Introduction to Communication-Cultural Sensitivity Coursework

Introduction to Communication-Cultural Sensitivity - Coursework Example President Franklin Delano Roosevelt had seen the need for people to live together in peace despite their differences and accept cultural diversity by advocating for â€Å"the science of human relationships.† This brief paper examines the value of cultural knowledge in fostering peace and goodwill. Discussion – the cultural theory of sociology and anthropology states that culture is the sum total of the way of life of a group of people; the individual inherits the social legacy of this group and is profoundly influenced by this cumulative legacy of experiences of prior generations (Kluckhohn 1985). This legacy consists of the beliefs, values, and norms of the particular group and it may be hard or difficult for a person to deviate from this upbringing by doing something else which contradicts the wishes of the group to which he or she belongs. A clear understanding of this premise is necessary to connect with this individual through interpersonal communication. The anecdote I am narrating here is about a new kid who emigrated from the Far East. He hails from Japan and is distinctively Japanese in his manner of speaking, dress, and behavior. However, he also speaks excellent English as he had been privately tutored while still in Japan as his parents were from the middle-class and could afford a tutor for a foreign language lesson. He seems friendly, outgoing, fun-loving, inquisitive, intelligent, and highly sensitive too. People from the Far East countries of China, Japan, Korea, and to a large extent also in other countries where Confucian values are prominent including Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand have a humble and deferential attitude towards other people, especially of elders. In this regard, I knew my new neighborhood friend will always defer to the wishes of his parents. It is inconceivable or unthinkable for him to go against their wishes, unlike most of American kids who instead value personal freedom and individuality to