The impact of Confucianism on interpersonal relationships and communication patterns in east Asia

Abstract

It is argued that East Asian communication patterns differ from those of North America because of the Eastern emphasis on social relationships as opposed to the North American emphasis on individualism. This East Asian preoccupation with social relationships stems from the doctrines of Confucianism, which considers proper human relationships to be the basis of society. The cardinal principle of Confucianism is humanism, which is understood as a warm human feeling between people and strongly emphasizes reciprocity. As a philosophy of humanism and social relations, Confucianism has left a strong impact on interpersonal relationships and on communication patterns. The five most important areas of interpersonal relationships influenced by Confucianism are particularism, reciprocity, the in‐group/out‐group distinction, the role of intermediaries, and the overlap of personal and public relationships. Confucianism has also contributed to East Asian communication patterns of process orientation, differentiated linguistic codes, indirect communication emphasis, and receiver‐centered communication. In contrast, North American patterns of communication represent outcome orientation, less‐differentiated linguistic codes, direct communication emphasis, and sender‐centered communication.