Co-Cultural Theory and the Communication Orientation

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Co-Cultural Theory
Good morning/Good afternoon/ Good evening. My name is …………….. and I will take you through the co-cultural theory (Chapter 36).
Co-cultural theory was put forward by Mark Orbe who was a professor in Western Michigan University. It is built on the muted group theory and standpoint theory. Muted group theory and standpoint theories attempt to explain the dynamics of communicating between individuals with unequal power. Orbe used co-cultural term to refer to individuals who are marginalized. For example, the dominant group in the us is a male, relatively well-off European American who is straight and not disabled (Orbe commonly refers to the group as the man). All the other distinctive identity of the other people are co-cultures to the dominant group. In the united states, the co-cultural groups include people of color, women, economically disadvantaged people, individuals with disabilities, the LGBTQ community, the very young and the very old and religious minorities. All these groups of people have an inherent disadvantage when communicating or interacting with the man. It is important to note that while the co-cultures are different and often alienated around the dominant group, they share similarities amongst themselves and the dominant group. The power attributed to the dominant group compels the co-cultures (who have less power) in the way they express themselves including what they say and how they say it. Co-cultural theory identifies the patterns of what they say and do and Orbe analyzes the linguistic choices the individuals in the lower subcultural groups make even when the odds are stacked against them. Orbe observes that there are different orientations the people in the co-cultures use to survive within the dominant group.
Communication orientation is the term used to describe how a group member in a co-culture uses language to achieve a desired outcome. Orbe describes three desired outcomes pursued by a member of the co-cultures; assimilation, accommodation and separation. To achieve these outcomes, the individual’s behavior can be nonassertive, assertive or aggressive. Depending on the goals of the individual and the objective they have in mind, Orbe created a matrix that demonstrates how they intersect.
If the tone of the individual is aggressive and he/she is seeking assimilation, he/she would emphasize commonalities between the co-cultural group he/she represents and the dominant group. He/she would be avert controversy and maintain a positive face. If the individual is seeking assimilation in an assertive manner, he/she would overcompensate and bargain among other behavioral traits. More aggressive assimilative behavior from the such an individual would include strategic distancing, ridiculing self or dissociating from the dominant group. Thus, the matrix table highlights the preferred approaches used by individuals to achieve their goals. Concisely, non-assertive behaviors are characterized by actions that are nonconfrontational and puts others’ needs before their own. Aggressive behaviors are self-promoting, hurtfully expressive and assumes control over the choice of others. The assertive behaviors fall in betwe...