In theory, we learn that relational formation can be developed through different processes. Relationships are formed through factors such as physical appearance, similarity, dissimilarities, exchange, proximity, reciprocity and competency. To a certain extent, this may be true. These interactions cause people to develop a first impression of the other party. However, relational development is not limited to just these factors alone. Another factor, which makes use of low contextual culture, can also contribute to the development of relationships.
I found an article on the net and would like to share it here.
http://www.souleader.org/docs/relational.pdf
In this article, there is a sentence saying, “I wanted to stay away from those people – the ones who didn’t look too good – because whatever they had, I didn’t want it rubbing off on me.” This is an evidence of someone that judges the people whom he interacts and forms relationships with based on their physical appearances. He does not wish to interact with someone who looks different (or rather, to him, they look weird). Dissimilarity may be one of the factors that causes people to interact with one another, it can also be one of the factors that causes people to withdraw from another person. Differences might indicate to some people that conflicts would arise, should these two people interact with one another.
However, over time, the person realized that he has begun to fit into the place nicely. As stated in the article, “Context is strong. And my context for the past fifteen years or so had given me many messages.” This is evident how a low contextual message can affect a person’s thinking. In this article, the focus is placed on the messages that God was trying to send across to the receiver, who is the person himself. Since this is a spiritual article, little, or rather no focus was placed on non-verbal cues because they are non-existent. Instead, a huge emphasis is placed on the message that has been put across in words.
This article shows that people interact not solely because of external factors such as those that we have learnt in class. Instead, other factors such as words and messages also contribute to someone interacting with another person, which in the case of this article, is interaction through faith. Since it is not possible to communicate verbally, or through the use of non-verbal cues, the alternative is to make use of words in the bible, to convey the messages from God to the respective followers.
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I think that culture makes up to a very big, important part in each of our lives.
ReplyDeleteUltimately, how we are going to view someone, how we are going to judge them, and how we are going to form relationships with them, will result from the culture we have.
And in interacting with another party, I do feel that non-verbal cues do help in expressing ourselves better.
Good entry overall :)
i think, faith is something unique. it's something undescribable by words (though we do use words to express the teachings of god)
ReplyDeletefaith is out of this world
-w
I believe interaction can be both in nonverbal cues and through faith.
ReplyDeleteIn this passage, it is seen that the initial opinion of this group was that they were crazy.But something made the man come back the next week.
ultimately, the man was attracted to interact with this people because they share the common faith in God.
only people who experience God will truly have faith and interact with God by praying.
this cannot be done through nonverbal cues.
definitely,relationship can be built or started off by many factors.But it is common values, characters
or beliefs that keep this relationship going.
Whats our pillar of strength?
ReplyDeleteFaith or God?
Rather insightful post.
i believe that communication is not limited to just what we learn in class alone. under differen circumstances, and in different context, different theories can be applied differently.
ReplyDeletei agree that faith in this case, although is a form of 'communication' from God, it is non-existant if we go by the theory of communication. since it does not make use of nonverbal or verbal cues, it clearly shows that faith and belief is another form of communication.
well done, good analysis!
-j
Can we really consider faith as a form of communication? I feel that it is a belief which we cannot question because there is no answer. Since there is no sender in the first place, it may not be a form of communication in that sense.
ReplyDeleteMaybe this is something to ponder over.
An insightful post worth thinking through though. Well done.
Indeed in Christianity and any other beliefs, they base a lot of their communication through low context communication. This is very true. This is because it is believed that these highly spiritual figures existed a long time before humans came into this world. Thus, all their teachings are through bibles and other books that were written by them.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it is also arguable that these teachings are taught through verbal communication, thus it is not solely a low context communication. For example, since the entry is on Christianity, we would also focus more on this belief. In Christianity, there is always a pastor in the church who would preach on the word of God. Since preaching is in the form of verbal communication, there would definitely be nonverbal cues from the pastor, which compliments or contrasts against the word of God. This would then mean that the teachings is also done through high context communication.
Thus I choose to believe that in every form of communication, it is always a combination of both high context and low context communication.
i think relationships are important in day to day functioning because man have to interact with people for different purposes everyday. even in individualistic cultures, relationships still do exist.
