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An introduction to intercultural competence in the workplace
An introduction to intercultural competence in the workplace

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2 Socialisation processes and identity types

How do we know what our own culture is, and what our identity is? We learn answers to these questions by observing, interacting with and imitating others around us in our daily lives. The process through which we learn about our own culture through observation, interaction and imitation is called enculturation. It starts with how our family and social circle raise us and is a process which is never really finished. We learn how to be a member of society (to be ‘socialised’) by adopting beliefs, customs, norms and worldviews and by starting to act according to them. Even if we do not agree with dominant norms and customs, we orientate ourselves by them even when resisting them.

Our sense of self is arguably also socially constructed as it is only through interactions that we learn how others see us. Through feedback from others, we develop an understanding of how we would like to be seen (‘avowed identity’) and how people actually see us (‘ascribed identity’). Regardless of the context we are in, we usually make an effort to present ourselves in a particular light through both verbal and non-verbal communication. Some researchers even claim that we always put on a performance of ‘who we are’. If an individual however rejects our avowed identity, this can have a negative impact on relationships. One example of this would be the unease we might feel when we greet a stranger for the first time, especially in a professional context where there are a number of uncertainties involved: What degree of formality is appropriate? What title should we use? What small talk is expected? These questions arise mostly because we want to avoid ascribing the wrong professional identity to someone else. We do not want to undermine the authority of our colleague, and we also do not want to project that our professional identity is either inferior or superior to theirs.

Activity 3

Timing: 20 minutes

Reflect on your childhood and try to identify two childhood memories of events that made you who you are today, or which shaped or influenced your identity in a meaningful way. If you aren’t sure where to begin, you can watch the video of a TedTalk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, The danger of a single story, for some inspiration (a transcript is available when you follow the link to the website).

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Then, try to answer the following two questions:

  • What was the impact of these childhood memories?

  • Why did these particular memories have such an impact?

You can write your memories and reflections down either in your own notebook or in the box below, which is only visible to yourself.

Memory 1:

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Memory 2:

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You might find that it is not often the case that you can pinpoint a single incident that changed you, or who you want to be. This process can be slow or only become clear in retrospective. In the field of intercultural communication, everyone’s identity is seen as dynamic and complex. What people believe in and who they want to be can be contradictive and can be temporary and evolve over time. Depending on our age, the people we meet and our context, different facets of our identity can matter more or less – in fact, often we only realise how strongly we feel about an identity when it is contested by others.

Activity 4

Timing: 10 minutes

To test this, briefly revisit Section 1 and think about situations in which any of these identities you have listed could become salient and also ones where they do not matter at all.

Let’s say for example that you are a surgeon for a living. Your professional identity as a surgeon is highly relevant if you are providing consultation at a hospital on whether a surgical procedure would be beneficial or safe for a patient. It can also be salient outside of work, for example when you are at home with your children, your partner or another person you live with and one of them is feeling unwell. Your medical expertise will give your suggestions and assumptions more authority. This part of your identity might however not matter at all when you attend a gym class or play a sport with your friends. In such situations, your identity as a hobby athlete or as a health-conscious adult is at the forefront.

With this is mind, fill in the table below using three of the identity types you listed in Section 1.

Identity type A situation where it is salient A situation where it is not salient
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