How Power Affects Communication | Intro to Human Communication | Study Hall
Summary
TLDRThe video explores how culture shapes power dynamics, using examples like Mirabel's family from 'Encanto' and Geert Hofstede's theory of power distance. In high power distance cultures, like Colombia, inequality is accepted, with older members holding more authority, as seen with Abuela in the Madrigal family. In contrast, low power distance cultures, like Sweden and the U.S., emphasize equality and fair distribution of power. The video explains how understanding power distance helps us navigate relationships and interactions across different cultural contexts.
Takeaways
- š In 'Encanto', Mirabel Madrigal's family dynamics reflect the cultural values of close-knit Colombian families where elders hold significant power.
- šµ The Madrigal family's respect for abuela as the matriarch illustrates the importance of respecting older community members in Colombian culture.
- š Mirabel's family represents the common Colombian practice of multigenerational households living together.
- š§ Power, as defined by Geert Hofstede, is the extent to which individuals can influence others' ideas and behaviors, often shaped by cultural upbringing.
- š The cultural values of a nation can trickle down to influence institutions and organizations, as exemplified by the fictional nation of Bomont's anti-dancing laws.
- š³ Hofstede's concept of 'power distance' measures how much less powerful members of a society accept the power imbalance they experience.
- š± Inequality is a universal societal issue, arising from the ways societies categorize people into groups like gender, race, and class.
- š High power distance cultures, such as Colombia, India, and China, endorse significant inequality and have a strict social hierarchy.
- šæ Low power distance cultures, like Sweden and Denmark, promote fairness and equitable sharing of power, valuing equality and individualism.
- š Understanding power distance helps explain the distribution of power in societies and how it affects interpersonal relationships and community dynamics.
- š Recognizing cultural attitudes towards power can enhance cross-cultural communication and foster stronger connections.
Q & A
What is the primary influence on how Mirabel Madrigal's family values are shaped?
-Mirabel's family values are shaped by the Colombian culture, which values close-knit family connections and respects older community members.
What is the significance of 'abuela' in Mirabel's family structure?
-In Mirabel's family, 'abuela' is the matriarch who has the final say on everything, reflecting the cultural value placed on respecting older members in Colombian culture.
How does the concept of power, as defined by Geert Hofstede, relate to Mirabel's family?
-According to Hofstede, power is the extent to which people can influence the ideas and behaviors of others. In Mirabel's family, 'abuela' has more power because she influences family decisions.
What is the role of cultural values in shaping power dynamics within a society?
-Cultural values shape power dynamics by influencing who has power and how they exercise it. In Mirabel's Colombian culture, the elderly are given more power and respect.
What is the concept of 'power distance' and how does it relate to the distribution of power?
-Power distance is a tool for measuring how much the less powerful members of a society accept the imbalance of power or inequality they experience.
How does the concept of power distance manifest in Mirabel's society?
-In Mirabel's society, power distance is manifested by the acceptance of the elderly having more power, such as 'abuela' having the final say in family matters.
What are the characteristics of a high power distance culture according to Hofstede?
-High power distance cultures are characterized by a high degree of inequality, strict social hierarchy, and acceptance of the distribution of power by its members.
What are the characteristics of a low power distance culture according to Hofstede?
-Low power distance cultures believe in the fair and equitable sharing of power among members, with less acceptance of inequality.
How does the cultural value of independence in the U.S. differ from that in Sweden, as per Hofstede's research?
-While both the U.S. and Sweden are low power distance cultures, the U.S. values independence more, leading to a loosely knit society where individuals are expected to be self-reliant.
How can understanding power distance help in cross-cultural communication?
-Understanding power distance helps in cross-cultural communication by providing insights into how people from different cultures perceive and accept power and inequality, thus facilitating stronger connections.
What is the importance of recognizing power dynamics in everyday interactions?
-Recognizing power dynamics is important as it influences behavior and interactions in various settings such as families, workplaces, and communities.
