American Cultural Patterns

A Cross-Cultural Perspective

Edward C. Stewart, Milton J. Bennett

• Publisher: Intercultural Press
• Year: 2011
• Print ISBN: 9781877864018
• eBook ISBN: 9781473643451
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Cultural & Social Anthropology
• Index: Social Sciences

This classic study was originally written by Edward Stewart in 1972 and has become a seminal work in the field of intercultural relations. In this edition, Stewart and Milton J. Bennett have greatly expanded the analysis of American cultural patterns by introducing new cross-cultural comparisons and drawing on recent reseach on value systems, perception psychology, cultural anthropology, and intercultural communication. Beginning with a discussion of the issues relative to contact between people of different cultures, the authors examine the nature of cultural assumptions and values as a framework for cross-cultural analysis. They then analyze the human perceptual process, consider the influence of language on culture, and discuss nonverbal behavior. Central to the book is an analysis of American culture constructed along four dimentions: form of activity, form of social relations, perceptions of the world, and perception of the self. American cultural traits are isolated out, analyzed, and compared with parallel characteristics of other cultures. Finally, the cultural dimentions of communication and their implications for cross-cultural interaction are examined.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter One Conceptualization of the Cross-Cultural Problem
• Chapter Two Cultural Patterns of Perception and Thinking
• Chapter Three Language and Nonverbal Behavior
• Chapter Four Form of Activity
• Chapter Five Form of Social Relations
• Chapter Six Perception of the World
• Chapter Seven Perception of the Self
• Chapter Eight Intercultural Communication Applications
• Bibliography
• Index
• Footnotes