Category: Communication

Communication is a basic need of every person in the world. Socialization is one of the most critical stages of a childs growth as it has a significant impact on the formation of character and behavior patterns. The environment has a strong influence on the attitudes or opinion-forming of a human. For the reason of diverse cultural backgrounds, people of different nationalities may experience difficulties in establishing relationships with personalities from other regions or countries. To organize an interview, I decided to have a conversation with my Russian friend and ask him about contact and social rules established in his country, and the specificity of verbal and non-verbal communication.

The interview was well-structured and organized: I decided to start with more abstract questions and then move to more particular ones. The first part of the conversation was focused on the communicational specificities in Russia. For example, when someone wants to ask a question on how to get to the place, it is necessary to say hello and then apologize. On the opposite, in Puerto Rico, people prefer to concentrate on the topic without any introductory words. My friend told me that this approach might be perceived as rude in Russia, especially by the representatives of older people. What is more, politeness in terms of communication in Russia varies significantly from the rules established in my native country. Humans rarely hug or kiss each other when they meet for dinner with their friends. They use words and introductory phrases instead of non-verbal communication. The situation in Puerto Rico is the opposite as we usually skip the questions about the day, working process, or well-being of the relatives.

Another crucial difference between the Russian communicational rules and traditions established in my native country is the way the use of formal language. The inhabitants of my friends land prefer to talk in a formal style with everyone except for their close friends and relatives. In many other states, people use standard types of communication, only speaking to a respected personality. It is common in my country to address someone on the street in an informal way.

Non-verbal signals are underestimated in Russia as people pay more attention to the words and actions instead of analyzing the language of the body. My friend proposed the idea that this specificity is correlated with the climate, which is severe in the majority of regions. Wearing three or four layers of clothes makes it a challenging task to hug another person in a comfortable way. Moreover, it is hard to investigate and examine the gestures of other humans as their slight moves are hidden under the coat. Nevertheless, my friend highlights that the situation is changing nowadays, as Russian citizens begin to travel more after the collapse of the USSR. They analyze the behavior patterns of other nations, which are more concentrated on body language. However, adults and older people still remember the USSRs past and cannot change their habits in such a short period of time.

Russian people have a diverse mindset in comparison to the inhabitants of Puerto Rico. For example, in case of a conversation about someones problem, they prefer to propose particular actions for the solution of the issue. In my country, humans would analyze the reasons and provide emotional support before discussing the final decision. Russian citizens perceive the help of the other person as something practical, while in Puerto Rico, care about the feelings is more important for the participants of the dialogue.

This interview is advantageous for my knowledge of the world because it would help me establish communication according to the needs of another person. When I would meet someone from Russia or other states, I would think more about being tolerant: I would use formal language at the beginning of the conversation, use introductory phrases before starting a dialogue. I understood that I should pay more attention to the personal boundaries of my companion. What is more, I am convinced that it is a normal practice to ask a person about his behavior, attitudes, rules, or customs concerning communication established in his country. It would be beneficial for both sides: I would not make a mistake, and another person would feel more comfortable and relaxed.

In conclusion, it is necessary to point out that there is no unique pattern of communication for people with diverse cultural backgrounds. It is essential to be tolerant of the representatives of other countries and regions in order to establish good relationships. The interview with the Russian friend is an illustration of the fact that personal boundaries may vary significantly depending on the environmental particularities and traditions of the country. At the same time, I suppose that I should try to establish more relations with people of other nationalities as it is beneficial for self-development. It helps to broaden my horizons and learn more about the particularities of socialization in my native country. Comparing the common environment to foreign ones is advantageous for investigating the cultural specificities of Puerto Rico.

Introduction

Globalization is a long-term phenomenon involving a gradual change of events. This process has occurred in distinct phases with each having unique characteristics. The evolution of modes of communication has contributed significantly to globalization. Through the development of certain communication forms and technologies, people, cultures, and societies have gone through qualitative thresholds. This paper defines the term qualitative threshold. It also gives examples of cases where different communication forms were instrumental during different qualitative thresholds in the process of globalization. Finally, the paper highlights changes that arise from new communication forms.

Qualitative Threshold

In the context of changes in communication forms and globalization, qualitative thresholds are the distinct points or periods in time when humanity started experiencing novel changes due to advancement or discovery of new ways of communication. For instance, two examples of qualitative thresholds where communication forms were instrumental include the pre-modern period, which is commonly known as the age of empires, and the modern period.

The Pre-modern Period

This period is also known as the Age of Empires, and it occurred between 3500 BCE and 1500 BCE. During this period, two key inventions  writing and the wheel, played a significant role in allowing people, who were mostly farmers and herders, to enter a new level in the globalization process. During this period (3500-2000 BCE), writing was invented in Mesopotamia, and it facilitated the spread of ideas and innovations to other regions (Crowley and Heyer 30).

In 3000 BCE, the wheel was invented in South-West Asia, and it facilitated faster transportation of people and goods (Bulliet 6). These two inventions spread quickly across Eurasia. Therefore, long-distance communication became popular, which ultimately allowed individuals from different geographical places to exchange commodities, ideas, technology, and culture. This period could be termed as the genesis of globalization due to the expansion of market and trade networks. With writing available and improved mode of transportation, ideas from one culture could be documented and sent to other regions. The Chinese Empire was the most advanced establishment at the time, and it shaped the course of globalization.

