Anxiety/uncertainty Management - Ethical Interactions

Ethical Interactions

The next three axioms are based on dignity and respect. Both dignity and respect are assumed to be returned when given to a stranger. This leads to moral inclusiveness, which is good for interactions with strangers because both sides expect the rules of fair play to apply to them. When strangers are considered morally excluded, they are treated almost as nonexistent, or as not deserving of respect or dignity (Optow, 1990). Moral inclusiveness applies not only to communication, but also to bystanders not actively involved in communication with strangers. For example, if a person makes an anti-prejudice statement, the people he or she is with are less likely to make a prejudiced statement towards a stranger.

Axiom 32: An increase in our ability to maintain our own and strangers' dignity in our interactions with them will produce a decrease in our anxiety. Boundary Conditions: This axiom holds only when our anxiety is between our minimum and maximum thresholds, and we are not mindful. (Gudykunst, 2005, p. 304)
Axiom 33: An increase in our respect for strangers will produce a decrease in our anxiety. Boundary Conditions: This axiom holds only when our anxiety is between our minimum and maximum thresholds, and we are not mindful. (Gudykunst, 2005, p. 304)
Axiom 34: An increase in our moral inclusiveness toward strangers will produce a decrease in our anxiety. Boundary Conditions: This axiom holds only when our anxiety is between our minimum and maximum thresholds, and we are not mindful. (Gudykunst, 2005, p. 304)

Gudykunst (2005) notes that maintaining dignity, respect, and moral inclusiveness requires being mindful, especially when anxiety is above a person's maximum level.