Anxiety/uncertainty Management - Cross-cultural Variability in AUM Processes

Cross-cultural Variability in AUM Processes

Gudykunst believes that for the theory to be complete there must be a cultural level of analysis included and that the axioms regarding cultural variability should only be tested on the cultural level. It is necessary to address cross-cultural variability in the major components of the theory because different types of anxiety are emphasized more in some cultures than in others. This is because there are differences in the dynamics of stranger-ingroup relationships across cultures. For example, Triandis (1995) offers that collectivist cultures tend to make a stronger distinction between ingroup and outgroup members whereas members of individualistic cultures usually only draw as sharp of distinctions among differing ethnic groups. (Gudykunst, 2005, p.&nbsp307)

Axiom 40: An increase in cultural collectivism will produce an increase in the sharpness with which the stranger-ingroup distinction is drawn. Boundary Conditions: This axiom does not apply to stranger-ingroup relationships based on ethnicity, and when we are mindful. (Gudykunst, 2005, p. 308)

There is another factor of cultural variability that affects our anxiety and uncertainty when communicating with strangers. Hofstede (2001) proposes that xenophobia in cultures with high uncertainty avoidance is stronger than in low uncertainty avoidance cultures. For instance, when there is an increase in cultural uncertainty avoidance there will be an increase in anxiety and uncertainty when interacting with strangers from other cultures, races, or ethnic groups. (Gudykunst, 2005, p. 308)

Axiom 41: An increase in cultural uncertainty avoidance will produce an increase in ingroup members' xenophobia about interacting with strangers. Boundary Condition: This axiom does not hold when we are mindful. (Gudykunst, 2005, p. 308)

Hofstede (2001) suggests that gender composition between ingroup and outgroup members will also affect anxiety and uncertainty depending on whether it is a masculine or feminine culture. He notes that the effect of status/power on ingroup members and strangers in regard to anxiety and uncertainty will be affected by cultural variability in power distance as well as generational attitudes to cultural uncertainty avoidance.

Axiom 42: An increase in cultural masculinity will produce an increase in the sharpness of the stranger-ingroup distinction drawn for opposite-sex relationships. Boundary Conditions: This axiom does not hold when we are mindful. (Gudykunst, 2005, p. 309)
Axiom 43: An increase in cultural power distance will produce an increase in the sharpness of the stranger-ingroup distinction drawn for relationships involving unequal statuses. Boundary Conditions: This axiom does not hold when we are mindful. (Gudykunst, 2005, p. 309)
Axiom 44: An increase in cultural uncertainty avoidance will produce an increase in the sharpness of the stranger-ingroup distinction drawn based on age. Boundary Conditions: This axiom does not hold for intergenerational communication within families or when we are mindful. (Gudykunst, 2005, p. 309)

Belonging to an individualist/collectivist is an important component of how a member of that culture will manage their uncertainty.

Axiom 45: An increase in cultural individualism will produce an increase in ingroup members' use of person-based information to manage uncertainty with strangers; an increase in cultural collectivism will produce an increase in ingroup members' use of group-based and situation-based information to manage uncertainty with strangers. Boundary Conditions: This axiom does not hold when we are mindful. (Gudykunst, 2005, p. 309)

Hofstede (2001) proposes that members of high uncertainty avoidance cultures try to avoid uncertainty more because of higher levels of anxiety with uncertainty and therefore tend to have more established cultural rules and norms for intergroup dynamics than low uncertainty avoidance cultures to minimize uncertainty. (Gudykunst, 2005, p. 310)

Axiom 46: When there are clear rules for stranger-ingroup interactions, an increase in cultural uncertainty avoidance will produce a decrease in the anxiety and uncertainty experienced communicating with strangers. When there are not clear rules for stranger-ingroup interactions, an increase in cultural uncertainty avoidance will produce an increase in the anxiety and uncertainty experienced interacting with strangers. Boundary Conditions: This axiom does not hold when we are mindful. (Gudykunst, 2005, p. 310)

The perception of effective communication differs in individualistic cultures and collectivist cultures.

Axiom 47: An increase in cultural individualism will produce an increase in the focus on cognitive understanding to communicate effectively with strangers. An increase in cultural collectivism will produce an increase in the focus on maintaining good relations between communicators to communicate effectively. Boundary Conditions: This axiom does not hold when we are mindful. (Gudykunst, 2005, p. 311)