Type:
Solution Manual
Human Relations The Art and Resource: Science of Building Effective Relationships Edition:
2nd Edition
Author(s):
Vivian McCann
Chapter 1: Foundations of Human Relations Chapter Overview This chapter describes effective human relations, which are important for successful relationships in our personal and professional lives. It looks at the research involved in psychology, science, and human relations psychology in regards to human relations, as well as the four dimensions on which cultures can be compared. Learning Objectives • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Describe two reasons to develop good human relations Explain how context affects our everyday lives. Explain the importance of “context” in human relations Explain why culture is an important element of context Explain the role of psychology in learning about human relations Explain how generational differences influence values of that generation Summarize how cultural values can influence the expectations, beliefs, and behaviors of individuals Summarize the meaning of values and how it helps us understand others Describe how survival needs influence cultures and their values Compare and contrast the use of nationality as the basis for cultural exploration Compare individualist and collectivist cultures Explain how ‘power distance’ influences cultural norms Describe the effects of ‘uncertainty avoidance’ on cultural practices and behavior patterns Compare the belief systems of masculine and feminine cultures Explain how understanding culture can improve your relations with others
Key Terms and Concepts Context Psychology Empirical evidence Human relations Culture Values Individualism-Collectivism (IC) Power Distance (PD) High power distance cultures
Low power distance cultures Uncertainty Avoidance (UA) High uncertainty avoidance culture Low uncertainty avoidance culture Masculinity-Femininity (MF) Sex Gender Masculine culture Feminine culture
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Why Study Human Relations? A. HUMAN RELATIONS: The ability to interact effectively with diverse others in a variety of situations. a. Effective interpersonal skills are key to successful personal relationships. b. Success in relationships is nested in effective patterns of communication. c. Interpersonal skills are highly valued in the workforce today (e.g., future employers). d. Skills must be paired with an understanding of the context of interactions. What Is Context? A. CONTEXT: Personalities, cultural background, situational factors in each interaction. B. Preview Questions 1. How does context affect our everyday lives? 2. What types of context are important in human relations? 3. Why do we need to understand context to be effective in our relations with others? C. Critical Thinking Question: Think of a skill that you know well and list some of the ways that context is important in mastery of that skill. D. How does context apply to human relations activities? 1. Listening 1) For example, listening is an important aspect of human relations. 2) Can you think of a reason why this is true? 3) Is it helpful every time you listen to someone else? Or every time someone listens to you? How do you know? 4) Why do you think listening effectiveness differs from situation to situation? 2. Recognition of diversity 1) Increasing diversity in American culture and society influences relations with others. 2) Cultural backgrounds play significant role in beliefs, expectations, and interpretations that influence interactions with others. Psychology, Science, and Human Relations A. Preview Questions 1. What is psychology, and how does it help us develop better human relations? 2. What makes psychology a science? 3. How do we best define human relations?
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B. PSYCHOLOGY is the scientific study of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. 1. Study of PSYCHOLOGY is best suited to understand context. 2. Psychology considers internal (personality) and external (social and cultural) factors. C. Psychology is science-based with empirical evidence. 1. EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE: Based on data that have been collected through precise measurement under carefully controlled conditions. 2. Why does this matter when studying human relations? a. What problems might occur if only your own personal experience or that of another is used to understand and/or interpret why people think or act in certain ways? b. Can you give an example? D. HUMAN RELATIONS is the ability to interact effectively with diverse others in a variety of situations. 1. Developing human relations is a process that begins early in life and continues to develop in formal and informal ways. 2. Activity 1.1: Assessing Your Current Human Relations Abilities. Culture: A Unifying Theme A. What is culture? 1. CULTURE is a set of values, shared by a group of people, which shape and influence the norms, attitudes, beliefs, expectations, perceptions, and behaviors of the group members. 2. Preview Questions a. What is culture? Name at least six different examples of culture. b. What are values? Do they affect culture? c. What factors influence development of a particular culture and its values? d. To what extent can we determine a person’s culture from his or her physical appearance? 3. Culture is steeped in diversity. a. See Figure 1.1: Values Are the Foundation of Culture. b. A wide degree of diversity in acceptable behavior among different people comes from different value systems. c. Diversity involves a long, enduring history. d. Diversity creates a sense of “right” behaviors or “naturalness” that may be very different among people. 4. Culture influences basic values related to a wide range of things: group’s norms, beliefs, situational expectations, perceptions, and attitudes. B. How are values defined? 1. VALUES are guiding principles. a. Everyone has values. See Activity 1.2: Values Identification Exercise. b. Values are part of everyday life. See Handout 1.6: Values in Everyday Life Worksheet.
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c. Judgments about goodness and badness are often made when there is disagreement with personal beliefs and behaviors. d. Challenge in value identification involves discovery of positive outcomes each person seeks. e. Becoming familiar with global value systems provides a way to draw ideas and possibilities. 2. Critical Thinking Question: Take a moment to consider someone’s behavior that has puzzled you. What value might be driving that behavior? Remember to frame the value as a positive outcome rather than in negative terms (such as excitement rather than instability). C. What are the origins of culture? 1. See Figure 1.2: A Model of Cultural Development. 2. Cultural norms are transmitted between generations, causing change to evolve slowly. 3. The basic component of cultural norms equals survival. Survival needs frame cultural variations. 4. Most cross-cultural researchers believe cultural norms and values stem from behavior patterns needed to survive and thrive. 5. Geographical region influence a. Particular environmental challenges (and their resolution) shape cultural values, norms, and behavior patterns. b. Challenges include such things as availability of resources, population density, and climate. c. Critical Thinking Question: Can you think of an example of a crowded region that has a strict social structure and hierarchical status groups? 6. Non-geographical influence a. Culture permeates the lives and choices made as people pursue individual goals. b. Non-geographical influences include such things as age, gender, education, ethnicity, race, religion, and related social needs. c. Critical Thinking Question: Think about your own culture and identify one important element of it—it might be your age, gender, ethnicity, religion, or race. Next, think about how this element of your culture—and, thus, your identity—has influenced your life in terms of your choices, opportunities, or goals. What is one specific life outcome you can link directly to your culture? That is, name one specific way that this element of your culture helped lead you to where you are now. If you are comfortable sharing this information, compare your answer to that of one of your classmates or friends. Dimensions of Culture A. Preview Questions
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