Outlines
šØāš©āš§āš¦ Family Dynamics and Cultural Influence in Encanto
This paragraph introduces the theme of how individuals learn social behaviors from their upbringing and culture, using the example of Mirabel Madrigal from *Encanto*. It discusses how Abuela, the matriarch of the family, holds authority over major family decisions, such as holiday celebrations, marriage, and sensitive topics like Bruno. Mirabelās family values are influenced by Colombian culture, which emphasizes close family bonds and respect for elders. These cultural values shape the familyās power dynamics, reflecting how societies and families are structured by cultural norms and hierarchies.
š§āš« Understanding Power through Cultural Values
The paragraph explains the concept of power using Dutch social psychologist Geert Hofstedeās definition: the ability to influence othersā ideas and behaviors. It uses examples like parentsā control over children to illustrate power dynamics. Hofstede's theory is that cultural values within a country significantly shape power distribution within institutions and social groups. A fictional country, Bomont, is used to illustrate how a nation's cultural values (like banning dancing) trickle down into family rules and workplace behaviors, emphasizing the broader societal impact of cultural norms.
š Power Distance: Societal Acceptance of Inequality
This section introduces the concept of 'power distance,' defined by Hofstede as how much less-powerful members of society accept inequality. The paragraph highlights how categories like age, gender, and race can affect power dynamics, using Mirabelās lower societal power due to her youth as an example. It further illustrates how inequality in societies is often accepted by less-powerful groups, with examples from *Encanto* and Bomont. Cultural values dictate the level of inequality and how it is reinforced or resisted within societies.
š° High Power Distance Cultures: Structured Inequality
This paragraph explores high power distance cultures, where inequality is widely accepted by society. Examples include Thailand, India, China, and Colombia. It highlights that in such cultures, strict social hierarchies are maintained with little resistance from less-powerful members. In *Encanto*, Mirabelās family accepts Abuelaās authority, illustrating how these power structures remain largely unchanged over time. The paragraph notes that while there are benefits for individuals in different social tiers, high power distance cultures are resistant to change, maintaining a strict chain of command.
š Low Power Distance Cultures: Embracing Equality
This section contrasts high power distance cultures with low power distance cultures, where leaders and citizens alike value equitable power distribution. Sweden, Denmark, Costa Rica, and the United States are given as examples. These societies value fairness and individualism, which affects their social norms and communication styles. However, even within low power distance cultures, there are differences in how equality is practiced. For instance, the U.S. values independence, while Sweden provides more institutional support, showing variety within the same category.
š Cultural Variation within Power Distance
The paragraph emphasizes that even within a particular power distance culture, there can be differences in how values are implemented. Using the U.S. as an example, it explains that although the U.S. is generally a low power distance society, individual institutions or people may follow stricter power hierarchies, such as professors requiring formal titles. It argues that personal differences and institutional values create variation in how societies interpret and enact power distance, reflecting the fluid nature of culture and individuality.
š The Importance of Understanding Power Dynamics
The final paragraph wraps up by explaining the importance of understanding power distance and its effect on relationships and communities. It stresses that our cultural background and experiences with power influence how we treat others. By learning how different societies perceive and accept power inequality, we can build stronger cross-cultural connections. The paragraph humorously advises against discussing Bruno, a nod to the cultural dynamics in *Encanto*, while encouraging viewers to continue exploring topics of human communication.
Mindmap
Keywords
š”Power
š”Power Distance
š”High Power Distance
š”Low Power Distance
š”Geert Hofstede
š”Inequality
š”Culture
š”Hierarchy
š”Bomont
š”Social Categories
Highlights
Mirabel Madrigal from Encanto learns about power dynamics from her Colombian family and culture.
In Colombian culture, close-knit family connections and multi-generational living are valued.
Respecting older community members is a key aspect of Colombian culture, reflected in the Madrigal family's respect for abuela.
Abuela's authority in the Madrigal family illustrates the influence of cultural values on power within families.
Geert Hofstede's definition of power is the ability to influence others' ideas and behaviors.
Cultural values of a nation significantly shape an individual's power dynamics.
The fictional nation of Bomont exemplifies how national values can trickle down into institutional and personal behaviors.
Power distance is a measure of how much less powerful members of a society accept power imbalance.