Before these changes in communication and transportation, people lived in the prehistoric period whereby hunting and gathering were the major activities. Steger argues that in this earliest phase of globalization, contact among thousands of hunter and gatherer bands spread all over the world was geographically limited and mostly coincidental (20). Therefore, cross-cultural interactions were non-existent.

Face-to-face communication was a popular means of interaction. After the pre-modern period, humanity entered the early modern era. During this epoch, communication technologies had advanced tremendously allowing European powers to expand overseas and the rise of Spanish merchants. Mechanized printing was invented during this time together with the postal system and sophisticated navigation techniques. Therefore, instead of information being sent using horse-driven carts, letters would be delivered through the postal system.

The Modern Period

According to Steger, the modern period started in the 1750s and ended in the 1970s (29). During this time, scientific and technological innovations were advanced, and thus communication was borderless. Transportation was swift following the invention of railroads, airplanes, and ships. At the same time, the telegraph was devised, and it heralded the discovery of wireless radio communication and telephony.

The effects of these developments were monumental in shaping the course of globalization. Western capitalist enterprises spread around the world and waves of immigration became intense to facilitate cultural exchanges by transforming societies. Therefore, globalization spread fast during this period. European empires colonized the rest of the world, and the world became interconnected.

Before this era, people lived in the early modern period. The major technological advancements during this time included mechanized printing, sophisticated wind and water mills, extensive postal systems, revised maritime technologies, and advanced navigation techniques (Steger, 28). Therefore, wireless communication systems were missing, and thus people relied on letters sent through postal addresses for communication.

However, things changed after the 1970s when humanity entered the contemporary period. The most outstanding technological development during this era is the Internet revolution (Poe 2). This invention has facilitated globalization by reducing the world into one large village where communication is timeless. The discovery of social media allows people from different geographical places to communicate effectively without the limitations of time and space.

Conclusion

Throughout the history of humanity, new communication promoted globalization by allowing people from one location to pass information to others in different parts of the world. The changes ensured that ideas could be documented and preserved. The invention of writing in Mesopotamia, during the pre-modern era, redefined how people from different geographical places interacted with one another.

The modern period was characterized by the accelerated spread of globalization due to advanced technological innovations. At each qualitative threshold of globalization, communication played a central role by allowing people to move and talk with others from far-off areas. The evolution of forms of communication is under process. The invention of the Internet has changed the way individuals interact. This generation is yet to see the last of communication innovations and globalization will continue to evolve.

Works Cited

Bulliet, Richard. The Wheel: Inventions and Reinventions. Columbia University Press, 2016.

Crowley, David, and Paul Heyer. Communicating in History: Technology, Culture, Society. 6^th ed., Taylor & Francis, 2015.

Poe, Marshall. A History of Communications: Media and Society from the Evolution ofSpe ech to the Internet. Cambridge University Press, 2010.

Steger, Manfred. Globalization. Sterling, 2010.

Figure 1 above presents a photo of two people interacting. The most evident nonverbal communication in this picture is facial expression. Notably, the womans face conveys happiness, joy, delight, and glee even without saying a word. Some of the feelings depicted in the photo, including joy and happiness, match those listed in Chapter 5. The couples facial expressions are complementary as the male partner looks happy. The direct eye contact and smiles show that the couple is paying attention to each other.

Non-verbal communications are crucial to a manager because successful interpersonal and group interactions in the workplace are hugely dependent on the managers ability to recognize and use body language effectively. Research shows that managers can enhance employee morale and performance by using positive nonverbal cues when interacting with others at work (Radovic Markovic & Salamzadeh, 2018). Some barriers to this form of communication that I have encountered are misunderstanding and misinterpreting non-verbal messages, using wrong nonverbal cues, and prejudices, mainly due to cultural differences.

Cultural differences affect non-verbal communication in terms of how people from different cultures interpret, understand, and use nonverbal cues. Misinterpretation or misunderstanding may arise when there are differences in meanings of non-verbal cues. For example, I maintained excessive eye contact when talking with an inter-cultural colleague. I thought that looking into his eyes was a sign of confidence and attentiveness. Surprisingly, the colleague perceived my behavior to be aggressive and confrontational. Other examples I have experienced include using wrong hand gestures, a firm handshake, inappropriate physical contact, and improper posture when attending a meeting.

Mickey Mouse is the animated character that interests me most. The nonverbal behavior that prompted me to think of Mickey is his fascinating personality. As depicted in Figure 2 below, Mickey is always cheerful, optimistic, brave, kind, lovable, and mischievous.

The non-verbal cues that Mickey exhibits most are facial expressions, hand gestures, and iconic shorts, yellow shoes, and white gloves. His face, for example, makes the character bold and optimistic.

Mickey is relatable to me in several aspects, such as cheerfulness, optimism, upbeat, and empathy. Most of the people close to me, including parents, siblings, and friends, think that these characteristics define my personality.

The attribute that I would change about Mickey is his mischief and insecurity. Despite being bold, witty, empathetic, and cheerful, the character demonstrates mischief and insecurity to some extent, which taints his image.

Lastly, other people think I remind them of this character. As explained above, my family members and friend often say that my sly pranks and trickery constantly remind them of Mickey Mouse.

