| Special Section: The Interplay between Culture and Individuality:
Promoting a Dialectical Perspective |
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| Guest Editors: Yanrong Chang, University of Texas-Pan American |
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A Cultural
Psychological Analysis of the Interplay between Culture and Individuals |
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Author(s): Takeshi Hamamura |
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Culture has been a largely neglected concept in psychology. For a long time,
psychologists have
regarded many mental processes behind humans' social behaviors as non-cultural. Such a view, however, has been
transformed within the last few decades, first by a small number of studies showing the profoundly cultural nature
of mental processes, and then by a larger number of studies demonstrating the complex interplay between culture and
the mind. This paper introduces a cultural psychological analysis of social behaviors. The paper first reviews
research revealing the ways in which even some of the most basic mental processes, such as our sense of self or the
ways in which we understand the world, are cultural. These considerations do not preclude individuality in social
behaviors. Individuals participating in the same national culture vary greatly in their mental processes, and
consideration of this issue requires the examination of cultures within the single national culture and the dynamic
interplay between culture and the mind. Although the perspective introduced here suggests the profoundly cultural
nature of social behaviors, these behaviors are also deeply personal, reflecting idiosyncratic ways in which
individuals negotiate with their culture. [China Media Research. 2011; 7(3): 1-10] |
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Being Mindful
of the Habitus of Culture |
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Author(s): Aaron Castelán Cargile |
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The dialectic between cultural determinism and individual agency lies at the heart of intercultural communication study. Indeed, we must understand, but not overestimate the patterned constraints of culture when interacting with “others” because all cultural actors are not alike. In order to better appreciate how individuals relate to the structure of culture, this essay will employ Bourdieu’s notion of habitus to explore both the conscious and unconscious connections. Following this, the practice of mindfulness will be briefly examined as a possible means to increase individuals' capacity for reflexive agency. [China Media Research. 2011; 7(3): 11-20] |
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Performing
Cultural and Personal Identities through Talk |
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Author(s): Yanrong Chang |
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Culture and communication research has predominantly interested in exploring culture as a shaping
force of individual behaviors (Gudykunst, 1998; Gudykunst, Ting-Toomey, & Chua, 1988; Philipsen, 1987, 1992)
and how communication reflects and constructs cultural identities (Collier & Thomas, 1988; Philipsen, 2002; Ting-
Toomey, & Chung, 2005). What is neglected is that communicators are also individual persons (Cargile, 2005;
Martin & Nakayama, 1999) who develop personal styles of communication (Tracy, 2002). Such a bias has
inadvertently led to cultural stereotyping and the elimination of individual differences in a cultural community. To
redress this bias, this case study attempts to show, through a close analysis of a high school teacher's speech at a
teacher-parent conference in China, how communicators perform both cultural and personal identities through talk.
It discusses the dialectical relationship between culture and individuality in light of the concept of cultural
threshold.
Finally, the implications of the study are discussed. [China Media Research. 2011; 7(3): 21-32]
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Reflections on
Lived Experiences and Communication
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Author(s): Julien C. Mirivel |
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moment-to-moment lived experiences and the communicative moments that we co-create
with others. To support this argument, I examine a short autobiography and my journal. In the process, I reveal five
claims that speak to the process of becoming a person: (a) the individual emerges through lived experience, (b) it is not culture that matters most, but the people we meet, (c) communicative moments are crucial experiences, (d)
cultures are predictable, not a person’s life, and (e) culture does not provide answers, the individual must choose.
The conclusion is an encouragement to communicate ethically. [China Media Research. 2011; 7(3): 33-42]
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Is it Just Cultural? Exploring (Mis)perceptions of Individual
And Cultural Differences of Immigrants through Marriage
in Contemporary Taiwan
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Author(s): Todd L. Sandel |
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Increasing migration across national and/or cultural boundaries for the purpose of
marriage is one of
the unintended outcomes of the forces of globalism in recent decades. Such migrations lead to communicative
challenges in relationships among spouses, families, and communities, due to differences of culture and individual
understandings. The study first reviews the literature of marriage in Taiwan, examining the economic, demographic,
and cultural factors which supported two kinds of marriage: “Minor marriages” of the past and cross border
marriages of the present. Then it presents findings from a study of members of cross border marriages conducted
across a range of communities in Taiwan from 2007-2008. These demonstrate how culture guides what participants
may do to constitute marriages, and how cultural categories may be invoked to talk about such actions. Finally, the
role of individual agency to shape cultural talk is also examined. [China Media Research. 2011; 7(3): 43-55] |
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Language Change and Value Orientations in Chinese Culture |
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Author(s): Xing Lu and Guo-Ming Chen |
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We contend in this paper that language shapes as well as reflects social reality, thought
patterns, and
value/belief systems of a culture. We substantiate our claim by closely examining Chinese family value orientations
and their relationships with language expressions. The linguistic features and cultural implications of the value
orientations are explicated. We further investigate the impact of changes in the use of language on the social
reality
and thought patterns of Chinese culture. We conclude that language and culture are intertwined. The interplay
between language and culture creates infinite discursive possibilities and multi-dimensional and ever changing
human experiences. [China Media Research. 2011; 7(3): 56-63]
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Stereotypes of
Chinese: Media Use and Olympic Games |
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Author(s): Lingling Zhang |
