Compare And Contrast Communication And American Culture

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“The place to start when learning to communicate across cultures is to become aware of proxemics, how close to stand or sit when communicating. We each have an invisible circle that surrounds us called (personal space) “. (Gonzalez-Mena, 2008) I am a friendly person, so generally, I like to be close to the person I’m talking to. If a stranger stands close to me I will feel comfortable. My special proximity depends on if I know you or not and if I feel comfortable around you. If I’m uncomfortable, I don’t want you near me. Globally, America and many other European countries share similarities in the amount of space one must have, which is typically arm’s length. In Saudi Arabia, the requirements of personal space are lower. They stand closer …show more content…

Eye contact is expected in American culture, it is essential to social communication which shows a person’s interest and engagement with your conversation. In Western cultures eyes are considered to show the central point of a person’s focus. If somebody doesn’t give any eye contact during a conversation, it may be deemed to be insulting. Many people would take this to mean that they weren’t interested and take their roaming eyes as a sign of their distraction. However, prolonged gazing or starring is rude and very disrespectful. Every eye contact can be perceived differently based on the situation. Growing up, if my mom or dad gave me “the look”, I knew they meant business. “The look is usually demonstrated as an intense stare accompanied by a stern and often frowning face.” (Gonzalez-Mena, 2008, p. 36) In Asian cultures, which are more authoritative, it is believed that subordinates shouldn’t make eye-contact with their superiors. “For example, students are discouraged from making eye contact with their professors, as it can be interpreted as a sign of disrespect. Similarly, a daughter will point her eyes downwards when her father is speaking to her, as a sign of politeness and

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