References

Radovic Markovic, M., & Salamzadeh, A. The importance of communication in business management. In Radovic Markovic, M., & Salamzadeh, A. (2018). The Importance of Communication in Business Management, The 7th International Scientific Conference on Employment, Education and Entrepreneurship, Belgrade, Serbia.

Disney Fandom. (2021). Mickey Mouse. Web.

In his research on the impact of peoples increasing tendency to multitask, Clifford Nass dwells on the issue of paying attention to each other in a conversation. The multitasking behavior is a common phenomenon in modern times. Specifically, multitasking is driven by the need to use mobile phones or computers while also working, driving, flying, attending classes, or doing any other task in daily life. As the author notes, this relatively new behavior has made people lack attention in most of the things they do, whether in class, at work, or during a conversation with other people. In his view, most people who multitask tend to pay little attention to others when they are using phones or computers, yet they want others to give them attention when they need to express themselves. Indeed, there is no strong relationship without communication, which in turn heavily relies on paying attention to each other.

Humans are social animals and rely on communication in their daily lives. Without communication, it would be difficult for people to relate and survive in the world. However, it is worth noting that communication is based on the exchange of information between two or more parties. For effective communication, both parties must participate in the process, which requires attention from each side. If one side does not pay attention, the effectiveness of the communication is compromised, which also means that the relationship with weak.

Since we are in an era where almost everyone is multitasking because of the effect of mobile phones or computers and social media, it is usually difficult to pay attention. Therefore, it means that our communication is ineffective and compromised. Consequently, our relationships with others continue to weaken because we no longer give our undivided attention to others. Based on this view, one readily agrees with Nass that undivided attention is the greatest gift we can give others. If someone gives undivided attention, then it means that there is a high level of dedication in a world where everyone is disrupted by computers, cell phones, televisions, and the social medial.

Introduction

The media has been one of the most critical stakeholder management concerns in recent years. Since media is useful in signaling other stakeholders faced with difficulties due to information asymmetry, it directly affects knowledge sharing and any irregularity in the business community. According to Wakefield and Barney (2016), communication has emerged as a critical problem for businesses. Because of its overall impact on the recognition and reporting of companies activities, media is valuable and multifaceted. Whysall (2020) stated that popularizing the media and its public effect intensified the potential consequences in business operations. Alonso (2018) stated the media significantly impacted public opinion development and information creation and dissemination. As a result, it had clout in the corporate world. Additionally, key stakeholders and media control can be critical to a companys socioeconomic success. The media can, and has, affected an organizations achievement of its goals.

Through contingencies on the agenda, social media has the potential of manipulating the issues and pressurizing different entities It affects the social construction of facts about firms activities; it depicts and influences public information and perceptions about firms (Barge, 2020). The media may also discuss what constitutes socially appropriate economic conduct. The media influences the credibility and prestige of firms by framing the overall understanding of firms among different stakeholder groups and the degree to which firms adhere to the regulatory, normative, and cognitive realms. Additionally, the media is where businesses can gain a competitive edge and even outperform their competitors (Scheu, 2019). Jungert et al. (2017) postulated that it was unclear if business interests captured media factors and, as a result, companies engaged in distinct behavior when engaging with the media. However, the degree to which companies regard media as a significant factor was just an assumption.

Stakeholder Theory

According to this theory, stakeholders are individuals, parties, corporations, or organizations with a vested interest in the outcome, ranging from consumers to governments (Howard et al., 2013). According to Chun (2012), the salience and influence of stakeholders regarding contingency or necessity or control, urgency, and credibility, determine whether their stake is considered essential to the organization. The importance of suppliers and customers as stakeholders is summarized in their contracts with the organization, making supply chain members the most critical stakeholders. Consumer influence is a catalyst for surrounding issues in the business and upstream in the supply chain, with customer influence having the most impact on eco-friendly buying. Miao et al. (2020) argued that though non-contractual stakeholders were considered contingent, they can still exert pressure on the organization through legislation, regulations, and policies. The government is authentic and is often an influential interested party that can influence decisions through policies, regulations, and legislation.

Free Press Theory or Libertarianism

Press freedom has become a common concept all over the world. When governments believe their protection and stability are threatened, however, the guarantee of free speech is not always realized (Abreu et al., 2010). There is a study of hypotheses and assumptions regarding press freedom, balancing competing rights, and social constraints. The concept of libertarianism is traced to the 17th century when printing several copies of a pamphlet or book for a low price (Kim and Lee, 2021). The state is seen as the primary genesis of a dispute with a persons property rights. Libertarians believe that taxation was a form of systematic theft. The peoples wishes were given priority over the states influence. Early 16th-century philosopher Lao Tzu, 17th-century British philosopher John Locke, epic poet John Milton, and essayist John Stuart Mill were proponents of this theory (Rubalcaba et al., 2010). If the freedom of speech was granted, then the truth and falsehood wrestled.

In such consideration, self-correction measures should be embraced by the free press to enhance communication. Such a strategy will improve the transparency and confidentiality of the media. Milton emphasized in aeropagitica, referring to a self-correcting mechanism. In their declaration, the citizens of France wrote anyone could compose, speak or print (Rubalcaba et al., 2010). The doctrines gave rise to the principle of an open marketplace of ideas, which is useful in resolving content-related issues in media. George Orwell described libertarianism as allowing people to say things they dont want to hear (Kim and Lee, 2021). The French wrote in their Declaration of the Rights of Man in 1789 that anyone can freely speak, compose, and print. Such doctrines gave rise to the notion of an open marketplace of ideas. Kim and Lee (2021) described libertarianism as allowing people to say things they do not want to hear. According to libertarians, the press should be regarded as the Fourth Estate, reflecting public opinion.