Inequality arises from societal categorization of people based on gender, race, ethnicity, religion, and class.
Mirabel's power in her society is influenced by her being young, female, and Latina.
High power distance cultures, like Colombia, endorse a high degree of inequality and strict social hierarchy.
Low power distance cultures, such as Sweden and Denmark, value fairness and equitable sharing of power.
The U.S., despite valuing equality, can still have high power distance dynamics in certain contexts.
Variation in power distance values can occur even within the same cultural category.
Understanding power distance helps in bridging cultural gaps and forming stronger connections.
The video concludes with a humorous note about not mentioning Bruno, staying true to the Encanto narrative.
Transcripts
In episode 3, we talked aboutĀ how we learn to interact withĀ Ā
other people from the peopleĀ and cultures we grew up with.
The same thing is true for MirabelĀ Madrigal, the hero of Encanto
In the family Madrigal, abuela, the familyĀ matriarch, has the final say on everything,Ā Ā
like how holidays are celebrated,Ā who her granddaughters marry,Ā Ā
and whoās allowed to talk about Bruno.
(Spoiler alert: no one talks about Bruno.)
And because Mirabel grew up in Colombia,Ā Ā
her familyās values are also influenced byĀ the culture of the society she grew up in.
Colombian culture really valuesĀ close-knit family connections,Ā Ā
and itās common for multiple generations to liveĀ together in one home, like in Mirabelās casita.
And in most parts of Colombia, respectingĀ older community members is really important,Ā Ā
which is why the MadrigalsĀ look to abuela as their leader.
Mirabelās family accepts that abuelasĀ have more power in family culture thanĀ Ā
younger family members inĀ the family they live inā¦.
ā¦which is why what abuela says, goes.
And while we donāt live in magical houses, we allĀ have something in common with Mirabelās family.Ā Ā
Like the Madrigals, our perceptionĀ of who has power and why they haveĀ Ā
power is shaped by the values of theĀ cultures and societies we live in.
And those values trickle-down into our everydayĀ communities, like our families and workplaces,Ā Ā
and they affect our behavior andĀ how we interact with other people.
Hi, Iām Cassandra Ryder, and this isĀ Study Hall: Intro to Human Communication.
First, we need to understand the concept of power.
Dutch social psychologist Geert HofstedeĀ defines āpowerā as the extent to whichĀ Ā
people are able to influence theĀ ideas and behaviors of others.
So for instance, a parent has more powerĀ than a child because parents influenceĀ Ā
their childrenās choices, like whichĀ veggies they eat and when bedtime is.
According to Hofstede, the power people haveĀ is heavily influenced by the culture of theĀ Ā
nation they grow up in. Thatās because aĀ personās country is probably the largestĀ Ā
and most powerful culturalĀ group theyāre a part of.
And because of that, our nationāsĀ cultural values also influence theĀ Ā
values and behaviors of other institutionsĀ and organizations that we participate in too.
Hereās what we mean:
Letās say you grew up in a fictional nation,Ā called Bomont, that is totally against dancing.
Bomont shows its anti-dancing values by passingĀ laws that outlaw dancing in any public place,Ā Ā
including proms, flash mobs,Ā and swing dancing classes.
In Bomont, doing the robotĀ can get you thrown in jail.
And Bomontās no-dancing-everĀ values trickle down from theĀ Ā
national level into other institutionsĀ and organizations within your country.
For instance, families in Bomont show thatĀ they support anti-dancing attitudes by banningĀ Ā
all books and movies that mention dancingĀ from their homes. Workplaces even fireĀ Ā
employees who get caught bobbingĀ their heads to the elevator music.
Bomont shows us how a nationāsĀ cultural values can influenceĀ Ā
how other institutions and people behave.
And it also shows us how those values influenceĀ power dynamics. In this case, the nation hasĀ Ā
the most power because it exerts the mostĀ influence over individuals and institutions.
Which is why Bomont is a no-hip-wiggle zone.
But Hofstede also wanted to explain how membersĀ of societies feel about how power is distributedĀ Ā
within their nation and communities. And to doĀ that, he created a concept called power distance.
