Chapter 2 Perceiving the Self and Others 43As you likely know from experience, culture is an incredibly powerful con-
text of communication: it has a profound effect on the way we perceive events,
as well as ourselves and others. Think back to the competent communication
model in Chapter 1. The ring that comprises the cultural context is made up
of variables that make our perceptions unique: race, ethnicity, religion, politics,
gender, sexual orientation, age, education, role, occupation, abilities/disabili-
ties, geography, and so on. These differences are known as diversity (Loden &
Rosener, 1991). (Also see our discussion of co-cultural variation in Chapter 5.)
Even your positive or negative perceptions of a show like Duck Dynasty are linked
to your perceptions about age, education, occupation, geography, religion, and
a host of other factors. To communicate effectively and appropriately in today’s
world, you must possess an understanding of and appreciation for people who
perceive others differently than you do. It’s also important to understand the way
your unique background affects your perceptions.
Perceptual Barriers
Karl Krayer is a communication consultant who does diversity training for
corporations, schools, and other organizations. Based on his experience,
Krayer notes that successful intercultural communication requires mindful-
ness, respect for others, and accurate perceptions of situations. “Resistance
to cultural diversity usually boils down to ignorance,” he says. “Once people
understand other cultural groups better, it doesn’t take long to see... people
working cooperatively together for a common cause” (personal communica-
tion, May 19, 2004). In our diverse world, perceptual challenges can present
barriers to competent communication, including narrow perspectives, stereo-
typing, and prejudice.
A Narrow Perspective
When Hurricane Katrina devastated the city of New
Orleans, leaving countless residents trapped on roof-
tops or huddled in the Superdome for shelter, many
Americans wondered why New Orleans residents
didn’t just get into their cars and leave the city
when the flood warnings were announced. For many
upper- and middle-class Americans, the idea that a
family might not own a car, might not have enough
money to stay in an out-of-town hotel, or might fear
that their abandoned home would be looted never
crossed their minds. Their own experiences clouded
their perception of other people’s reality. Individu-
als who fail to consider other cultural perspectives
in this manner have cultural myopia, a form of
nearsightedness grounded in the belief that one’s
own culture is appropriate and relevant in all situ-
ations and to all people (Loden & Rosener, 1991).
MANY NEW ORLEANS
RESIDENTS who did not
evacuate for Hurricane
Katrina found themselves
without food, water, or shelter.
They perceived their govern-
ment as abandoning them,
while outsiders perceived
the residents as crazy for not
leaving. AP Photo/Eric GayCONNECT
To ensure that diversity is
respected in professional
situations, organizations
(as well as the U.S. gov-
ernment) enact policies
and codes of behavior to
protect employees from
hurtful, antagonistic com-
munication regarding their
race, religion, national
origin, sexual orientation,
age, and abilities. This type
of derogatory communica-
tion, known as harassment,
is discussed in Chapter 11.