How Does the Motivation of Each Stakeholder Affect the Potential Outcomes

The organizational response perspective provided a broad overview of the activities that businesses should take in response to media pressures. Steinhoff (2017) postulated that the stakeholder management viewpoint, in general, focused on identifying the causes for dependence and the stakeholder pressures that lead to companies engaging in stakeholder behavior. Fire-fighting measures are one form of corporate response action by which companies can handle the dynamic impacts on the media (Katz and Flynn 2013). According to García et al. (2019) stakeholder theory, stressed the benefits and suitability of more strategic steps, which required a particular commitment of resources, intricate interest coordination, and a coordinated effort.

Stakeholder pressures, which are the most critical predictors listed in the literature, cause these types of organizational response behavior. Ramirez (2010) argued that the extent of resource dependency influenced organizational behavior. It represents an organizations reliance on resources and capabilities and regulates these resources and capabilities (Resche, 2020). As a result, the stakeholder management and organizational response perspectives are used in this study to clarify how companies respond to media impact. Sanyang and Huangs (2010) international companies in the conventional media (print, radio, and television) market in the Netherlands was an appropriate research background due to their press freedom and freedom of expression.

How Successful Are the Present Communication Strategies Used Between the Stakeholders

The media has primarily influenced economic and social activities in society. Such attribution is achieved by disseminating and presenting stories, ideas, and knowledge about business practices and shaping firms image, credibility, and legitimacy through interaction with various stakeholders and the general public (Missonier and Loufrani, 2014). According to a classical perspective, Wakefield and Barney (2016) indicated that firms could engage with the press if their practices are impacted impromptu. However, Günbay1 et al. argued that (2016) the approach of managing stakeholders was an unceasing organizational practice since media is underlying, paramount stakeholders, assisting them in gaining a competitive advantage. Furthermore, White and Agne (2019) identified two forms of organizational response actions that businesses can use to control the media. One category included using fire-fighting strategies on an as-needed basis to accomplish short-term goals or provide an adaptive response to a particular incident.

In most cases, such acts consist of small, reversible steps to redress the situation. Alonso (2018) listed the significant characteristics of the fire-fighting response as problem or event specificity and ad hoc strategies. Firms initiated responses as short-term interventions on an issue-by-issue basis. For example, if a given issue emerges to be outstanding, advocating can improve the companys credibility (Chun, 2012). Greenwood and Mir (2018) argued that the press tends to focus on incidents rather than problems, supporting event-specific behavior instead of excellent management. As a result, fire-fighting activities may be defined as a companys response to an incident or other timely matter via or to the media (Stephens, 2015). Moreover, businesses use fire-fighting measures only when the consequences have become apparent and appropriate. According to Stey et al. (2018), organizations must understand the evolution of public concern and how to handle it. Using fire-fighting tactics, businesses can quickly deal with media contingencies without organizing the whole company.

How Could Communication Practices Be Changed to Improve the Stakeholder Relationship

Conflicts, which are an unavoidable and expected part of human activity, may have functional or dysfunctional effects depending on management style. As a result, conflict management is critical for organizational success and performance, and Yarn (2014) considers it the most crucial topic in organizational management. White and Agne (2019) also agreed that it was critical to address the following topics when addressing stakeholder management strategies. First, the information collected should be transmitted to the community as a medium of mass communication. The media is currently a dominant player in society and an influential stakeholder within the politically, socially, and economically intertwined business environment (Bob and Bronkhorst, 2011). People have continuously shown concern over media content in expressing, sociopolitical or economic affiliations.

A three-step mechanism is customarily followed for stakeholder consultation and involvement: notification, consultation, and participation. Bonet et al. (2010) argued that everybody should have access to reliable information to form an informed opinion. Informal collaboration with a project representative that involves frequent two-way communication raises awareness, clarifies community interests and values, and assists the sponsor in considering how public opinion can and should influence policy decisions. Organizations, on the other hand, are often confronted with communication issues. Communicate with stakeholders in the most effective manner possible. IJzerman et al. (2016) need to recognize that every individual or community is different and choose the best communication method for them  email, online networks, social media, phone, or in-person group meetings. According to Caulkin and Black (2014), people should communicate with you and provide input in various ways. Rather than judge the stakeholders value, try to determine why they value it. Maintaining a transparent and inquisitive mindset will assist the team in comprehending the stakeholders past and current desires (Meratian and Johnson 2018). Such an open, curious mindset will help both parties find creative solutions to problems while also aligning values and interests.

