The influence of social identity and intimacy of relationship on interethnic communication: An extension of findings from the united states to Australia and England

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to extend research on the influence of the social identity and intimacy of relationship on interethnic communication in the United States to Australia and England. Data from Australia and England were used to test the generalizability of Gudykunst and Hammer's (1988) findings in the United States. They found that intimacy of the relationship affected uncertainty reduction processes in interethnic relationships. Further, their data indicated that social identity affected uncertainty reduction processes when the partner is perceived to be typical of his or her ethnic group, but not when he or she is perceived as atypical. Results for Australia and England revealed that intimacy of relationship has a significant positive effect on uncertainty reduction processes across cultures. With respect to social identity, the findings for England were consistent with the United States data, but results for Australia were not.