Ethnocentrism as a Barrier to Effective Communication

A detailed Summary of Ethnocentrism as a Barrier to Effective Communication


Ethnocentrism is the feeling that one's group has a mode of living, values, and patterns of adaptation that are superior to those groups. It is coupled with a generalized contempt for members of other groups. Ethnocentrism may manifest itself in attitudes of superiority or sometimes hostility. Violence, discrimination, proselytizing, and verbal aggressiveness are other means whereby ethnocentrism may be expressed.

Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own way of life or culture is both superior to that of others and the most normal way of living for all human beings. An ethnocentrism attitude is also based on the assumption that a person's own culture can be used as a basis for measuring and evaluating behavior in other cultures. Thus the American practice of monogamy (marriage of one man to one woman) is assumed by many Americans to be the best and most normal form of marriage. Other forms of marriage may be evaluated as inferior, abnormal, savage, weird, strange, or immoral. When Eugene Cohen des


Seeing cultural differences through the prism of cultural relativism does not necessarily mean that we "learn a lesson" from us. What it does mean is that we can approach other cultures with an open mind and an appreciation for human diversity. Such an approach fosters scientific objectivity. At the same time, it encourages empathy with other peoples-an ability to see things, to some degree, as they see them. These two products of cultural relativism, objectivity and empathy, are indispensable to the anthropologist, as they are to anyone trying to understand the customs of another society. Indeed, if anthropology has any "message" to offer the world, it is the need for cultural relativism in a time when people from different cultures are coming increasingly to rub shoulders with one another.

Ethnocentrism is not a Western monopoly; it is characteristic of much of humanity. Every group appears to assume its superiority over others.

Modern cultural anthropology denies the validity of ethnocentrism

Some common words found in the essay are:
Ethnocentrism Western, , Eugene Cohen, cultural relativism, own culture, american girls,

Approximate Word count = 684
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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