ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses benefits and challenges in forming intercultural relationships. The benefits often involve acquiring new knowledge and skills. The challenges may include overcoming barriers of perceived similarities, anxiety, uncertainty, ethnocentrism, and stereotypes. When the uncertainty associated with an intercultural communication increases, and the interaction partner is viewed as less predictable, anxiety is thought to increase. Research reveals that even when communication anxiety and uncertainty are low, people may still not want to engage in intercultural interactions due in part to ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism may lead to more misinterpretations and negative perceptions toward people of different cultures. With more opportunities for contact between people of different cultures, the probability of dating or marrying someone from different cultures also increases. The chapter also discusses different types of intercultural relationships, including friendships, love and marriages, and relationships at work. The developmental process of intercultural friendships is similar to friendships between people of the same cultures—communication gradually becomes broad, frequent, and intimate between friends.