From the business owners and managers interviews, it was clear that stakeholders should have a say in handling communication issues. Baggio and Cooper (2010) suggested that this is done by maintaining a commitment record and ensuring that project team members exchange information, plan consultation meetings, assign tasks, and follow-up actions. The business leaders agreed to conduct meetings, phone calls, letters, and share responsibilities to enhance communication. Unnecessary information and time wastage can be avoided if there is a clarification of the context and approach used for communicating with stakeholders which is difficult with long-termed developments involving changing participants (Swiatek & Pluszcyk, 2016). Stake Tracker, for example, assists businesses in topping the lists of their projects by organizing all messages in a central position with all messages about potential program impacts on the communities in which they operate (Riehle, 2016; Yin, 2013). During the consultation, the information and how it is controlled and published are crucial aspects of the process. According to Hitt et al. (2019), mistakes in stakeholder information management could jeopardize the success of your project. A comprehensive consultation often showed how a group viewed your project; the perspective changes over time. It allowed a person to forestall issues and come up with solutions.

Overall, communication has assisted in the growth of trust and the generation of solutions with your stakeholders and corrective action. It also allowed you to predict problems and devise solutions to them. Additionally, business owners and managers admitted that it aided in developing trust and the generation of solutions with your stakeholders and rights holders. There will be no errors in stating that without good internal communication, there will be no good external communication, which will lead to poor results. Furthermore, it is impossible to imagine organizational contact without some kind of confrontation. Conflicts are something common in every organization because people have different opinions and among them, some people cannot agree.

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The way people communicate has been altered significantly by the advances in information technologies. Moreover, the growing popularity of social media continues to enhance the way people perceive their interlocutors and their ability to reach a broad audience when it is needed. The perception of social media varies significantly, and the reasons that underlie different approaches should be considered in order to fully understand the way social media improve communication skills.

The effects that social media may have on a persons development and ability to communicate with others have proven to be controversial. Alqahtani (2019) notes that it has recently become vivid that the excessive use of social media and the mere availability of any information on the Internet can seriously undermine youngsters ability to communicate. Some researchers even refer to the widespread phenomenon as digital dementia. Although there are numerous studies criticizing the immense popularity of social media and the impact they have on society, the actual benefits of such networks can already be observed in everyday life.

When a person is exposed to a completely different environment, he/she has to adapt to it and find the means to establish proper relationships with others. Taking into consideration the great number of micro-societies that are represented by various communities and groups on social media, people get the chance to learn about other cultures, subcultures, religions, and political movements. Thus, they acquire the skills needed to communicate with different social groups. People become better speakers and listeners, which enhances civil society.

The use of social media allows for great popularity and even substantial income streams. Due to the automation process and stagnating incomes, being able to convey a message to thousands (or even millions of people) has become a job in its own right. More and more people get actively involved in it, and their attempts (even unsuccessful ones) enhance their communication skills due to everyday practice and the necessity to provide entertaining and engaging content.

Social media are central to the implementation of current shifts in society. People are expected to become more open-minded and interact with any kind of personalities in order to achieve success in most spheres of life. Moreover, society expects all its members to adjust rapidly to such an approach. Therefore, the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to master this vital part of soft skills should not be undermined.

Hook: Moreover, the growing popularity of social media continues to enhance the way people perceive their interlocutors and their ability to reach a broad audience when it is needed.

The perception of social media varies significantly, and the reasons that underlie different approaches should be considered in order to fully understand the way social media improve communication skills.

References

Alqahtani, A. S. (2019). Examining the relationship between academic leaders communication skills and their social media usage. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 18(6), 5567. Web.

Introduction

Language and ideas have a symbiotic relationship where one is dependent on the other. A language is used to convey ideas while the language relays messages. Examining the anthropogenic of ideas and language can impact the message sent out and how it is perceived and interpreted. It must be noted that language is used to represent an idea and the choice of words are just an approximation of an idea conceived in the communicators mind subject to their cultural experiences. Thus, the way individuals discuss an idea or an issue conveys as much information as the issue itself. This paper uses the anthropogenic lens on language and ideas in examining how two key papers, Douglas and Abu-Lughod, have addressed the variance between the way an issue is discussed and addressed across different anthropogenic dimensions and the issue itself.

Main text

The two anthropologists have addressed different topics albeit there is a clear point of convergence. Cultural and language relativism is evident in how different people perceive and interpret various issues. The second chapter of Douglass book titled secular defilement acknowledges the differences in how religious rituals have been defiled by secular interpretation. How scholars have looked at some primitive rituals removes them from context and may prompt anthropologists to question the scholars subjective perception of these rituals as an outsider as opposed to the issue itself. Similarly, Abu-Loughod questions the way that the western media has discussed the Muslim woman in the face of liberation wars in the Middle East. The two authors agree that cultural misunderstanding is rampant where individual elements of a given culture, far removed from their anthropogenic context, are used to reify culture.

Reification of culture is a danger that some modern scholars have conveniently ignored in their subjective extrapolation of culture. The question arises on whether an individual should be first identified based on a narrow cultural dimension as opposed to a broader human dimension. In Righteous Dopefiend Philippe Bourgois and Jeff Schonberg assert that the American population has adopted a contemptuous attitude reeking of bourgeoisie snobbery who view homeless people as just homeless and lesser human beings and literally as a different species (ix). The same notion is evident in the manner that the Muslim woman is portrayed. Similarly, the Muslim is portrayed as in need of liberation from the Burqa which the western scholars and media have labeled as a symbol of oppression against the fairer sex (Abu-Lughod 874). Thus, the Muslim woman is portrayed as simply similarly lacking freedom that drug addicts are simplified as just people without homes instead of digging deeper to understand them and their plight more broadly.

