Because we belong to various groups, we develop multiple identities that come into play at different times, depending on the context. A religious identity may be highlighted in when going to church. A sexual orientation identity may be highlighted in going to clubs and bars. A gender identity is highlighted by women who join social groups exclusive to women or men who attend social functions just for men.
In the United States, young people are often encouraged to develop a strong sense of identity, to "know who they are," to be independent and self-reliant. However, this emphasis on developing identity is not shared by many societies. In many African and Asian societies, the experience of childhood and adolescence revolves around the family experience. In these societies, then, educational, occupational, and even marriage choices are made not only by the individual but also with extensive family guidance.
These cultural differences demonstrate that identity development does not occur in the same way in every society (Roland).
A Communication Perspective
A communication perspective emphasizes that identities are not created by the self alone but are co-created through communication with others. A communication perspective recognizes that identities emerge when messages are exchanged between persons. exchanged between persons. This means that presenting our identities is not a simple process. Does everyone see you as you see yourself? Probably not. To understand how these images may conflict, let's explore the processes of avowal and ascription.
Avowal is the process by which an individual portrays him- or herself. In contrast, ascription is the process by which others attribute identities to an individual.
Different identities are emphasized depending on the person we are communicating with and the topic of conversation. In a social conversation with someone we are attracted to, our gender or sexual orientation identity is probably more important to us than other identities (ethnicity, nationality). And our communication is probably most successful when the person we are talking with confirms the identity we think is most important at the moment. So, we can think of intercultural communication competence as communication that affirms the identity that is most salient in any conversation (Collier & Thomas). For example, if you are talking with a professor about a research project, the conversation would be most competent if the interaction confirms the salient identities (professor and student), rather than other identities (for example, those based on gender, religion, or ethnicity).
How do you feel when someone does not recognize the identity you feel is most salient? For example, suppose your parents treat you as a child (ascription) and not as an independent adult (your avowal). How does the conflict affect communication?
Central to the communication perspective is the idea that our identities are expressed communicatively. They are expressed in core symbols, labels, and norms.
Core symbols tell us about the fundamental beliefs, the central concepts that define a particular identity. Communication scholar Michael Hecht has identified the contrasting core symbols associated with various ethnic identities. For example, core symbols of African American identity may be positivity, sharing, uniqueness, realism, and assertiveness. Individualism is often cited as a core symbol of European American identity. Core symbols are expressed through communication but also are created and shaped through communication. Labels are a category of core symbols. They are the terms we use to refer to particular aspects of our own and others' identities (for example, African American, Latino, White, European American).
Critical Perspective
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