Differences in Communication Styles of Men and Women
Language and communication are considered to be learned behavior, developing by way of a combination of nature and nurture, genetic predisposition and environmental stimulation. As a result, gender communication differences emerge in early childhood. Children learn how to talk from observing their parents and peers, often imitating their same-sex models.
Communication between men and women can be considered cross-cultural communication. People in different cultures speak different dialects. In fact, John Gray in his book, Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus, suggests that men and women communicate in such different ways that they seem to be from different planets. There are numerous general differences that characterize gender communication.
In her book, You Just Don't Understand, Deborah Tannen asserts that"even if they grow up in the same neighborhood, on the same block, or in the same house, girls and boys grow up in different worlds or words";. These differences in ways of talking begin to emerge in children as young as three years of age, about the time language is developed. While little girls talk to be liked, little boys often talk to boast. Little girls make requests; little boys make demands.
Little girls speak to create harmony; little boys prolong conflict. Little girls talk more indirectly; little boys talk directly. Little girls talk more with words; little boys use more actions. While boys and girls both want to get their way, they use language differently to do so. These styles of communication continue as boys and girls become men and women.
Adult men and women express themselves in different ways and for different reasons. Men use communication to maintain independence, while women talk to maintain intimacy. Whether conscious or unconscious, men often talk to establish status from others. Women use words to connect themselves emotionally, to express feelings, or build rapport. Men often share facts and figures, as if in a report. So there are so many styles of speaking and taking the actions depending on whether you are male or femail.Now let us think about these things.
<Questions>
1. Have you ever experienced any difficulties communicating with opposite gender collegues?Maybe you have a lot when you are about to start loving a woman or working together with your opposite gender collegues. If it is, would you say something you went throuth regarding this ? And do you think what the problem is?
2. Do you agree with above contents? In other words,man and woman are entirely different from each other in the fashion of thinkings and taking actions in response to certain triggering stimuli? If yes, what is the difference and what is originated from?
3.Do you have any know-how to cover the differences you've comment on this?
Or what is the strategy to overcome those things which are likely to remain mystery unsolved forever as long as the human being exists?
4.How could we figure out the each's characteristics well and lead to harmony between the two?