Most revealingly, the narrow approach to understanding culture and discussing societal problems reeks of self-aggrandizement that has become custom for modern society. While understanding one cultural element is critical in appreciating an issue and discussing it in a cultural context, it should not exclude other interpretations. A good example is provided by Abu-Lughod who cites the case of Laura Bush who, while addressing the plight of women in Afghanistan, ended up showing her imperialist mindset. The author cites the former first lady saying, Because of our recent military gains in much of Afghanistan, women are no longer imprisoned in their homes. They can listen to music and teach their daughters without fear of punishment&.the fight against terrorism is also for the rights and dignity of women (US Government 2002, cited in Abu-Lughod 784). Lauras bush manages to create an impression that the anti-terror war was partly geared towards destabilizing the Afghan culture where stay-at-home wives are common. How she addressed the issue and her choice of words reveal that there were underlying beliefs that view the Muslim woman as a victim of Islam as a religion and the Islamic culture.

Ideally, the choice of such words from a high-profile American justifies the need to examine ideas and language anthropologically. As the case with the language used by Laura Bush, the message conveyed by the issue itself may be different from the language used (Abu-Lughod784). It may imply that the language borders on sarcasm in that it offers contrary meaning to the literal one. Thus, an anthropological approach examines all views based on a subjective position. Taking this approach allows for a deeper understanding of texts and speeches and reveals a larger number of possible interpretations based on the message recipients subjective worldviews. An anthropologist could ask, is it possible for the message to be misinterpreted? Does the message adhere to local cultural dynamics? Such questions could help avoid the generalization of people and cultures.

The generalization of a people from an understanding of one cultural element is immoral and unjust and seeks to cover other pertinent issues. In the case of the Muslim woman being veiled, the western notion of the Burqa and the Hijab lumps all different cultures unique to different regions in the Middle East and parts of Asia into one. The notion created that the anti-terror war will liberate women from wearing the Burqa misses the key point of the cultural identity of Afghan women and other cultures(Abu-Lughod 786). It is interesting to note that Afghans and the larger percentage of Muslim women wear the Burqa voluntarily out of respect to their culture and the need to maintain their moral standing. In some cases, revealing certain body parts such as arms may amount to secular defilement on their part. Douglas (29) uses the same notion of defilement to label the western misunderstanding and misinterpretation of religious rituals.

One can certainly state also that the defiling labels based on a narrow cultural element by some entities are used to justify certain societal organizations such as wars. Communicators can use anthropogenic to conceal or decipher certain ideas. In the case of the Afghan war, the western countries will use the alleged womens rights abuse in the Middle East typified by the Burqa to justify the continued invasion of sovereign countries. The same problem is witnessed in the case of the homeless people who continue to suffer other injustices such as racial profiling as indicated by Bourgeois and Schonbergwith the mainstream society blaming the victims for their plight. Accordingly, the Muslim woman wearing the Burqa perpetuates the unfounded notion that all Muslim women are oppressed. The same narrow-minded approach is applied by donor countries to justify their presence in Africa and less-developed countries that continue to receive development aid that does not appear to achieve any goals (Ferguson, 13). Thus, the isolation of the Muslim woman and lesser developed countries among the rest typifies language that tells more of an issue through the choice of words same as, if not more than, the issue itself.

Conclusion

All in all, an anthropological lens in examining language and ideas is critical in gaining the full understanding and implications of communications. Any critique or interpretation of text or speech demands a multi-faceted approach that considers all cultural dimensions that inform language and worldviews for a deeper understanding. With that said, it implies that the discipline of anthropology has a big role to play across all disciplines and generations of knowledge and information. Even more importantly, anthropology, when considered that it can examine the language of an idea and the idea itself, can play a big role in the international relations discourse.

Works Cited

1. Abu-Lughod, Lila. Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? Anthropological Reflections on Cultural Relativism and Its Others. American Anthropologist, vol. 104, no. 3, 2002, pp. 783-790.
2. Bourgois, Philippe, and Jeffrey Schonberg. Righteous Dopefiend. University of California Press, 2009.
3. Douglas, Mary. Purity and Danger. An Analysis of the Concepts of Pollution and Taboo. Routledge, 2013.
4. Ferguson, James. The Anti-Politics Machine: Development, Depoliticization and Bureaucratic Power in Lesotho. University of Minnesota Press, 1994.

Conflicts are something that all people encounter in their life, that is why understanding different ways of handling them is important to ensure successful and effective conflict resolution. Bevan (2020) defines conflict as a disagreement or argument, providing certain criteria that should be met for a situation to be considered a conflict. First, the discontent should be expressed by one or both parties involved; second, there should be at least two individuals whose choices affect each other in some way. Finally, these individuals have to perceive the other partys interests as interfering with their own goals or demands (Bevan, 2020). An example of a conflict situation will be presented in this essay, and conflict strategies to handle it will be analyzed.

Interpersonal Conflict in Modern Family

An example of the interpersonal conflict can be seen in the 11^th episode of the first season of an American sitcom series Modern Family. It is the disagreement that occurs between Mitchell and Cameron on which parenting style is more appropriate for Lily, their adopted daughter. Mitchell believes that it is more effective to ignore the child when she is crying. However, Cameron does not support him and tries to come to Lily and comfort her every time he hears her crying. Their conflicting views even result in a physical confrontation when Mitchell tries to prevent Cameron from going to Lily (Lloyd & Levitan, 2010, 0:16:03). This conflict meets the criteria described by Bevan (2020); first, Mitchell and Cameron disagree with each others views on this aspect of parenting. Second, both of them have opinions which affect the others preferences: Mitchell claims that Lily should be ignored, which Cameron considers to be cruel and unnecessary (Bevan, 2020). Finally, the other persons views contradict their perceptions of appropriate parenting style.

