Description
Create a nonverbal training guide for someone who wants to travel and experience the culture of latin americans/latinos. In your training guide, you need to explain what to do and what not to do in nonverbal communication as well as provide explanations for why behaviors are either appropriate or inappropriate (ground your justification in scholarly research on cultural norms). This guide could be in paper, video, or in-class presentation format according to instructor discretion.
- The training guide needs to cover each of these nonverbal communication dimensions:
- Kinesics
- Proxemics
- Haptics
- Paralinguistics
- Chronemics
- Physical appearance/attire
- Oculesics
- Olfactics
- The training guide must also include a visual element to illustrate dos and don’ts.
- Include specific warnings that address key differences in nonverbal symbols between the culture you are studying and the culture of your audience.
- Be sure to included scholarly sources to support claims about what is normal/accepted behavior in the culture.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide
*** there is no minimum word count
***I have attached a paper i have already written on the same culture, please feel free to use it as necessary.
Jillian Maybee
COM-263
8 April, 2018
Rae Thompson
Stereotypes and Ethnocentrism: The Latino Community in US Media
The ideas of liberty and equality are often presented as the standard of American living,
but in its social relationships, the United States fails to show a truly egalitarian attitude towards
different ethnic and racial groups within the nation. The complexity of the racial and ethnic
relationships is complex. One particular manifestation of these interconnection of structures is the
prevalence of ethnocentrism in the nation’s social, cultural and political landscapes. Ethnocentrism
is a process by which a series negative attitudes of a particular group of people are perpetuated,
including “seeing one’s own group (the in-group) as virtuous and superior” and out-groups as
contemptible and inferior” (Hammond & Axelrod, 2006). For the latino community, this can be
manifested at both an institutional and a cultural level. The former is presented through the
statements of elected officials, who hold particularly contemptuous views on the ethnic group. The
latter, on the other hand, is perpetuated through various social mechanisms. Stereotypes, which are
often reproduced in popular media, in both fictional and real life productions, can aid in this
purpose. As a result, the individuals can begin to internalize the negative conceptions that are
presented about particular ethnic groups. Prejudice is fostered under these conditions which
hinders the relations between groups. As a result, ethnocentrism, and stereotypes as one of its most
insidious manifestations, can be said to create a series of cultural preconceptions that can make
communication difficult between members of the in-group (White Americans) and the out-group
(Latino-Americans).
Though in definition ethnocentrism sounds an abhorrent practice, in reality, the way in
which this systems are perpetuated often go unnoticed. Popular media, for example, is a very
efficient channel for the proliferation of societal ideals. Stereotypes are one of the most common
manifestations of ethnocentrism that is manifested through these channels. They can be defined as
“any collection of trait-names which are found to be appropriate in characterizing a class of
persons” (Vinacke, 2010, p.230). On their own, stereotypes are not meant to be inherently
negative. It is possible for individuals to develop stereotypes about other groups of people without
meaning malicious intent; for example, the assumption that people from France would enjoy
cheese due to the many kinds that are produced in the nation. Though this serves as an example of
an all-encompassing sentence, that might be reductive for some French individuals, it is not meant
to be inherently pejorative. Some of the racial stereotypes that are presented about Latino
individuals, and other ethnic groups, on the other hand, do carry these connotations.
In film and series, for example, the representation of the Latino community is not usually
favorable — though, in recent years, attempts have been made to include a more humanizing
perspective of the community. It should be noted, too, that the representation of the latino
community is also limited. In the early 2000s, though the latino community made up 12.5% of the
nation’s population, only 1% to 3% of the characters presented in primetime television were latino
(Mastro & Behm-Morawitz, 2005). When latino characters are included, their characters are not
often portrayed benevolently. Male latino characters, in particular, are often presented as
participants in stories that relate to criminal activities and will be more involved in conversations
about crime and violence than people of other ethnic groups (Rivadeneyra, et al., 2007). Similarly,
latino individuals are presented as being disorderly and defiant of authority. The representations
of men and women will differ, as well. The way in which latino women and latino men are
presented are a bit different. Men will be portrayed as less intelligent and hot-tempered: women
will be portrayed as lazier and having a poorer work ethic (Rivadeneyra, et al. 2007). When these
negative concepts of latino individuals are presented, over and over, in the media that is consumed,
they can quickly become a societal constant.
