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Consider the social constructionist perspective. How do we “build worlds” through communication? Think of some ideas we talk about in our culture that may not exist in other cultures. How do these concepts contribute to our happiness or success (or the lack of these) in our culture?
Sarah Trenholm argues, “According to the social constructionist model, communication is a process whereby people in groups, using tools provided by their culture, create collective representations of reality. The model specifies four of these cultural tools: languages, or symbolic codes; the ways we’ve been taught to process information, or cognitive customs; the beliefs, attitudes, and the values that make up our cultural traditions; and the sets of roles and rules that guide our actions. These tools shape the ways we experience and talk about our worlds” (Trenholm 2008, pg. 30).
A great example about symbolic codes and cultural traditions is during my travel to Paris. At the end of my day and as I traveled back from the Metro stop to my hotel room; I stopped at a produce market on the Rue du Cler (open market). One day, I wanted to get some Bing Cherries. I noticed they were all boxed and weighing about two to three pounds. Now, I only wanted a handful, so I began to pick them one by one into a plastic bag. The owner began yelling in French to me. He then began showing me how to do it his way and then threw the little scooper at me. He then continued talking in French to his customer and watching me with is other eye. It was obvious, our symbolic codes or our lack of the knowledge of each others languages hindered our communication. It is also obvious; our cultural traditions including our beliefs, attitudes and our values were different. In this incident, Monsieur and I did not build worlds.
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Hi Paris--It was nice to read a blog about the social contructionist model perspective because I find it so interesting! Wow, reading about your trip to Paris reminded me about my trip to the Philippines a few years ago. I am half Filipino but the way I was brought up was completely different than the way Filipinos in the Philippines were raised. I went to a traditional Filipino mass and was amazed at all the outfits that were worn. I had just arrived and was wearing jeans and a sweater and throught that my outfit was appropriate. When I arrived, everyone looked at me as though I was some beast because everyone was either wearing veils and barongs (traditional male suits). My aunts warned me about it, but I didn't take it too seriously and was so embarassed that I had to leeave. Growing up in one culture is completely different than actually experiencing one. It amazes me everyday at how a lot of cultural differences differentiate all of us.
ReplyDeleteI like how you pulled the Sarah Trenholm quote out of the reading because she really breaks down the concept of cultural tools into four groups; languages, customs, cultural traditions and rules.
ReplyDeleteIn your example of Paris, it’s easy to see how each of these ideas applied to your situation. Obviously, language was a barrier because you couldn’t understand what the Monsieur was saying and if you could have understood maybe you wouldn’t have felt like he was yelling at you. The custom was also different because in the culture you are used to, it wouldn’t have been an issue to pick the cherries one by one. It may have been a cultural tradition of the French to do things a certain way, and as strange as that may sound we have plenty of odd traditions I’m sure you could think of here in America. The store obviously had rules and guidelines about shopping which you were not aware of and that is what the social constructionist perspective tries to look at because it examines past, present, and future experiences.