I know, that sounds like a yogaĀ poseā¦but power distance is actuallyĀ Ā
a tool for measuring how much theĀ less powerful members of a societyĀ Ā
accept the imbalance of power,Ā or inequality, they experience.
Every culture and individualĀ experiences power distanceĀ Ā
because thereās inequality in every society.
Bummer, I know!
Inequality exists because of the ways thatĀ societies group and categorize people. We useĀ Ā
categories like gender, race, ethnicity, religion,Ā and class to sort people into different groups.
In Mirabelās case, her societyĀ would categorize her as young,Ā Ā
female, and Latinaā¦and sheās assigned aĀ degree of power based on these categories.
So for instance, Mirabel has less power becauseĀ of how young she is. The amount of power MirabelĀ Ā
has then influences her interactions withĀ other members of her society and community.
Grouping people into categories like thisĀ Ā
becomes a problem because societiesĀ prioritize some groups over others.
Like, Bomont places more value on peopleĀ who are anti-dancing over those who arenāt.
And Mirabelās family prioritizes the views ofĀ older members of her family over younger ones.
And according to the concept of powerĀ distance, the people in society who experienceĀ Ā
more inequality are going to show a certainĀ level of acceptance of that power imbalance.
Like, maybe the pro-dancers of BomontĀ think theyāre being treated unfairly,Ā Ā
which means they have a lowĀ acceptance of their power distance.
Which is why they (along with the help of KevinĀ Ā
Bacon) protest and win theĀ right to have school dances.
But in Mirabelās family, everyoneĀ pretty much accepts that abuela hasĀ Ā
more power than everyone else, meaning they haveĀ a higher acceptance of their power distance.
And according to Hofstede, the attitudeĀ that members of a society have toward theĀ Ā
distribution of power depends on what typeĀ of power distance their society endorses.
To explain this idea, Hofstede definesĀ two types of power distance cultures:Ā Ā
high power distance cultures,Ā and low power distance cultures.
The category that a country falls intoĀ depends on how accepting its less-powerfulĀ Ā
citizens are of the distributionĀ of power within their society.
For instance, in a high power distanceĀ culture, the level of inequality thatāsĀ Ā
endorsed by a nationās leaders isĀ also supported by its followers.
And high power distance cultures usuallyĀ exhibit a high degree of inequality.
According to Hofstedeās research,Ā countries like Thailand, India,Ā Ā
China, and Colombia are examplesĀ of high power distance cultures.
The degree of inequality we seeĀ in these cultures trickles downĀ Ā
into smaller institutions and organizationsĀ without much pushback from its members.
Members of a high power distance culture alsoĀ accept that thereās a strict social hierarchy.
In Mirabelās family, elderly family membersĀ are placed at the top of the social hierarchy,Ā Ā
and younger family members are at the bottom.Ā And everyone is pretty much good with that.
Thatās partially because high power distanceĀ cultures are really unlikely to change howĀ Ā
theyāre structured. Like, a nationāsĀ military isnāt going to change up itsĀ Ā
social structure just because soldiers donātĀ like having less power than the officers.
High power distance cultures run on a strictĀ chain of command that all members of societyĀ Ā
are expected to follow without complaining. AndĀ if someone does complain, theyāll probably beĀ Ā
disciplined. That can be as minor as gettingĀ a warningā¦or as serious as ending up in jail.
But there are also privileges that come withĀ your place in a high power distance culture,Ā Ā
depending on what group you fall into.
Like, powerful people probably haveĀ wealth and status, and they might beĀ Ā
exempt from the restrictions thatĀ apply to less-powerful members.
At the bottom of the hierarchy,Ā Ā
less-powerful citizens might receive socialĀ benefits like free education or housing,Ā Ā
which is designed to keep them from becomingĀ dissatisfied with their power distance.
So to recap, members of high power distanceĀ cultures generally accept that thereās a highĀ Ā
degree of inequality in their society.Ā And because of that, they follow theirĀ Ā
societyās preferences for how members at everyĀ level of the social hierarchy should behave.
ā¦And then there are low power distance cultures. In low power distance cultures,Ā Ā
both leaders and members believe in the fairĀ and equitable sharing of power among members.
