An Intercultural Communication

An area that could occur in intercultural, interpersonal or family communication involves gender. In general. There are some basics that apply to all of us in both past, current, and future relationships. Consider these examples of issues and breakdowns in communication.  The assignment is below. Demand–withdraw communication is one prominent type of communication in relationships and families which is especially evident in conflict communication.   A. In many ways, this pattern is an understandable outcome of differences in what each partner in a relationship wants. B. In seeking change, the person making the demand is in a potentially vulnerable, less powerful position than the person withdrawing.   This pattern is common in the United States and cross-culturally and has been found in parent-child relationships, as well as in heterosexual couples. A. Women tend to demand and men withdraw, perhaps because men have a stronger physiological response to stress or because of gender socialization in which women are socialized to seek greater connectedness with others. B. Also, research shows that the more change one partner desires, the more that partner tends to demand and the other one withdraw.   Among same-sex couples, demand-withdraw relationship maintenance behaviors were more equally displayed by both partners.   The demand-withdraw pattern is fairly common, but it is neither healthy nor an effective style of communication and conflict resolution and is “consistently characteristic of ailing marriages,” according to Gottman.    Communicating Too Much? Self-disclosure is clearly a part of growing and getting close to another person.   Some researchers, though, argue that couples need moderation in communication as well.   These approaches argue that communication is necessary and good, but that this does not mean that everything should be shared. Some communication problems are topic-dependent-or relationship-based. These include doubts, child-rearing issues, lack of listening, household tasks, and not showing sufficient appreciation.   Assignment: Select one area from Demand/Withdraw and one area from Communicating Too Much that you can relate to and/or have an opinion about and why to discuss. Ask a specific question of your classmates relating to your comments for them to respond to.