Varken bättre eller sämre ? bara annorlunda!
fem kubaner boende i Sverige beskriver sina upplevelser av likheter och skillnader mellan det svenska och kubanska kommunikationsmönstret
The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding and knowledge of how Cubans living in Sweden experience the Swedish pattern of communication in relation to the Cuban. The questions asked by the authors were: Do the Cubans experience any differences or similarities between the Swedish and the Cuban patterns of communication? If that is the case, what are they and how would they describe them? The questions were answered through a qualitative method, based on interviews with five Cubans who were raised in Cuba and are now living in Sweden. Communication Theory has constituted the fundamental theoretical tool of analysis, complemented by Social Psychological Role theory. The results of the study have been analyzed using both phenomenological and hermeneutical methods. The results showed that the Cubans experience more differences than similarities between the two patterns of communication. A few of the differences pointed out by the target group were that Cubans used non verbal communication to a larger extent than Swedes, that Swedish individuals need a greater private space/sphere and that Swedes avoid conflicts and expressing strong feelings and opinions in public. The five Cubans are principally of the same opinion on these matters. The results are in concordance with earlier research.