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Transcultural communication in the workplace is becoming increasingly relevant in today’s globalized society, where diverse cultural, social, and professional backgrounds intersect. The Good Doctor, a medical drama series, offers a rich text for analyzing these dynamics through the character of Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome.

Shaun’s identity as both a medical professional and an autistic individual, as well as his process of integrating into a new professional community, provides a meaningful framework for examining identity and community of practice within the realm of transcultural communication.

Shaun's journey of navigating interpersonal relationships, both personal and professional, highlights how identity is constantly negotiated in response to social expectations and external perceptions.

His struggle to reconcile his self-identity with how others view him, along with his growth as a member of the hospital’s community of practice, mirrors the real-world challenges individuals face when working in diverse, multicultural environments. Additionally, Shaun’s interactions with colleagues and patients showcase his process of acculturation, as he adapts to the norms and communication styles of the medical field while balancing his unique neurodivergent identity.

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For the overall presentation: i really liked the choice of text, but felt that the connection to transcultural communication was missing.

For question one:Yes. To better accommodate Shaun's needs, his colleagues could adopt more explicit and direct forms of communication, avoiding ambiguous language or indirect cues that might be confusing. They could also create an environment that is more inclusive by being patient, asking open-ended questions to clarify misunderstandings, and expressing empathy and understanding toward Shaun's unique perspective.

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In The Good Doctor, Shaun Murphy's self-positioning is one of the core elements that runs through the whole plot, this is consistent with the positioning theory of Harré & Langenhove (1999). This theory shows that identity is formed through social interaction in the moral context. Because he suffers from autism and has Savant syndrome, his communication and behavior patterns are different from those of most doctors, which poses obvious challenges when he first entered the hospital. His identity and role have evolved through his continuous interaction and contribution, which is an example of the "member" of the medical community.

Despite the challenges of social interaction, Shaun has shown extraordinary ability to deal with some complex situations, his excellent medical talent and accurate judgment. For example, when he first proposed an innovative surgical plan, although the team did not believe his insight at first, his accurate judgment eventually helped the patient get effective treatment.

In this process, Shaun gradually won the respect of the team through his practical professional ability. He not only integrated into community practice through medical knowledge, but also shaped his identity through continuous interaction - he is not only a doctor with medical skills, but also a unique individual who shows his value in the team in different ways.

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Identity as a Medical Professional and Autistic Individual

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Identity as a Medical Professional and Autistic Individual

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Shaun's initial identity is as an outsider that has to prove capability against his condition. He goes from "different" or "incompetent" to uniqueness in his diagnostic skills and medical insights. Over time, Shaun's identity evolves from being defined by his autism into a talented surgeon who happens to have autism.

Research on professionals with autism suggests that neurodivergent individuals can bring unique strengths to professional roles but often face biases and barriers due to misunderstandings about their capabilities (Caza & Creary, 2016). Shaun's character exemplifies these challenges and strengths, showcasing how his attention to detail and problem-solving skills contribute to his effectiveness as a surgeon while facing skepticism from colleagues and superiors.

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By analyzing The Good Doctor through the concepts of identity and community of practice, we gain valuable insights into the complex dynamics of transcultural communication in a professional setting. Shaun’s evolving identity as a medical professional who also navigates the challenges of autism illustrates how individual identities are shaped and reshaped through social interaction and professional roles. Furthermore, his gradual integration into the hospital’s community of practice demonstrates the importance of collaboration, shared knowledge, and respect for diversity in fostering effective communication across cultural boundaries.

Ultimately, The Good Doctor serves as a compelling case study for exploring how transcultural communication is negotiated through the lenses of identity and community, shedding light on the importance of empathy, adaptability, and understanding in diverse workplace environments​.

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Social Identity and Interpersonal Relationships

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Social Identity and Interpersonal Relationships

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Initially, Shaun had not been able to understand social cues and express his feelings, reasons which led to strained relations. From these interactions, Shaun learns to broaden the spectrum of his communication-aspects of being more receptive to people's feelings and successfully contributing to social-emotional dialogues. His identity shifts from someone who is isolated and socially awkward to someone who makes conscious efforts to connect with others; this would reflect growth in his social and emotional identity.

Research on autism and friendship by Ellemer & Doosje (2002) pointed out that most people with autism actually wish to have social relations but cannot understand the rules of sociality clearly and, therefore, may perceive themselves as being discriminated against. Some of the challenges Shaun faces in his attempts to bond with his colleagues include at times overanalyzing or misconstruing social cues to impact on his social identity and relationships.

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Personal Identity and Romantic Relationships

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Personal Identity and Romantic Relationships

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Shaun's romantic experiences with Lea challenge him to redefine his perception of intimacy, support, and emotional vulnerability. His identity transforms from that of one who was unsure and inexperienced in romantic affairs to that of one who learns to give love, handle relationship conflicts, and work through complex emotions about being a partner. This reflects development in Shaun's personal and relational identity.

Kunkel et al. (2003) emphasize the importance of clear and explicit communication in romantic relationships involving neurodivergent individuals. This is evident in Shaun's need for directness and his struggles with abstract emotional expressions, which both challenge and enrich his romantic identity development.

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According to Jackson (2016), individuals are likely to make changes to integrate into new cultural contexts when being firstly exposed to a new environment.

Acculturation at the workplace

The first instance is in episode one in Good Doctor, as a newcomer, the protagonist (Shaun) has just entered the hospital, a new environment with specific rules, so he faced challenges of adapting to this strange context. During the process of communication, it shows how Shaun dealt with the cultural difference at work and the difficulties of collaborative teamwork in that case.

