Describe how cultural nuances of nonverbal cues turn out to be a barrier to effective communication for social workers

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

To consciously use nonverbal behaviors to full advantage in transcultural relationships, social workers must be aware that some members of different cultural groups ascribe different meanings to certain nonverbal behaviors. Eye-to-eye contact, for example, is expected behavior among members of mainstream American culture. In fact, people who avoid eye-to-eye contact may be viewed as untrustworthy or evasive. Conversely, members of some Native American tribes regard direct gazing as an intrusion on privacy. It is important to observe and investigate the norms for gazing before using eye-to-eye contact with members of some tribes (Gross, 1995).
Yet it is hazardous to make generalizations across ethnic groups. For example, one study reported that Filipino students were more similar to Caucasians students than to Chinese students in relation to many attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs. Meanwhile, the same study showed that women were more similar to one another across ethnic groups than they were to men within their own group (Agbayani-Siewart, 2004). These examples suggest that although it is important to understand a client's culture or group identity, it is also important to acknowledge in-group differences.

With this proviso in mind, social workers should consider the possibility of differences in cultural assumptions about helping professionals as authorities who can solve problems by providing advice. For instance, in some cultures, clients might not be forthcoming unless they are spoken to by the social worker. The social worker in turn may mistakenly perceive the client's behavior as passive or reticent. Consequently, "long gaps of silence may occur as the client waits patiently for the social worker to structure the interview, take charge, and thus provide the solution." Such gaps in communication engender anxiety in both parties that may undermine the development of rapport and defeat the helping process. Further, failure to correctly interpret the client's nonverbal behavior may lead the social worker to conclude erroneously that the client has flat affect (i.e., limited emotionality). Given these potential hazards, social workers should strive to understand the client's cultural frame of reference. Clarifying roles and expectations should also be emphasized.