| Qualitative and exploratory in nature, this study applied intercultural communication competence (ICC) research to the context of intercultural marriages. The purpose of the study was to identify communication skills and strategies employed by intercultural couples to resolve the cultural differences marriage partners bring to the relationship.; Four research questions were explored: (1) What are the most important cultural differences perceived by intercultural couples? (2) What is the nature of the adjustment process that has taken place to resolve such differences? (3) What intercultural communication skills and strategies are seen as particularly important in this process? and (4) Do couples in which both marriage partners are from Western countries differ in their answers to questions (1) to (3) compared to couples in which one marriage partner is from a Western country and one from a non-Western country?; 50 (40 plus 10 in pretest) intercultural couples residing in the Twin Cities area were interviewed. 25 of these were Americans married to Norwegians; 25 were Americans married to Iranians. A total of 100 in-depth interviews were conducted, using a pretested interview guide. Audiotaped responses were transcribed and analyzed using the interview guide as descriptive analytic framework and drawing on inductive and content analysis techniques.; The five most important differences perceived by Norwegian-American couples were differences in communication, raising of children, social interaction, religion, and recreation. The five most important differences perceived by Iranian-American couples were communication, family, social interaction, male-female relations, and friendship patterns.; Two groups emerged: One in which the non-U.S. spouse was integratively oriented, resulting in a one-way (asymmetric) adjustment style in which the American culture dominated; and one in which the two cultures were creatively and equally mixed, resulting in a two-way (symmetric) adjustment style. In the Norwegian-American case, this finding was correlated by age; in the Iranian-American case, by gender.; The most important skill seen by all couples who favored the symmetric adjustment style was to understand each other's culture. Various communication strategies were identified, and a new definition of ICC was advanced. |
