Running Header: Final Paper

Taylor Anhouse

April 19, 2011

Intercultural Comm

Final Paper

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Final Paper

Introduction

Communication is a very complex term that can be interpreted in many different

ways. It has many dynamics that all vary based upon the perspective you use when

analyzing the situation, but communication also varies among different cultures. Culture

is, “learned patterns of behavior and attitudes shared by a group of people. Culture can be

defined in many different ways-from a pattern of perceptions that influence

communication to a site of contestation and conflict,” (Martin, Nakayama, 2010, p. 84).

The cultural group that I have chosen to study for our final project in intercultural

communication this semester is men over the age of 50 that have been through brain

surgery. According to Collier,

“Culture is not the people, but the communication that links them together. Culture is what groups of people say and do and think and feel. Culture is systematic, meaning it comprises many complex components that are interdependent and related; they form a type of permeable boundary,” (Collier, Cultural Identity and Intercultural Communication, p. 36-37).

I have chosen this particular group because of a personal experience I have had with

my Dad. In 2001 my Dad, Steve Anhouse was told he had a brain tumor. It was the size of a

golf ball, and was beginning to push on his brain. He was told that he needed to have it

removed before it started to impair his abilities, and that is when the long process began.

After multiple surgeries from spinal fluid leaks, and rediscovery of the brain tumor, he has

finally been relieved of the tumor. This experience struck an interest with my perception

of culture because although my Dad looks normal as though he is of 100% ability, his life

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has drastically changed since 2001. He has completely lost hearing in one ear, as well as

been induced with tinnitus and very bad headaches that no one is able to physically see.

“Tinnitus is the medical term for the perception of sound in one or both ears or in the head when no external sound is present. It is often referred to as "ringing in the ears," although some people hear hissing, roaring, whistling, chirping or clicking. Tinnitus can be intermittent or constant-with single or multiple tones-and its perceived volume can range from subtle to shattering,” (CDC, American Tinnitus Association, http://www.ata.org/for-patients/faqs).

It made me wonder what goes on inside his head that only he experiences. It made me

begin to wonder how he truly feels inside, versus how others perceive him on the outside.

Definitions of Concepts

While we communicate inevitably every day, it is important to understand what

communication is and how it functions. We must also understand that communication

varies among cultures, and can be interpreted in many different ways. I believe

communication is the way we self identify and identify with others through speaking,

writing, or symbolizing our thoughts and beliefs. Through communication theories we can

understand how we are each shaped into different individuals. Another important term is

culture. Culture can be defined as, “the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits

of a racial, religious, or social group,” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, http://www . merriam-

webster . com/dictionary/culture ). Through culture and communication we can begin to

understand how different groups of people interact with one another and how each

cultural group varies from one another. We can also analyze how separate cultural groups

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interact with one another based upon their cultural beliefs and communication skills they

posses. Through face-negotiation theory we can assume that the more confidence a human

has, the more comfortable they will be with interaction amongst other cultural groups. We

can also assume that both feelings of security and vulnerability will occur throughout this

process. The overall goal of face-negotiation theory is to create an integrated group that is

willing to negotiate self-face in order to reduce dominance and build a relationship with

one another regardless of identity. Throughout this essay, I will be uncovering a cultural

group of men that have suffered from Acoustic Neuroma brain tumors. Some important

points to know about Acoustic Neuromas are: 1. An acoustic neuroma is a benign brain

tumor, or a non-cancerous tumor. 2. It is usually slow growing and expands at the sight of

the origin. 3. The most common first symptom is hearing loss in the tumor ear. 4. The

cause is unknown. 5. A large tumor pushes on the surface of the brain but does not grow

into the brain tissue. 6. Continued tumor growth can be life threatening. 7. The treatment

options are observation, surgical removal or radiation. So how often do Acoustin

Neuromas occur?

“Asymptomatic acoustic neuromas have been found during autopsy in less than one in one-hundred or perhaps as few as .01 percent of the general population. Acoustic neuromas large enough to cause hearing loss and other symptoms occur in about one person in 100,000. Most acoustic neuromas are diagnosed in patients between the ages of 30 and 60.” (Acoustic Neuroma Association, 2000).

