William B. Gudykunst’s research while affiliated with Arizona State University and other places

The purpose of this study was to examine uncertainty reduction processes in interethnic relationships between Japanese and Caucasians in Hawaii. Multivariate analysis of covariance was employed to test the influence of ethnicity, sex, dyadic composition, stage of relationship, and ethnolinguistic identity (covariate) on self‐disclosure, interrogation, display of nonverbal affiliative expressiveness, shared networks, perceived similarity, and both low‐ and high‐context measures of attributional confidence. Results indicated that ethnicity, stage of relationship, and ethnolinguistic identity influenced the set of dependent variables. The findings suggest that ethnolinguistic identity helps explain those aspects of interethnic encounters that are intergroup based. The data further suggest that portions of uncertainty reduction theory are generalizable to interethnic encounters between Japanese and Caucasians in Hawaii. Based on the results, boundary conditions for selected aspects of the theory are discussed.

The major purpose of this study was to examine the influence of cultural variability on communication. It was predicted that cultural variability in individualism‐collectivism influences uncertainty reduction in ingroup and outgroup relationships, while cultural variability in masculinity‐femininity influences uncertainty reduction in same‐ and opposite‐sex relationships. It also was hypothesized that self‐monitoring and predicted outcome value of the relationships influence uncertainty reduction processes in these relationships. Data were collected from respondents in Japan (a collectivistic and masculine culture) and the United States (an individualistic and feminine culture). Results of the study supported the prediction regarding the influence of cultural variability on ingroup and outgroup communication, and partially supported those regarding its effect on same‐and opposite‐sex relationships. The hypotheses regarding the effect of self‐monitoring and predicted outcome value on uncertainty reduction processes were also supported.

We disagree with Levine et al.'s (2003) conclusion that the 3 self construal scales currently in use have “severe” or “fatal” flaws. We argue that the results of Levine et al.'s meta-analysis and priming studies do not raise problems with the validity of self construal scales, in part, because their results are compatible with theorizing about self construals. We also contend that Levine et al.'s measurement studies do not necessarily lead to the conclusion that there are problems with the validity of the scales (e.g., there may be multiple dimensions that form independent and interdependent self construals in second-order factor analyses). We summarize other evidence for the construct validity of self construal scales which indicates that there are theoretically consistent findings across approximately 50 studies using the 3 scales. This would not be possible if there were major problems with the 2-dimensional model of self construals or the scales used to measure them. We conclude that the 2-dimensional model of self construals and the current scales are viable for use in future research.

We disagree with Levins et al.'s (2003) conclusion that the 3 self construed scales currently in use have "severe" or "fatal" flaws. We argue that the results of Levine et al.'s meta-analysis and priming studies do not raise problems with the validity of self construal scales, in part, because their results are compatible with theorizing about self construals. We also contend that Levine et al.'s measurement studies do not necessarily lead to the conclusion that there are problems with the validity of the scales (e.g., there may be multiple dimensions that form independent and interdependent self construals in second-order factor analyses). We summarize other evidence for the construct validity of self construal scales which indicates that there are theoretically consistent findings across approximately 50 studies using the 3 scales. This would not be possible if there were major problems with the 2-dimensional model of self construals or the scales used to measure them. We conclude that the 2-dimensional model of self construals and the current scales are viable for use in future research.

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of self construals and communication styles on psychological and sociocultural adjustment based on Ward et al.’s psychological and sociocultural adjustment model. It was hypothesized that a close fit between sojourners’ self construals and the self construal that predominates in the host culture predicts sojourners’ psychological adjustment. Similarly, it was hypothesized that a close fit between sojourners’ and host nationals’ communication styles predicts sojourners’ sociocultural adjustment. The independent self construal, the prototypical self construal in the host culture, predicted psychological adjustment. The interdependent self construal was not related to psychological adjustment. Use of direct communication and positive perceptions of silence, prototypical communication styles in the host culture, were related to sociocultural adjustment and consistent with expectations. In addition, sensitivity to others’ behavior predicted sociocultural adjustment.

Interethnic attraction was predicted to increase when (1) perceived similarity in communication style increases, (2) perceived self-concept support increases, (3) uncertainty decreases, (4) strength of ethnic identities decrease and strength of cultural identities increase, (5) positive intergroup expectations increase, and (6) shared intergroup networks increase. Perceived similarity in communication styles, perceived self-concept support, lack of uncertainty, strength of ethnic identities, and positive intergroup expectations predicted interethnic attraction in the overall analysis (65% of the variance in attraction was explained). In the European American analysis, perceived similarity in communication styles, perceived self-concept support, lack of uncertainty, strength of cultural identities, and positive intergroup expectations predicted interethnic attraction (76% of the variance in attraction was explained). In the non-European American analysis, perceived similarity in communication styles, perceived self-concept support, and positive intergroup expectations predicted interethnic attraction (59% of the variance in attraction was explained).

Anxiety/uncertainty management (AUM) theory suggests that effectiveness of communication is a function of individuals’ abilities to manage their uncertainty and anxiety. The effect of anxiety and uncertainty on perceived effectiveness of communication was examined in two relationships (strangers and close friends) and two cultures (United States and Japan) in the present study. The results indicate that there is a moderate, negative relationship between anxiety and attributional confidence (the inverse of uncertainty) across relationships and cultures. The results also reveal that anxiety negatively predicts perceived effectiveness and attributional confidence positively predicts perceived effectiveness across relationships and cultures. The present data, therefore, support the major axiom of AUM theory.

Communication research conducted on European American families may or may not generalize to non-European American families. Our purpose in this article is to present a theoretical model derived from cross-cultural research that can be applied to studying the ways ethnicity influences family communication. We argue that the strength of cultural and ethnic identities and the content of ethnic and cultural identities are important factors that influence how family communication varies within and across ethnic groups. Based on our theoretical arguments, we proffer predictions for future research.

Two studies were conducted using data from Japan and the United States to examine the influence of the interaction between culture and strength of cultural identity on individual-level individualistic and collectivistic values. In the first study, culture and strength of cultural identity interacted to influence four values (freedom, pleasure, social recognition, and self-sacrifice). In the second study, culture and strength of cultural identity interacted to influence three values (being independent, harmony, and accepting traditions). The results suggest that strength of cultural identity must be taken into consideration in order to understand values that members of a culture hold.