6.3 Illustrate four barriers that inhibit communication between individuals.

By doing the following, we create barriers that inhibit our communication with others:

• Assuming superiority. When one culture or gender assumes superiority or is ethnocentric, communication problems often occur.

• Assuming similarity. It is not productive when individuals or groups from different backgrounds or cultures assume that others behave with responses similar to their own.

• Assuming differences. Don’t automatically assume that other people are different from you.

• Stereotyping and being prejudice. We stereotype by placing a group or person into an inflexible, all-encompassing category. Stereotyping and prejudice can keep us from acknowledging others as unique individuals and therefore can hamper effective, open, and honest communication.

Adapting to Others Who Are Different from You