Research/Theoretical Application

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The research question I will be analyzing throughout this paper is: How are

emotions communicated before and after brain surgery? Although a person that has

experienced brain surgery may look completely ‘normal’ there is a very good possibility

that there are underlying emotions that they experience with the inner self that people on

the outside view do not see. This group of individuals makes up a culture that is different

than my own for multiple reasons: 1. They have undergone brain surgery, which I have

never experienced. 2. They are apart of Acoustic Neuroma Association that structurally

demonstrates them as a cultural group and 3. These individuals live a very different

lifestyle than my own due to the physical, mental, and psychological differences we

experience in comparison to one another.

Through the interpretive approach I will look at the variations one experiences before and

after brain surgery and how their emotions may differ. Then I will apply the identity

negotiation theory in order to explain how we use communication to create and enhance

identity understanding, respect, and validation.

“By asking: who am I and who are you, we are able to investigate how culture shapes our view of ourselves and emphasizes the multiple channels that allow us to acquire and develop our ethics, values, norms and ways of behaving in our everyday lives,” (Gudykunst, Powerpoint notes, “Theorizing About Intercultural Communication”).The founder and scholar of identity negotiation theory, Ting-Toomey (1993, 2005)

argues that,

“Cultural variability influences our sense of self and ultimately influences how successful we are in intercultural interactions. Her argument goes like this: Individuals define themselves in relation to groups they belong to due to the basic human need for security and inclusion. At the same time, humans

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also need differentiation from these same groups,” (Martin, Nakayama, 2010, p. 166).

While it may be difficult to find others who have also undergone brain surgery, after

the process is complete it is important for those who have to bond together and

share their experiences. After my Dad had his surgeries he began to research

people who had experienced the same surgery as he did. That is when he came

across Paul Jackson and Steve Wallin who had also gone through similar

experiences. This enabled him the ability to relate to others and form a culture of

people.

Through the interpretive process we can understand how the identity

negotiation theory is applied because this theory “emphasizes the process of

communicating one’s own desired identities while reinforcing or resisting others’

identities as the core of intercultural communication,” (Martin, Nakayama, 2010, p.

166). Both avowal and ascription processes play a role in how we perceive

ourselves and how others perceive us. Avowal is the process of an individual

portraying him or herself in a manner they choose, whereas ascription is when

others attach identities to them. (Martin, Nakayama, 2010, p. 166) While we

encounter diverse situations, our different identities are emphasized based upon

those we are interacting with. When a person who has undergone surgery speaks

with one who has not they may feel as though no one understands, and begin to put

up a guard. By studying this cultural group we can analyze how the communication

of emotions to others differs for men before and after surgery by comparing the

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communication of those who have experienced this event versus those who have

not.

I will be collecting my data through a series of interview questions from each

representative of the cultural group. I will then examine and take note of how my

Dad interacts with different people based upon the situation, time of day, and his

rank on a scale of one to ten how he is feeling that day. I will then ask my Dad how

he would have handled the situation if he were pre brain surgery and what he

believes may have been different before his brain tumor occurrence.

The three gentleman included in this study are: my dad, Steve Anhouse, Paul

Jackson, and Steve Wallin. Each of these three men suffered from Acoustic Neuroma

brain tumors. However, Steve Wallin, and Paul Jackson were faced with bells palsy

syndrome post surgery. Bells palsy syndrome is, “a condition that causes the facial

muscles to weaken or become paralyzed. It's caused by trauma to the 7th cranial

nerve,” (http://www . bellspalsy . ws/ ). In other words, the side of the face surgery is

performed on tends to droop and causes a physical difference in appearance. While

my Dad was told he would suffer from this condition as well, they completed

surgery without having touched his facial nerves and was fortunate to not

experience bells palsy. As all three men suffered from Acoustic Neuroma’s they met

through the Acoustic Neuroma Association, a mutual aid group. The association was

formed for the many who face benign brain tumors and have questions, concerns,

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and physical and emotional adjustments. Membership in a group of those with

similar experience can be helpful for patients, as well as loved ones surrounding

that individual. The association was founded in 1981 and is a patient organized and

administered information and mutual-aid group. It is a non-profit organization.