Conflict Strategies

It can be argued that the conflict between these characters was not handled efficiently due to several reasons. First, they were both too emotional in the argument: while Cameron could not resist feeling bad for Lily when she cried, Mitchell got angry and frustrated with his partners unwillingness to act responsibly. Additionally, these emotional exchanges did not allow them to discuss all the advantages and disadvantages of their approaches in a calm and reasonable manner. This argument has demonstrated two conflict strategies suggested by Bevan. One of them is competing, as both Mitchell and Cameron put their own views on the situation first, not thinking about their partners reasons for certain behaviors. Another style demonstrated partly in the situation is avoidance; this is seen when Cameron, instead of arguing, chooses to leave the room to make a cup of tea (Lloyd & Levitan, 2010, 0:15:30). Neither of these styles have led the characters to the resolution of the conflict, but only made them more emotional and angry at each other.

The two strategies suggested by Bevan that could be used in order to come to a more efficient solution are collaboration and compromise. For example, if Cameron had had a lower concern for himself and his sentimental feelings, he could have realized that Mitchells approach may have positive effects on Lily in the long term. As a result, they would be more likely to collaborate. At the same time, if Mitchell tried to increase his concern for Camerons feelings, he would have been able to suggest a compromise beneficial for all parties involved.

To conclude, it can be stated that conflicts can vary significantly, requiring different approaches and strategies to resolve. Bevans definition of conflict can be seen in the argument between Mitchell and Cameron from the TV series Modern Family (2020). This conflict meets the criteria and the strategies suggested by Bevan: avoidance and competition. However, the strategies of compromise and collaboration could have led the characters to an agreement sooner.

References

Bevan, J. L. (2020). Making Connections: Understanding Interpersonal Communicaton (3rd ed.). Zovio.

Lloyd, C. & Levitan, S. (Directors). (2010). Up All Night (Season 1, Episode 11) [TV series episode], Modern Family. American Broadcasting Company.

Background

In the quest to better ones self and accomplish goals, many people improve their personal development abilities and communication skills over time. They achieve this through education, mentorship, experiences, and self-help. These aspects are crucial in enabling people to design strategic planning for their career and personal advancement. This paper, therefore, proposes of presenting two blog posts which focus on self-identity and dynamism as the key fundamentals to personal development and communication skills.

Post 1: Self-identity is the key to personal development and communication skills

Human history and development is a major topic that has been at the forefront of most discussions across the globe for many years. In these discussions, the aspect of development has been anchored on various grounds, such as early childhood mentorships, personal experiences, and the future ambitions of individuals. These phenomena are crucial in explaining and reflecting on some of the important aspects of human life, including self-identity (Module 2, 2022). I would like to demonstrate from my own experience how important self-development is in a large area of interpersonal relations.

In my personal reflection, I look back to my early childhood as a poor child living in a modest family with good parents. Their guidance has shaped my attributes and interaction with others. Living away from home since my late childhood has enabled me to diversify my interaction skills with people from different cultures and social backgrounds. These skills and ambitions have led me to be a role model and a good-looking figure that my daughter embraces. Through my experiences with my family condition and the health status of my mother and child, I decided to take a bold step as a care provider in residential home care. This has modeled me to withstand my concrete experiences through the various stages of life. As a health care provider, I realized how important it is to get rid of fear when I talked to one of the patients. She drew attention to the fact that I am nervous when communicating with other patients and she told me that it is important to overcome my fears, to become more confident since this is self-development.

When I related these experiences to the teachings of this class, I discovered a very significant element of personal development, self-identity. Through the definition and the explanation of self-identity in class, I discovered a lot about myself. For instance, I learned that for one to share ideas and have good interaction with others, they must overcome their fears. People cannot develop and advance while they are afraid (Tsekov and Ivanova, 2018). My experience concerning difficult experiences in childhood consists of the example of my friends. When we were kids, one of my friends shared all his thoughts and ideas that were ridiculed. Subsequently, the child developed a fear of communication and expressing opinions. Over time, undoubtedly, he overcame his fear, raised his self-esteem, and learned to manage his emotions. Naturally, it is imperative to understand in which cases the manifestation of certain emotions will be appropriate. According to Tsekov and Ivanova (2018), excessive display of strong feelings in the work environment can lead to poor communication and conflict. This means that people need to learn throughout their lives to use their emotions to control their relevance and timeliness. To eradicate this fear in the future, it is necessary to communicate more often with different people, try to delve into their problems, share own thoughts.

Post 2: The importance of empathy in the development of interpersonal communication and self-improvement

The ability to understand what another person feels and to react correctly to their emotions is necessary both in personal relationships and at work. A distinctive feature of empathy is that this property concerns a wide range of emotions  regardless of their positive or negative connotation (Hall and Schwartz, 2019). That is one of the essential skills that people can possess is the skill of empathy. Empathy is a conscious empathy with the emotional state of other people, the ability to recognize what they feel and express compassion. This skill is necessary when building interpersonal relationships, for example, to find a common language, agree and develop a strategy that will satisfy both sides. Empathy needs to be developed, and it will take time, as it includes not only the ability to recognize the emotions of another person but also empathic listening, the ability to calm a person, to give them on an emotional level precisely what they need.

