Research on Perception Diversity in Intercultural Communication —With Guasha Treatment as a Case Study

Abstract

This paper aims at depicting the phenomenon of perception diversity and its negative impact on intercultural communication (hereafter referred to as IC), as well as trying to offer a corresponding solution. Perception, according to its definition, is a process by which we make what we sense into a meaningful experience by selecting, categorizing and interpreting internal and external stimuli to form our worldviews. Guasha Treatment, a movie which provides the readers with a real intercultural context, is regarded as a classic in English learning and intercultural communication study. With detailed analysis, this paper illustrates that perception diversity will hinder successful IC by causing misunderstandings in communication. Then, based on Berger and Calabrese’ Uncertainty Reduction Theory and Gudykunst’s Anxiety/Uncertainty Management Theory, empathy is chosen as a solution to reduce the negative impact perception diversity has on IC.