Through e-mails, phone calls, and face-to-face meetings, these individuals are able

to relate with those who have faced similar experiences and connect in order to

support one another.

The first question I decided to ask to each individual is, how patient he was

before undergoing surgery. Each one agreed and said they had a much higher

tolerance before surgery. The reasoning behind this I found was that after surgery,

the side effects of ringing and headaches makes patience grow weary. “It is hard to

tolerate certain situations when you are in pain that no one can see. No one is able

to physically see what is going on, therefore it makes it hard to understand,” Paul

said. The next question I asked was, what is the biggest difference you faced before

and after surgery either physically or emotionally. Again, all three were in

agreement that physically their balance was very different after surgery than before

due to the balance nerve being removed in the process. Also, they each mentioned

suffering from excessive fatigue after surgery. From personal experience with my

Dad, I know that physically activity he partakes in has drastically changed. Before

surgery, he was very athletic and enjoyed playing all different sports, but not, with

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the lack of balance and higher stress level, he often tries to stick to activities that

ease his mind and lower his stress. For him, golf has been a very big reliever for him

to escape and enjoy some time to himself.

I believe that the face-negotiation theory suits this cultural group well

because with different situations and different interactions, these individuals have

to save face in order to accommodate for the surgeries they have undergone. For

example, Steve Wallin mentioned, “when I am with my family I am able to know that

they understand my situation, they were with me through the whole process.

However, when I am out to eat, or meeting with friends, I know I have to put on a

happy face and have a lot of patience. Since I physically do not look horribly

impaired, I often times have to ask for accommodations because clearly people do

not know right off the bat.” Then, my Dad also explained, “when we are meeting

with friends for dinner or drinks, I have to try to pick my seat first because I can

only hear on my left side. Whoever is on my right side tends to get more of the

silent treatment simply because I can’t hear on that side. Also, when we are out to

eat at larger and louder restaurants I try to ask the hosts for a quieter room for us to

sit in so that I am able to hear the conversations taking place.” I know from growing

up with my Dad that this would not be the case had he never experienced the

acoustic neuroma.

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The next question I decided to ask was whether each individual has lost

friends due to the surgical procedures and the lifestyle changes they have had to

make. Each person responded yes. Paul, never having been married, relied a lot on

friends and himself to get through this difficult time. He said, “It’s hard for people to

understand what you’re going through because it is such a rare occurrence. While

most of my friends were with me 100 percent of the way, there were a couple

people in particular that made comments about my situation. They were very

apathetic and did not seem to want to be supportive of my situation. They knew I

could not live the same lifestyle I was living before, and it seemed as though they

almost gave up.” As my Dad has told me before, he has lost many friends due to

comments that have been made. While my Dad made a great living as a stock trader

before surgery, he unfortunately attempted to go back to work and was unable to

manage the same activities as before. For example, he was no longer able to use two

phones at once due to the hearing loss in his right ear. He decided that long-term

disability was the right decision for him because he was able to still have an income

and support our family, but not have to deal with the high stress level of the trading

room. Many people have made remarks such as, “I would give my right arm to be in

your position and not have to work anymore.” As you can imagine, this affected my

Dad in a very serious way. He was very hurt and disappointed in those who made

these comments because they did not understand what he was experiencing on the

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inside. No one was experiencing the headaches, the tinnitus, or the fatigue that he

was and that you couldn’t see on the outside. As each individual had a very similar

experience with emotions, friends, and adapting to the new lifestyle, each brain

tumor varied in size. Dad’s brain tumor was 3.4 cm when he went under for

surgery, Paul’s was 2.8 cm and Steve’s was 2.5 cm, but it was clear through

questioning that each one had very strong feelings about their post operation

experience. Through these interviews I was able to learn that emotions changed

drastically throughout the process of brain surgery. Pre operation and post

operation yielded very different situations for each individual, but they each

experienced very similar effects after they went under for surgery. Another

question I asked each individual was what they would rate their emotional stability

on a scale of one to ten before and after brain surgery. Beginning with my Dad, he

rated himself as a six before surgery and after surgery a three. Paul rated himself as

a seven before and a four after and Steve rated himself as a seven before and a five

after. While each individual felt less emotionally stable after surgery, it was clear to