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This study explored the stereotypes of Chinese and Chinese government by American college
students, and how media coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games impacted the stereotypes of Chinese and
Chinese government. Three hundred and twenty American college students were surveyed. The study found that
American college students had positive stereotypes about Chinese and negative stereotypes about Chinese
government. The more American media they used as their information sources, the more positive stereotypes about
Chinese. The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games had positive impacts on their stereotypes. The more positive perceptions
American college students have about the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the more positive stereotypes about
Chinese and the Chinese government. [China Media Research. 2011; 7(3): 64-71] |
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Xueqin Cao and Isaac Newton:
An Intercultural Perspective on Chinese and Western Intellectual Traditions
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Author(s): Dr. Hui Huang |
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The intellectual provides an important stimulus to push forward the society from which
he or she is
derived and culturally shaped. This paper reviews Chinese and Western intellectual traditions and their early
communications, tracing their dissimilar worldviews on the universe, time and self, and also their different
knowledge, interpersonal and activity orientations. In spite of their divergent origins, the paper concludes with a
synthesis of the two traditions in terms of their intercultural complementarities. [China Media Research. 2011; 7
(3):
72-79] |
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Perception of University Non-Academic Professional Staff towards
New Media Credibility in Malaysia
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Author(s): Davood Mehrabi, Musa Abu Hassan, and Muhamad Sham Shahkat Ali |
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As more people use the mass media as a source of information, the media must sustain the
credibility
of what they present to audience members. This study is meant to provide a better and clearer understanding on the
perception of printed media (newspaper and magazine) and the Internet to get news information by non-academic
professional staff. The main objective of the study is to find out the information source credibility between
printed
and online communication media as perceived by the public. A survey with 270 non-academic professional staff was
conducted to determine the perception of university non-academic professional staff towards news media credibility
in Malaysia. The specific objectives of this study are to determine the relationship between genders, media usage
and issue salience with perception of media credibility. There is not enough evidence from the sample to conclude
that credibility and gender are dependent. The results of this study indicate that there is a positive relationship
between perceived credibility and amount of time spent on newspaper and magazine reading, and the Internet usage.
It was also revealed that there is a positive relationship between issue salience and perception of printed media
credibility (newspaper and magazine) and online media credibility (Internet). Based on the findings of this study,
it
can be concluded that the credibility of newspaper for getting news was rated the highest (M = 2.31, SD = .54)
followed by the Internet (M = 2.27, SD = .58) and magazine (M = 2.10, SD = .51). [China Media Research. 2011;
7(3): 80-91]
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The Brand
Strategies for "Huayi Brothers Media Corp" to Build Up International Competence: A Research Based on the
Integration-Expansion of Market Channels |
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Author(s):
Anqi Wang, Tianying Yang, Fangya Lv, and Chunyang Zhu
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This essay takes the Huayi Brothers brand as a research sample, focusing on how the
company
should broaden its channels to overseas markets to enhance company competence. The sample also acts as a model
for cultural brands ‘Going Overseas’. Based on surveys and statistics, in accordance with the company’s situations,
the essay tries to analyze the related problem of its films’ overseas promotion and pursue the company’s future
strategy. In reference to experiences of film companies both home and abroad, the essay raises effective strategic
selections for the Huayi Brothers brand. [China Media Research. 2011; 7(3): 92-100]
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The Effects of
Cultural Dimensions on Consumers' Use of Mobile
SMS Advertising in Taiwan
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Author(s): Dr. Kenneth C. C. Yang |
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Mobile advertising refers to commercial messages delivered through a wireless equipment
or
network. SMS mobile advertising is a simple form of mobile advertising that has been introduced and widely used.
While advertising practitioners and researchers have shown increasing interests in this innovative advertising
format,
factors leading to consumers' use of mobile advertising still require a methodical study. Among several published
studies about mobile advertising adoption, scholars have increasingly examined the effects of consumers’ cultural
dimensions on their mobile advertising use. This study employed Geert Hofstede's (2001) 5-D cultural dimension
framework to study the effects of consumers’ cultural dimensions on their adoption behavior.
A questionnaire survey was developed to collect data from 156 college students about their cultural dimensions,
attitudes toward mobile SMS advertising, and intention to use mobile SMS advertising. Regression analyses found
that consumers’ uncertainty avoidance and collectivism/individualism indices can best predict their use of mobile
SMS advertising. Further hierarchical regression analyses, however, indicated that consumers' attitudes toward SMS
mobile advertising were more powerful predictors than their cultural dimensions. Theoretical and practical
implications were discussed. [China Media Research. 2011; 7(3): 101-110]
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De-
Westernizing Communication Theory and Research:
An Asiacentric Bibliography
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Author(s): Yoshitaka Miike |
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This Asiacentric bibliography builds on the two previous bibliographies of Asian
communication
theory and research published in China Media Research (Miike & Chen, 2006; Miike, 2009) and lists over 270
publications on the continuity and change of cultural traditions and communication practices in the Asian region.
The updated bibliography purports to include a wide range of journal articles, book chapters, and books on the
subject during the 1966-2012 period unless they are already contained in the two predecessors. The present
bibliography is intended for those scholars and students in Asia and beyond who are committed to de-Westernizing
contemporary communication theory and research and to advancing Asiacentric studies of Asian communication in
global and local contexts. [China Media Research. 2011; 7(3): 111-121]
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Editorial Staff