ReplyDeletein interacting through faith, i believe that the way that this could possibly be done so is through similar experiences (in the things of God). this faith builds a common language between the two in the 'relationship' and henceforth builds communication.
I think that the person mentioned in the post is able to change his perception mainly because of similarity, rather than high or low context communication.
ReplyDeleteInitially when the person felt left out by the group, he did not feel very comfortable because he felt that they were different. However, over time, he realized that he was able to blend in with the crowd. This could only be done if right from the beginning, there is some similarity between the person and the group. Without such similarity, the person would definitely not be able to blend in.
Such kind of similarities need not be visible, but it is something which makes someone feel the need to draw nearer to others.
Yes, I agree that while dissimilarity can cause people to connect with one another, it can also cause people to drift apart. This is also applicable for similarity.
ReplyDeleteWhen people are too similar or too different, they can clique together because they are able to compromise with one another. Compromise in this case is very important in order to ensure that conflicts between the two party is of a healthy level. If the conflicts goes beyond what the couple can control, it might also have adverse effect on the relationship.
At the same time, when two people are too different, they may not be able to see eye to eye. This is especially true in couples who have very different perceptions of their lives. After a while, they would realize that they are going in very different directions and soon, they would part. Also for similarity, when two people are too similar, they would tend to be too agreeable. This would not help the relationship to grow because their perceptions are very narrow. As such, chances are that the couple would also split at the end of the day.
Thus it is important to be able to strike a balance between the two.
jess
It is true that not everyone clique together solely because of physical outlooks, but may also be due to wisdom, which is a form of low context communication. Especially for me, I am attracted to people who are wise, thus I pay much attention to the things that they say.
ReplyDeleteyx
I personally feel that in this context, it is not very much about low or high context communication, but a lot of emphasis should be placed on first impression. If the first impression that I have of someone is a disaster, I would not even wish to have anything to do with the person anymore, let alone to continue staying in the place where there are so many of such people around. Thus I feel that the character in the story must have had a very good first impression of the place, and that the influence of the other ‘weird’ people was not strong enough to stop him from going to the place. As such, he had more time to study them and to change his perception of them.
ReplyDeletesadly, this world is as fake as its exterior.
ReplyDeleteI shall focus on the part of 'interaction though faith'.
ReplyDeleteFaith is an amazing thing that is able to keep its followers united in a way that, when they see each other, they just have the common feeling which cannot be put into words.
Take for instance, Muslims who go on Hajj every year, to Mecca for pilgrimage. Muslims from all over the world go to the one and only place for pligrimage every year, without fail. What keeps them going? Simple as it is, faith keeps them going. Faith keeps them united. The non-verbal message from their God, which travels straight deep into the hearts of the followers keeps them as one, without much verbal communication between one another.
Therefore, don't misjudge the power of Faith. It may be invisible, but it is invincible.
Great entry you have there, jasmine! Very insightful. Thanks for sharing!
People interact with one another in the search of belonging. We yearn to belong to a group that we find admirable and attractive in any way that we personally feel important. Ingroup homogenity is what keeps a group of people bonded - they find themselves very simliar to one another and they feel that they share same opinions etc. It is alos often this perceived homegenity that leads to intimacy and closer relationships. We often compare ourselves to others and thus steer away from those we dislike, fearing to be grouped by outsider that "you're just like them'(outgroup homogenity).
ReplyDeleteHowever, when we are forced or for some reason, stuck in a group that we thought we should not be in, we gradually start to learn more about this group and remove our stereotypes through none other than communication itself. If we stay in the group long enough, we would start using various theories and reasons to remove our dissonance, which I think is a good explanation of how one manages to fit into a group or adapt to a culture he or we never expect him to be able to.
While people are naturally drawn to people who are similar to them, I think it's immature and rather despicable to discriminate against those who aren't. However, it was rather comforting to know the effect low contextual messages had on this person. It is my wish that the world would be rid of such ideals the same way it helped the guy in question.
ReplyDeleteThis was a really interesting read by the way. Thanks!
Personally, I feel that communication boils down to the connection between both parties. Be it using non-verbal communication or verbal cues, it is whether the people can click and connect.
ReplyDelete