Intercultural Friendship Development

Abstract

This study examined intercultural friendship development through analysis of in-depth interviews. While extant literature on friendship development has examined friends from the same cultural background, interviewees in the current study (N = 30) described relationships with friends from cultures different than their own. Analysis revealed four factors that respondents felt influenced the development of their intercultural friendship; targeted socializing, cultural similarities, cultural differences, and prior intercultural experience. Results also indicate several ways in which communication both enables and hinders the development of intercultural friendships, providing evidence of the uniqueness and complexity of communication in these relationships.

Keywords:

• Intercultural friendship
• Relationship development

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Patricia M. Sias

Patricia M. Sias (PhD, University of Texas, Austin, 1993) is a Professor in E. R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University.

Jolanta A. Drzewiecka

Jolanta A. Drzewiecka (PhD, Arizona State University, 1999) is an Associate Professor in E. R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University.

Mary Meares

Mary Meares (PhD, University of New Mexico, 2002) is an Assistant Professor in E. R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University.

Rhiannon Bent

Rhiannon Bent (MA, Washington State University, 2004),

Yoko Konomi

Yoko Konomi (MA, Washington State University, 2004),

Maria Ortega

Maria Ortega (MA, Washington State University, 2004),

Colene White

Colene White (MA, Washington State University, 2004) were graduate students in the E. R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University.