According to Hofstedeās research,Ā Sweden, Denmark, Costa Rica,Ā Ā
and the United States are all examplesĀ of low power distance cultures.
For instance, Sweden valuesĀ equality and individualism,Ā Ā
which are the types of cultural values weādĀ expect to see in low power distance cultures.
These values are baked into societal norms,Ā which affects how every citizen views powerĀ Ā
and equality. And those social normsĀ shape the way that people from SwedenĀ Ā
communicate with each other andĀ with people from other cultures.
So we know the key differences between highĀ power distance and low power distance cultures.Ā Ā
But Hofstede also tells us that there can be a lotĀ Ā
of variety in how high and lowĀ power distance cultures look.
Like Sweden and the United States mayĀ both be low power distance cultures,Ā Ā
but they are definitely not the same!
To understand the differences between culturesĀ that fall into the same power distance category,Ā Ā
we can look at other values thatĀ a nation endorses. For instance,Ā Ā
Hofstede points out that U.S.Ā culture really values independenceĀ Ā
in addition to the core low powerĀ distance value of fairness and equality.
Like, while U.S. culture tends to be prettyĀ open and informal, itās also loosely knitĀ Ā
because it values independence. So that meansĀ that families and individuals are expectedĀ Ā
to take care of themselves without relying onĀ support from institutions like the government.
But other low power distance countries donātĀ value independence as highly. Like SwedenĀ Ā
and Denmark provide more governmentĀ support to all members of society.
So we see how two countries canĀ have a low power distance cultureĀ Ā
but put those values in practiceĀ in totally different ways.
And of course, that doesnāt mean thatĀ low power distance cultures are perfect.Ā Ā
Inequality is hard-baked into all societies,Ā Ā
and high power distance cultures are no different.Ā Thatās why the U.S. can value equality and justiceĀ Ā
and still struggle with issues likeĀ racism, social inequality, and injustice.
At the end of the day, highĀ and low power distance culturesĀ Ā
are different. Members of high andĀ low power distance cultures haveĀ Ā
different expectations for how power andĀ inequality are distributed in their lives.
And their attitudes toward power andĀ inequality affect the way they behaveĀ Ā
in their relationships and communities.Ā But there can also be differences in howĀ Ā
power distance values play out withinĀ a high or low power distance culture.
Like, just because the majority of members of aĀ society endorse their cultureās distribution ofĀ Ā
power doesnāt mean that all membersĀ of that culture feel the same way.
Weāre most likely to see variation in howĀ members behave in low power distance cultures,Ā Ā
since they tend to be more open to displays ofĀ independent thinking from less-powerful members.
Take college, for instance. College professorsĀ who buy into low power distance values may askĀ Ā
students to call them by their first names andĀ let students suggest different topics to study.
But other college professors in the U.S. may leanĀ towards high power distance values. They mightĀ Ā
require students to refer to them as ādoctorā orĀ āprofessorā and have stricter classroom policies.
So even though the power dynamics of lots ofĀ organizations are influenced by their nationāsĀ Ā
values, thereās still variation in how differentĀ communities put those values into practice.
Because people are unique, creative,Ā and always growing and changing!
And thatās a good thing.
Understanding the concept of powerĀ distance helps explain why powerĀ Ā
is distributed in certain ways inĀ our communities and relationships.
And understanding how members of ourĀ cultural groups feel about power canĀ Ā
explain why people behave in certain ways atĀ home, at work, online, and in the community.
Power distance also gives us clues aboutĀ what people who arenāt from our culturalĀ Ā
groups may expect and accept whereĀ power and inequality are concerned.
Whether youāre interacting with a classmate, aĀ coworker, or a family from Colombia that livesĀ Ā
in a magical casita, understanding thatĀ our experiences with power and inequalityĀ Ā
influence how we treat others can help us makeĀ stronger connections across cultural boundaries.
Butā¦maybe donāt mention BrunoĀ anyway. Just to be safe.
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project, a partnership between ASU and CrashĀ Course. If you liked this video and want toĀ Ā
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