Communication Patterns

To be Mexican-American is to unconditionally love one’s family and all it stands for. Mexican-Americans are an incredibly close-knit group of people, especially when it comes to family. We are probably the only culture that can actually recite the names of our fourth cousins by heart. In this respect our families are like clans, they go much further than the immediate family and very deep into extended families. (p. 173)

Mexican-American culture has been characterized as a family-focused, community-oriented culture. Even second and third-generation Mexican-Americans place a higher value upon their relationships with others versus personal autonomy, in contrast with the dominant values of the United States. Living in extended family situations, or being influenced by extended family is much more common in Mexican culture than in other cultures. The core values of Mexican culture are said to be "familismo, personalismo, and respeto. Familismo involves placing the family ahead of individual interests, living near extended family, making collective decisions that involve one or more members of the family, and feeling responsible for and obligated to the family...Personalismo involves the building and valuing of interpersonal relationships...Respeto refers to the high regard for family and community members, especially for authority figures and the elderly" (Neff, Brabeck, Kearney 2006).

The Hispanic culture has different values, beliefs, and traditions. Family is highly value. Family is a close-knit group and the most important social group to gather in any events or special days. The Hispanic “family unit” includes not only parents and children but also grandparents and extended family. Individuals within the family have moral responsibilities to help other members of the family experiencing financial problems, unemployment, health conditions and any other life issues. They show the importance placed upon relationship within their family extending a hand in good times and bad. Respeto y dignidad (respect and dignity) are other important values of the Hispanic culture. Children’s are taught to avoid confrontations with parents and older persons, and to be obedient and respectful. The Hispanics believe that the father is head of the family and the mother is to take care of home. Naming children after grandparents and parents is fairly common. A well-known tradition is the celebration of a fifteen year old girl called Quincenera. Hispanics culture and traditions are based around celebrating and spending time with love ones.

Growing up in a Mexican household has many definitive factors. Growing up an Hispanic child means being awoken by loud Spanish music every Sunday morning which sent a reminder to your brain telling you that it was cleaning day. It means having your parents call you names such as precioso, mi rey, and gordo at any age. Growing up in a Mexican household means never having to buy outside food because “there’s food at home”. Growing up in a Mexican household means many things but all these things make us who we are.

Mexican Americans find their strength through their culture, family, relationships and networks. Mexican Americans have strengths with their extended family. “Mexican American families frequently function within extended family networks that include godparents and members of other families” (Miley, M., & L., 2013). There is more advantage when you have more network with extended family and other families. It essentially means a larger support system. “One of the major strengths of Mexican American families is a quantitative rather than a qualitative difference from other ethnic groups” (Miley, M., & L., 2013). Some people may not realize that Mexican Americans tend to stick together and support each other because it is a part of their cultural background. Just like religion is a part of Mexican American’s cultural background as well. Most of the time Mexican American’s share similar spiritual

Mexican culture dates far back as the 13th century. This is when the Aztecs were prevalent in northern mexico. Aztecs were a people who were all about war and honor. They made many enemies going to war with smaller tribes and brutally killed their enemies. In the 16th century the Aztecs Empire crumbled due to the invasion led by Hernan Cortez. Disease, superior weapons, and aid of the Aztec’s enemies were all contributing factors to the Aztecs downfall. Fast forward September 16th 1810 when Mexico gained its independence from Spain Mexico's identity started to develop. Mexican culture is defined by many things, its food, its language, its clothing, its art. However, There is one aspect that defines Mexican culture and that is family life. Mexicans have a very rich family life that defines the culture. The way that family is organized and the way each member acts can be traced back to the very beginning. It's a mixture of the indigenous peoples culture as well as the Spaniards culture. The indigenous peoples pass on their ideas of honor and machismo and the Spaniards pass on their ideas of catholicism, and family value and structure. I fit into this because I grew up on these ideas and my family still practices some of these ideas today.

Hispanics tend to have very close family ties. In times of trouble they turn to family members for support. They more often than not make decisions as a family and not as an individual. Family

People from different backgrounds may use and/or interpret communication methods in different ways because every family has their own way of communicating together. For example: some children might hear or speak more than one language at home or they could hear others swearing. This can affect children’s communication and how they communicate as adults.

A traditional mexican family usually consists of a mother a father the child or children and sometimes aunts or uncles or grandparents. Also most mexicans are Catholic which means if you are married in the church and your kids are baptized in the church then your marriage is legal and your kids are legally registered.

| Family ties among Hispanics are very strong, and this is what I mostly admire about their race. Hispanic families often come together for different occasions (birthdays, holidays, baptisms, etc.) and they teach their children the importance of good manners, and respect for their elders. A good quality to have today.

Every culture has their own unique and distinguishing characteristics. One’s cultural identity defines who they are as an individual, group, and community. Their cultural identity may be reflected in numerous ways such as: language, communication styles, religion, beliefs, values, clothing, or other types of aesthetic markers. Cultural identity is formed by many of these traits but is not limited to these specifically. This essay will provide detailed information on Mexican Americans, and their ancestry and heritage. I will also explain about this cultures central beliefs and values, while incorporating information on Mexican Americans, cultural patterns, cultural identity, and their cultures communication characteristics and styles.

Mexico does;t move as fast as the US, and actually is culturally expected to be late to most events. Mexico makes a lot of home cooked meals, doesn't go out to eat as much as Americans, and also is much more :modest: in their beliefs. The dominant religion is Roman Catholic in Mexico. And the country is more from actual Mexican/Spanish decent rather than a mixed pot like the US is. My culture influences my response to these cultures because I come from a very “American” household.

Mexicans consider family ties extremely important. "Family," as Eva S. Kras explained, "takes precedence over work and all other aspects of life." In general, U.S. families are made up of a spouse and children. That is not necessarily the case in Mexico. Ties with other kin are equally as strong. Cousins, in-laws, uncles and aunts, nephews and nieces, as well as compadrazo, or godparent relationships are extremely important in Mexican culture. This has an effect on the way Mexicans conduct business. The result is that many American businesses may not be able to contact the individuals in power

Mexicans have a strong loyalty to family, church and close acquaintances. Children are raised to toward an ideal versus the appreciation for the uniqueness of the child (Segrest, 2003, p.13). Also, Mexico fits into both predictors of a collectivist society. It is a poor country and it has a very warm climate.

Analyzing the groups dynamics communication process and interaction pattern. The communication style of the group was verbal and non-verbal. Verbal was chosen because each member shared information by the use of speech. Member Mary/Lila use the verbal communication style paralinguistic, when her character had two different tones of speech when she separated her characters. The use of non-verbal communication was expressed by the groups facial expression, gestures, body language and physical appearance. The facilitator and co-facilitator use both verbal and non-verbal. By communicating with the group, with the use of speech. The use of non-verbal communication took place with active listening