face, positive/negative face, Hofstede’s dimensions, conflict styles) to explain a conflict you have participated in or seen. In what way does the experience support or contradict the theory?
- Compare the servant leadership strategies of Majora Carter and Blake Mycoskie. What traits do you think they had in common? In what ways were they different? Imagine that you want to start your own change movement. Borrow from descriptions of their characteristics and campaigns to list five things you would do in your own efforts for change.
- Compare the old and new social contracts. To what degree do you see these in practice among the people you know (that is, how does the chapter coverage reflect or not reflect what you see happening in the jobs of people you know coming out of school at the present time)? What are the comparative advantages of the two contracts?
- Describe the notions of corporate social responsibility and organizing for civic engagement. List five concrete ways an organization might demonstrate corporate responsibility/civic engagement, preferably with specific examples.
Last Updated on August 2, 2023
