Kim's Integrative Theory on Communication and Cross-Cultural Adaptation in the Age of Mass Self-Communication

• Main Author: Kok, André
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2018
• Subjects: Communication; Mass communications; Multicultural Education
• ISBN: 035579831X; 9780355798319

This dissertation closely examines social communication elements of Kim’s Integrative Theory on Communication and Cross-Cultural Adaptation and related research in the field. This is taking into consideration the changing landscape of communication over the last 40 years, as well as, specifically examining Castells’ concept of mass self-communication. Through a phenomenological analysis of first-hand, cross-cultural adaptation accounts from foreigners working in South Korea as English teachers, the applicability of Kim’s theory in light of our current world of communication is examined. The study finds the idea that mass self-communication has had a direct impact on how these sojourners have adapted to their host culture, and that it provides new ways for them to maintain ethnic culture ties as well. In addition to the sojourners ethnic culture and the host culture where they find themselves, strong support is found for the existence and influence of a third, intercultural culture. A revision to Kim’s model of Communication and Cross-Cultural Adaptation is proposed, introducing mass self-communication as a third type of social communication at play and identifying the intercultural culture as one in addition to the host and ethnic cultures identified in Kim’s theory. The dissertation considers how the stress-adaptation-growth dynamic between the host and ethnic, which drives Kim’s theory, may be impacted by the introduction of these new variables to the model.