i Cultureand Conflict – Cultural MessagesDefinition:Cultural messages, simply, are what everyone in a groupknows that outsiders do not know. They are a series of lenses that shape ourperceptions, interpretations, boundaries, and values.Users:Anyone involved in a cross-cultural conflict. This includes notonly people from different countries but also people from different gender,ages, ethnicities, religions, regions, even different professional groups. (Onemight speak of the engineering culture or the business culture, for example.)Description:Culture is an essential part of conflict and conflictresolution. Culture is a powerful and often unconscious influence on ourperceptions and our behavior.How Cultures WorkCultures are a shifting, dynamic set of starting points thatorient us in particular ways. Everyone has multiple cultures that dictate whatis considered “normal.” When others do not meet our expectations, itis often a cue that their culture is different. We may mistake differences forevidence of bad faith or lack of common sense, without realizing that“common sense” is cultural. What is common sense to one group may becounterintuitive (or even stupid or evil) to another.Some implications of the cultural dimensions of conflictinclude the following:Culturalgeneralizations (beliefs, for instance, that Americans are loud or thatItalians are good lovers) are not the whole story. Even if they aresometimes true, the cultural norms of a given group do not predict thebehavior of an individual, who may not conform. There is no substitutefor building relationships and getting to know people as individuals.Cultureis constantly in flux and cultural groups adapt in unpredictable ways.Therefore, no comprehensive description can be formulated about aparticular group.Cultureis under the surface — it is not easy to access these symbolic levels,since they are largely outside our awareness. Therefore, it is importantto use many ways of learning about culture, especially indirect ways,i.e. stories, metaphors, and rituals.Culturebecomes important depending on context. When a cultural identity isthreatened, its importance increases.Culture and Conflict: ConnectionsFor any conflict that touches us where we’re vulnerable,where we make meaning or influence our identities, there is always a culturalcomponent. TAnswer all parts of the question for full credit on thefirst post.TheIsraeli-Palestinian conflict, for example, is not just about land – it’salso about identity. Conflicts between teenagers and parents are shaped bygenerational culture and conflicts between spouses are influenced bygender culture. Cultures shared by dominant groups often seem to be“normal” — “the way things are done” to the dominantgroup but are less obvious to other minority groups. We only noticethe effect of cultures that are different from our own.Prompt:Whatconflicts have you had in your life that can be placed in the definitionsabove? Were they resolved? How? If not, why do youthink there was no resolution?please watch the link and cite from this video .. https://webapps.srm-app.net/CanvasContent/SF/WCU_HUM_370_BL_TEMPLATE/Presentations/WCU%20HUM%20370%20-%20Introduction%20to%20Culture,%20Ethnicity,%20and%20Diversity/story_html5.html