The existence of negative stereotypes can have a detrimental effect in inter-group
communication. The portrayals of the latino community in popular media can become internalized
by the population, to varying degrees. These notions are bound to be present in almost any
individual; the Latino community, too, will be have their own set of stereotypes for White
Americans. It is necessary, therefore, to challenge these preconceptions, in an effort that could
serve to both enhance the communication process and ease on the popular, stereotypic conceptions
of the community. To do this, the latino community needs to be presented in a less prejudiced
notion. Against popular conceptions, the Latino community tends to lean towards the acceptance
of power as a beneficial tool for society (Liu, 2016). While this is often translated unto criminal
organizations in mediatic appearances of latino people, in reality, this tendency should point
towards a more orderly and respectful community, as it is a high power-distance culture. The fact
that Latino culture also leans towards high uncertainty avoidance, making it more prone to the
acceptance of rules and structures (Liu, 2016), add another layer of contradiction to these popular
presentations. The differentiations made between men and women, though, can be said to hold
some weight; not in their presentation of latino men and women, but in the need to differentiate
between the expectations of both. As latino culture can be patriarchal in nature, the traits of
aggression, violence and power can be expected of the men in the subgroup. However, the
portrayal of women as being lax in their work ethic, would be contradictory to the cultural
paradigms imposed on women, which require their due diligence and service.
The internationalization of stereotypes, and the larger ethnocentric notions that come with
it, can even get in the way of common interactions between individuals. Even when there exists
an awareness of their interaction within society and the detrimental effects that can be brought
upon marginalized communities, unlearning societal notions is not an easy task. As a result, these
notions can become included into our daily interactions. Personally, I have found myself having
subconscious reactions that would fall under these stereotypical notions.
References
Hammond, R. A., & Axelrod, R. (2006). The Evolution of Ethnocentrism. Journal of Conflict
Resolution, 50(6), 926-936. doi:10.1177/0022002706293470
Journal of Social Psychology, 46:2, 229-243, DOI: 10.1080/00224545.1957.9714322
Liu, M. (2016). Verbal Communication Styles and Culture. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of
Communication. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.013.162
Mastro, D. E., & Behm-Morawitz, E. (2005). Latino Representation on Primetime Television.
Journalism
&
Mass
Communication
Quarterly,
82(1),
110-130.
doi:10.1177/107769900508200108
Rivadeneyra, R., Ward, L. M., & Gordon, M. (2007). Distorted Reflections: Media Exposure and
Latino Adolescents Conceptions of Self. Media Psychology, 9(2), 261-290.
doi:10.1080/15213260701285926
Vinacke, Edgar W. (1957) Stereotypes as Social Concepts, The
Purchase answer to see full
attachment
COM-263
8 April, 2018
Rae Thompson
Stereotypes and Ethnocentrism: The Latino Community in US Media
The ideas of liberty and equality are often presented as the standard of American living,
but in its social relationships, the United States fails to show a truly egalitarian attitude towards
different ethnic and racial groups within the nation. The complexity of the racial and ethnic
relationships is complex. One particular manifestation of these interconnection of structures is the
prevalence of ethnocentrism in the nation’s social, cultural and political landscapes. Ethnocentrism
is a process by which a series negative attitudes of a particular group of people are perpetuated,
including “seeing one’s own group (the in-group) as virtuous and superior” and out-groups as
contemptible and inferior” (Hammond & Axelrod, 2006). For the latino community, this can be
manifested at both an institutional and a cultural level. The former is presented through the
statements of elected officials, who hold particularly contemptuous views on the ethnic group. The
latter, on the other hand, is perpetuated through various social mechanisms. Stereotypes, which are
often reproduced in popular media, in both fictional and real life productions, can aid in this
purpose. As a result, the individuals can begin to internalize the negative conceptions that are
presented about particular ethnic groups. Prejudice is fostered under these conditions which
hinders the relations between groups. As a result, ethnocentrism, and stereotypes as one of its most
insidious manifestations, can be said to create a series of cultural preconceptions that can make
communication difficult between members of the in-group (White Americans) and the out-group
(Latino-Americans).
