Co-Cultural Theory

Summary

Mark Orbe’s Co-Cultural Theory explores how marginalized groups interact with the dominant culture, adopting specific communication strategies based on their desired outcomes. Orbe identifies three approaches—non-assertive, assertive, and aggressive—and three preferred outcomes—assimilation, accommodation, and separation. These strategies are influenced by factors such as personal experience, situational context, ability, and perceived costs and rewards. By understanding these dynamics, individuals from marginalized groups can navigate the complexities of dominant culture interactions while striving for inclusion or distinct identity maintenance.

Takeaways

• 😀 Co-cultural Theory by Mark Orbe explains how marginalized groups face disadvantages when interacting with the dominant culture.
• 😀 The term 'co-cultural' is used to describe marginalized groups, and 'dominant culture' refers to the group with the most privilege and power.
• 😀 Co-cultural communication is the interaction between members of the dominant and marginalized groups, with the goal of thriving within the dominant culture.
• 😀 There are nine communication orientations for co-cultural members, consisting of three approaches and three preferred outcomes.
• 😀 The three approaches to communication are non-assertive, assertive, and aggressive.
• 😀 The three preferred outcomes for co-cultural members are assimilation, accommodation, and separation.
• 😀 Assimilation involves co-cultural members fitting into the dominant culture and shedding their cultural markers.
• 😀 Accommodation is the process where co-cultural members work to change dominant cultural rules to consider their experiences.
• 😀 Separation focuses on co-cultural members creating and maintaining an identity distinct from the dominant culture.
• 😀 Four factors influence how co-cultural members interact with the dominant culture: field of experience, situational context, ability, and perceived costs and rewards.

Q & A

What is Co-Cultural Theory, and who developed it?

Co-Cultural Theory was developed by Mark Orbe. It explains how members of marginalized groups face disadvantages when interacting with the dominant culture and how they adapt their communication strategies based on their preferred outcomes.

What does the term 'dominant culture' refer to in Co-Cultural Theory?

In Co-Cultural Theory, the 'dominant culture' refers to the group with the most power, privilege, and influence in society, whose norms are typically seen as the societal standard.

How does Mark Orbe define the term 'co-cultural'?

Orbe defines 'co-cultural' as a neutral term used to describe marginalized groups, who are typically labeled as minorities. It emphasizes their position in society without any judgment on their size or importance.

What are the three primary communication approaches identified in Co-Cultural Theory?

The three primary communication approaches are non-assertive, assertive, and aggressive. These approaches define how individuals from marginalized groups communicate with the dominant culture.

What are the three preferred outcomes in Co-Cultural Theory?

The three preferred outcomes in Co-Cultural Theory are assimilation, accommodation, and separation. These describe the different ways marginalized groups navigate their interactions with the dominant culture.

What does 'assimilation' mean in the context of Co-Cultural Theory?

Assimilation refers to the process by which individuals from co-cultural groups try to fit into the dominant culture by shedding any cultural markers and adopting the dominant culture’s norms and behaviors.

What are the different approaches to achieving assimilation?

There are three approaches to assimilation: non-assertive (emphasizing commonalities and avoiding controversy), assertive (overcompensating and manipulating stereotypes), and aggressive (disassociating, mirroring, and self-deprecation).

What does 'accommodation' mean in Co-Cultural Theory?

Accommodation involves co-cultural members working to change the dominant culture’s rules to be more inclusive of their experiences, instead of trying to fit in or separate from it.

What are the different approaches to achieving accommodation?

There are three approaches to accommodation: non-assertive (increasing visibility and dispelling stereotypes), assertive (communicating with integrity and educating others), and aggressive (confronting others and gaining an advantage).

What is the meaning of 'separation' in Co-Cultural Theory?

Separation refers to co-cultural members creating and maintaining an identity distinct from the dominant culture, often to promote solidarity within their own group.

What are the different approaches to achieving separation?

There are three approaches to separation: non-assertive (avoiding outsiders and maintaining boundaries), assertive (embracing strengths and stereotypes), and aggressive (attacking outsiders and sabotaging others).

What are the four factors that influence how co-cultural members interact with the dominant culture?

The four factors influencing interaction are: field of experience (past experiences with the dominant culture), situational context (social setting), ability (physical abilities affecting interaction), and perceived costs and rewards (weighing pros and cons before engaging).

How does a person’s field of experience impact their interaction with the dominant culture?

A person’s field of experience, or their past interactions with the dominant culture, can influence their future behavior, making them more or less likely to engage based on how welcomed or safe they felt previously.

Why is a person’s ability a factor in their interaction with the dominant culture?

A person’s physical ability plays a role because individuals with disabilities may face more challenges in assimilating or interacting with the dominant culture in the same way as able-bodied individuals.