The Insider Effect in Chinese Interpersonal Relationships in Intercultural Communication

摘要

1 Introduction “They [Americans] interact with Asians socially as well as at work and find them to be among the kindest, most considerate, and polite people they have ever met. Then, they meet other Asians in a public situation (on a bus, driving in traffic, in the market) and see them as rude, impolite, and inconsiderate. They wonder how people from the same culture can behave so differently. " (Wallach & Metcalf, 1995, p. 161, quoted in Gao & Ting Toomey, 1998, p. 48) This account is often quoted to illustrate a misunderstanding (or lack of understanding)by Americans in intercultural communications with Asian cultures including Chinese culture.