Though in definition ethnocentrism sounds an abhorrent practice, in reality, the way in
which this systems are perpetuated often go unnoticed. Popular media, for example, is a very
efficient channel for the proliferation of societal ideals. Stereotypes are one of the most common
manifestations of ethnocentrism that is manifested through these channels. They can be defined as
“any collection of trait-names which are found to be appropriate in characterizing a class of
persons” (Vinacke, 2010, p.230). On their own, stereotypes are not meant to be inherently
negative. It is possible for individuals to develop stereotypes about other groups of people without
meaning malicious intent; for example, the assumption that people from France would enjoy
cheese due to the many kinds that are produced in the nation. Though this serves as an example of
an all-encompassing sentence, that might be reductive for some French individuals, it is not meant
to be inherently pejorative. Some of the racial stereotypes that are presented about Latino
individuals, and other ethnic groups, on the other hand, do carry these connotations.
In film and series, for example, the representation of the Latino community is not usually
favorable — though, in recent years, attempts have been made to include a more humanizing
perspective of the community. It should be noted, too, that the representation of the latino
community is also limited. In the early 2000s, though the latino community made up 12.5% of the
nation’s population, only 1% to 3% of the characters presented in primetime television were latino
(Mastro & Behm-Morawitz, 2005). When latino characters are included, their characters are not
often portrayed benevolently. Male latino characters, in particular, are often presented as
participants in stories that relate to criminal activities and will be more involved in conversations
about crime and violence than people of other ethnic groups (Rivadeneyra, et al., 2007). Similarly,
latino individuals are presented as being disorderly and defiant of authority. The representations
of men and women will differ, as well. The way in which latino women and latino men are
presented are a bit different. Men will be portrayed as less intelligent and hot-tempered: women
will be portrayed as lazier and having a poorer work ethic (Rivadeneyra, et al. 2007). When these
negative concepts of latino individuals are presented, over and over, in the media that is consumed,
they can quickly become a societal constant.
The existence of negative stereotypes can have a detrimental effect in inter-group
communication. The portrayals of the latino community in popular media can become internalized
by the population, to varying degrees. These notions are bound to be present in almost any
individual; the Latino community, too, will be have their own set of stereotypes for White
Americans. It is necessary, therefore, to challenge these preconceptions, in an effort that could
serve to both enhance the communication process and ease on the popular, stereotypic conceptions
of the community. To do this, the latino community needs to be presented in a less prejudiced
notion. Against popular conceptions, the Latino community tends to lean towards the acceptance
of power as a beneficial tool for society (Liu, 2016). While this is often translated unto criminal
organizations in mediatic appearances of latino people, in reality, this tendency should point
towards a more orderly and respectful community, as it is a high power-distance culture. The fact
that Latino culture also leans towards high uncertainty avoidance, making it more prone to the
acceptance of rules and structures (Liu, 2016), add another layer of contradiction to these popular
presentations. The differentiations made between men and women, though, can be said to hold
some weight; not in their presentation of latino men and women, but in the need to differentiate
between the expectations of both. As latino culture can be patriarchal in nature, the traits of
aggression, violence and power can be expected of the men in the subgroup. However, the
portrayal of women as being lax in their work ethic, would be contradictory to the cultural
paradigms imposed on women, which require their due diligence and service.
The internationalization of stereotypes, and the larger ethnocentric notions that come with
it, can even get in the way of common interactions between individuals. Even when there exists
an awareness of their interaction within society and the detrimental effects that can be brought
upon marginalized communities, unlearning societal notions is not an easy task. As a result, these
notions can become included into our daily interactions. Personally, I have found myself having
subconscious reactions that would fall under these stereotypical notions.
References
Hammond, R. A., & Axelrod, R. (2006). The Evolution of Ethnocentrism. Journal of Conflict
Resolution, 50(6), 926-936. doi:10.1177/0022002706293470
Journal of Social Psychology, 46:2, 229-243, DOI: 10.1080/00224545.1957.9714322
Liu, M. (2016). Verbal Communication Styles and Culture. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of
Communication. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.013.162
Mastro, D. E., & Behm-Morawitz, E. (2005). Latino Representation on Primetime Television.
Journalism
&
Mass
Communication
Quarterly,
82(1),
110-130.
doi:10.1177/107769900508200108
Rivadeneyra, R., Ward, L. M., & Gordon, M. (2007). Distorted Reflections: Media Exposure and
Latino Adolescents Conceptions of Self. Media Psychology, 9(2), 261-290.
doi:10.1080/15213260701285926
Vinacke, Edgar W. (1957) Stereotypes as Social Concepts, The
Purchase answer to see full
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