me that these surgeries had a very large impact and wanted to know how they felt

less emotionally stable. Each man responded that they were quicker to get angry,

and more prone to depression if they did not take care of themselves and keep up

with activities they enjoyed in their free time. Each man also mentioned self-

medication and finding what made him happy in himself. Through interpretation

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each individual has to evaluate different situations they are involved in. For

example, understanding whether or not people on the outside know about the

surgeries and the side effects, changes the situation because if they do not know

about it, the men must interpret what they think and believe about them when

telling their story. Overall I have learned through this process that it is important to

remember that inabilities may not always be visible and that we should treat

everyone with the respect we would want to be treated with in return.

Methods/Results

Through the Acoustic Neuroma Association and with the help of my Dad, I

have taken the population of three gentlemen who have all undergone the same

brain surgery. Through interviews I have gained knowledge, experience, and

insight on what these men have experienced as a result of an inevitable brain tumor

that was discovered. While recurrence is possible after the removal of the brain

tumor, it is important for these men to become as emotionally stable as possible

after undergoing such an intensive process. Finding what makes them happy and

having a strong support system behind them are two very important aspects of the

post surgery process. After researching Acoustic Neuromas and understanding

what exactly they are, I have learned that you should never judge a book by its

cover. While someone may look perfectly normal and healthy on the outside, they

may be experiencing symptoms on that inside that no one else is able to understand.

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Conclusion

This research is beneficial to all of us in the world because you never know

what life may throw at you. None of these men expected to live their lives with

acoustic neuromas and have physical and emotional alterations halfway through

their lives, but learning to adapt to these situations and manage your emotions is

very important in any tough situation. The most touching point I gained from these

men throughout interviews is that they try to remember that life is a gift and that

they are happy to still be alive. As my Dad always says, “it could be worse.” In our

particular situation as a family, we are fortunate to have our Dad with us still, and

the lifestyle that we live regardless of his inability to work anymore. We participate

in face-negotiation every day regardless of your age, sex, or status, therefore

understanding how we self identify and how others identify us is an imperative part

of life. Communication is an inevitable process throughout life that every individual

should learn to do effectively, and learning to communicate with different cultural

groups than your own allows you to gain insight and experiences that you can learn

from and remember forever.

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References

Acoustic Neuroma, Association. (2000). Acoustic neuroma.

Bells palsy information site. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.bellspalsy.ws/

CDC, . (2004). American tinnitus association. Retrieved fromhttp://www.ata.org/for-patients/faqs

Durant, A., & Sheperd, I. (2009). Culture and communication in intercultural communication. Journal of English Studies, 13(2), Retrieved from http://0-web.ebscohost.com.skyline.ucdenver.edu/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=19&sid=ab608de7-486e-4eae-ac19-228cd2694488%40sessionmgr13&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=43840459

Liddicoat, A.J. (2009). Communication as culturally contexted practice: a view from intercultural communication. Australian Journal of Linguistics, 29(1), Retrieved from http://0-web.ebscohost.com.skyline.ucdenver.edu/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=19&sid=ab608de7-486e-4eae-ac19-228cd2694488%40sessionmgr13&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=35854864 Martin, J.N., & Nakayama, T.K. (2010). Intercultural communication in contexts. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Meriam webster dictionary. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/culture%29.

Page, E.H. (2000). A cluster of acoustic neuromas in fish hatchery workers. Ear, Nose, and Throat Journal, 79.1. Retrieved from http://0-find.galegroup.com.skyline.ucdenver.edu/gps/retrieve.do?contentSet=IAC-Documents&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&qrySerId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28KE%2CNone%2C17%29acoustic+neuromas%3AAnd%3AFQE%3D%28TX%2CNone%2C13%29communication%3AAnd%3ALQE%3D%28RE%2CNone%2C3%29ref%3AAnd%3ALQE%3D%28AC%2CNone%2C8%29fulltext%24&sgHitCountType=None&inPS=true&sort=DateDescend&searchType=BasicSearchForm&tabID=T002&prodId=IPS&searchId=R2&currentPosition=2&userGroupName=auraria_main&docId=A59519791&docType=IAC&contentSet=IAC-Documents

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