Discuss your own culture’s pattern of communication using Purnell’s Domains of Culture as a guide. Speak to each one of the following points:
Identify your cultural ancestry. If you have more than one cultural ancestry, choose the one with which you most closely associate.
Explore the willingness of individuals in your culture to share thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Can you identify any area of discussion that would be considered taboo?
Explore the practice and meaning of touch in your culture. Include information regarding touch between family members, friends, members of the opposite sex, and health‐care providers.
Identify personal spatial and distancing strategies used when communicating with others in your culture. Discuss differences between friends and families versus strangers.
Discuss your culture’s use of eye contact. Include information regarding practices between family members, friends, strangers, and persons of different age groups.
Explore the meaning of gestures and facial expressions in your culture. Do specific gestures or facial expressions have special meanings? How are emotions displayed?
Are there acceptable ways of standing and greeting people in your culture?
Discuss the prevailing temporal relation of your culture. Is the culture’s worldview past, present, or future-oriented?
Discuss the impact of your culture on your nursing and/or health care.
Sample Answer
My cultural ancestry is American, a blend of various European and other influences that have shaped a unique pattern of communication. This culture's communication style is often direct but can also be highly nuanced, and it varies significantly based on context and region.
Willingness to Share
Americans are generally willing to share thoughts and ideas, particularly in informal settings. There is a strong emphasis on individualism and self-expression. However, a significant area of discussion that would be considered taboo, especially in professional or initial social settings, is personal finances. Asking someone about their salary or wealth is often seen as a significant breach of privacy. Religion and politics are also sensitive topics, though they are often discussed more openly than finances.
Practice and Meaning of Touch
Touch is generally reserved for people with whom one has a close relationship. In American culture, a handshake is the standard greeting in professional and formal settings. Among family and close friends, a hug is a common form of greeting and comfort. Touch between members of the opposite sex, especially a man and a woman who are not in a romantic relationship, can be more reserved. In healthcare, touch is generally professional and task-oriented, such as a nurse taking a pulse or a doctor examining a patient. It is expected that healthcare providers will ask for permission before touching a patient.
Spatial and Distancing Strategies
Personal space is highly valued in American culture. When communicating, the typical personal distance is about an arm's length (1.5 to 4 feet). Standing too close to a stranger is generally considered an invasion of their space and can be uncomfortable. This distance is often reduced among family and close friends, where people might stand closer or sit side-by-side. The concept of "personal space" is a well-established norm.
Eye Contact
In American culture, direct eye contact is a sign of honesty, sincerity, and confidence. Maintaining eye contact during a conversation is expected and signals that you are engaged and listening. However, staring for too long can be perceived as aggressive or strange. It's generally a good practice to maintain intermittent eye contact. Among friends and family, eye contact is natural and less formal. With authority figures, it is a sign of respect. With strangers, it is a brief glance and often a smile.