I realized how vital empathy, and everything related to it are in my work. I worked with people and listened to them listlessly, immersed in my thoughts. Nevertheless, I realized that the ability to listen empathically is essential, especially for those with whom communication takes place. Once working with one of the patients, I was determined to listen to him, understand his problems and experiences, and I also tried to help him distract from the issue and gave recommendations. I began to listen to this patient more, we talked heart-to-heart more often, and his well-being improved. I realized how important it is to have empathy and be able to listen in interpersonal communication.

It is necessary to work on the skill of empathy to develop it and improve oneself. It is required to allow other people to speak out, not to finish phrases for them, and not to interfere with their statements (Decety, 2020). In addition, it is imperative to listen and focus on a persons emotions. Listening with empathy involves interpreting the thoughts and feelings of others. One of the essential elements for developing empathy is the ability to put yourself in the place of other people. This skill helps not only to understand people better but also to learn to look at the problem from different angles (Ornaghi et al., 2020). It is also needed to understand and define own feelings because without this, it will be challenging to understand precisely what the other person feels.

In the future, I plan to continue developing my ability to empathize, as I have realized from my own experience how important and effective this is. Besides the fact that this communication skill helps in work, it is also important in everyday life. I can help my daughter and support her, and she will be able to understand that in any situation, I am with her and will be able to help her. I want to convey the importance of this skill to my daughter so that she also has the opportunity to become a likable person, improve her ability to communicate, and improve herself. Empathy helps increase the productivity of activities and the development of competence in communication and ensures the creation of more profound and personal relationships.

Reference list

Module 2: Developing a student and group identity (2022) [PowerPoint presentation].

Module 2: Introduction to effective practice in Health and Social care (2022) [PowerPoint presentation].

Decety, J., 2020. Empathy in medicine: What it is, and how much we really need it. The American Journal of Medicine (Vol. 133, pp. 561-566).

Hall, J., and Schwartz, R., 2019. Empathy present and future. The Journal of Social Psychology (Vol. 159, pp. 225-243).

Ornaghi, V., Conte, E., and Grazzani, I., 2020. Empathy in toddlers: The role of emotion regulation, language ability, and maternal emotion socialization style. Frontiers in Psychology (Vol. 11, pp. 1-11).

Tsekov, I. and Ivanova, M., 2018. Principles of effective communication. 

As all living beings in nature, an individual develops assimilating the experience that humankind has accumulated throughout its existence. Human development is a complex and contradictory process initiated by many forces: biological, cultural, and internal motives and external influences. This process starts from the moment of birth and lasts until the end of life. Thus, personality development is influenced by many factors, one of which is communication.

Since people are social beings, they constantly feel the need to communicate with other people, which determines the potential continuity of communication as a necessary condition for life. From the first months of life, a child needs other people, which gradually develops and transforms from the necessity for emotional contact to the need for profoundly personal communication and cooperation with adults. As speech develops, it becomes possible to diversify the content of information transmitted and perceived in communication and the process of learning and to use various means of communication. Thus, communication undergoes fundamental changes in growing up, which affects the dynamics of personality development.

The purpose of communication is what this type of activity arises for. Among animals, the purpose of communication can be to induce another animal to take specific actions or to warn that it is necessary to refrain from any action. For a person, the number of communication goals increases significantly. In addition to those listed above, they include the transfer and obtaining objective knowledge about the world, learning and education, the coordination of peoples actions in their joint activities, or the establishment and clarification of personal and business relationships. Among animals, communication goals usually do not go beyond the satisfaction of biological needs relevant to them. Nevertheless, in humans, communications aims represent a means of satisfying many diverse needs: social, cultural, cognitive, creative, aesthetic, needs for intellectual growth, and moral development.

In accordance with a wide range of practical problems solved in business negotiations, conversation, or dialogue, communication has many functions. First of all, through communication, messages and knowledge are transmitted and received. Furthermore, in communication, goals, motives, guidelines for joint or individual activities are clarified and formed. Mutual control of judgments, opinions, and discussed ideas is implemented by feedback that regulates the entire communication process. The emotional function is manifested as the creation of a complex of feelings and mental states of each interlocutor in communication. Many conversations lead to emotional uplift and satisfaction, which also contributes to personal development.

Thus, communication is the interaction that occurs between different subjects. Since a person is a social being, he constantly feels the need to communicate with other people, which determines the potential continuity of communication as a necessary condition for life. Communication has various goals related to the cause of this type of activity and performs significant functions, including communicative, regulatory, and emotional. Being a complex phenomenon, communication affects the individuals development.

References

Carrigan, Emily and Marie Coppola. Successful Communication Does Not Drive Language Development: Evidence from Adult Homesign. Cognition, vol. 158, 2017, pp. 10-27.

Harrison, Angel. Personality and Communication Development. EDTECH, 2018.

Moore, Richard. Gricean communication, language development, and animal minds. Philosophy Compass, vol.13, no. 12, 2018, pp. 1-13.