Interaction with patients

Additionally, how Shaun interacted with patients also related to his process of acculturation. In episode 12, there are patients with different cultural backgrounds, holding different views on treatments given by doctors. Therefore, Shaun was required to balance the medical treatment and patients' cultural belief, which means to some extent he has adapted to the complex cultural environment in the hospital, the new community.

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Shaun’s identity is repeatedly shaped by how others perceive him and how he perceives himself in response to those external judgments. He evolves from being overly concerned with these external perceptions to developing a stronger sense of self-confidence and self-advocacy, asserting his right to be evaluated based on his skills rather than his neurological condition.

Mack’s (2018) theory of "presentation of self" explains how individuals manage their identity based on audience perceptions. Shaun's interactions with Dr. Han and others illustrate the tension between how he presents himself as a competent surgeon and how others perceive him through the lens of his autism.

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Considering Shaun's difficulty in understanding social cues and norms, how do you think social identity theories apply to his interactions with his colleagues? How could his colleagues adjust their communication to better accommodate his needs?

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Yunshu Wu 1370921

Yunfan Chen1447653

Xinying Qi 1432204

Wenwen Zhang 1505998

Ziyun Liu 1400529

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How does Shaun Murphy's cultural adaptation and self-positioning journey in the hospital community reflect the interaction between his personal identity as a patient with autism and Shavent syndrome and the broader medical and cultural expectations of the practice community?

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The colleagues can also learn more about autism in order to communicate and understand Shaun

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I think for Shaun, he needs to grow up in the process of constantly solving various problems and know himself better. This is the process of self-identity. The hospital, as a community, should create a more inclusive environment for Shaun. Autism has some unique social differences, but inclusive communities can help them develop their talents. In a multi-cultural society, differences are respected and different individuals are treated equally. In this way, there can show the identity of different individuals.

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I like the discussion around Shaun's identity as both a medical professional and a person with autism. I think it takes both personal effort and broader environment's understanding and inclusion to help integrate these two identities.

Great choice of text! I think it meaningful for people like Shaun to be represented and thus seen in this way.

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Your poster clearly analyzes The Good Doctor through identity and community of practice. The focus on Shaun’s growth as both a professional and an autistic individual is well done. You effectively connect theories like positioning and acculturation to his experiences.

One suggestion is to explore more how Shaun’s neurodivergence impacts his leadership as he gains respect in the team. Overall, it’s well-organized and insightful.

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Question 1:

Shaun’s colleagues could adjust their communication by using clear, direct language and learning more about autism to better understand his needs.

Question 2:

Shaun’s journey shows the challenge of balancing personal identity with professional expectations. His autism provides valuable perspectives in the hospital setting, enriching the medical practice.

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When Shaun firstly changing his identity, he was not be able to understand the social cues so this shift of identity commands him to broaden his communication spectrum. As a partner, this identity require he learned to express more emotional expressions.

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Question 1: Social Identity Theory in Shaun's case is that he went from outsider to gifted doctor with autism, a process that required Shaun to balance his professional and personal identities, which shows how he reinvented his identity in the hospital setting.

Shaun's colleagues can adjust communication by: patiently explaining social rules and focusing on his professional skills rather than on his autism. They can also provide specific feedback.

Question 2:As a person with autism and Scholar's Syndrome, Shaun faces the unique challenge of adapting to the norms of the medical environment while maintaining his uniqueness. Over time, he learned to adapt to the social and professional norms of the hospital while maintaining his unique way of thinking.

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Q1:

I think Shaun’s difficulty with social cues makes it hard for him to connect with his colleagues at first. However, as time goes on, his colleagues start to see him as part of their group and he’s recognised more for his skills than for his autism. To better support him, his colleagues should focus on using clear, direct communication.

Q2:

Well, I don’t really see how Shaun’s experience ties directly to culture, perhaps his behaviour and interactions with “normal” people in his workplace could be understood as transcultural? but I’m not sure about that.

Shaun faces challenges at first because of his differences, but over time, he earns respect by proving his medical skills. This shows how personal identity and professional expectations can initially conflict, but Shaun’s strengths are eventually recognised.

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Q1:

1. Use explicit communication, avoiding reliance on nonverbal cues.

2. Be patient, allowing him time to process and respond.

3. Educate themselves on neurodiversity, to foster empathy and understanding.

Q2:Shaun's adaptation reflects the clash between his personal identity, shaped by autism and Savant syndrome, and the medical community's expectations. While his cognitive style makes him an exceptional doctor, he struggles with the interpersonal norms of the hospital. Over time, his competence forces others to adjust their views, highlighting the interaction between personal identity and professional cultural expectations.

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From my understanding of social identity theory that posits people construct their identities through interactions. Based on the limited interaction in the video between him and his colleagues, I think maybe his colleagues can first acknowledge his identity being a doctor and having knowledge in the field, and treat him as a normal people while take an open mind to understand his biological constraints.

However, the relationship with transcultural is not quite clear to me. Shaun is an extraordinary individual with high skill sets in medical setting and also with some difficulties, so he faces challenges from both workplace and normal life, maybe he just has to deal with cultural adaption in order to get and secure a job?

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Caza, B. B., & Creary, S. (2016). The construction of professional identity. In Perspectives on contemporary professional work (pp. 259-285). Edward Elgar Publishing.

Ellemers, N., Spears, R., & Doosje, B. (2002). Self and social identity. Annual review of psychology, 53(1), 161-186.

Harré, R., & Langenhove, L. V. (1999). Positioning theory: Moral contexts of intentional action.

Jackson, J. (2016). “Breathing the smells of native-styled English”: a narrativized account of an L2 sojourn. Language and Intercultural Communication, 16(3), 332–348. https://doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2016.1168047

Kunkel, A. D., Wilson, S. R., Olufowote, J., & Robson, S. (2003). Identity implications of influence goals: Initiating, intensifying, and ending romantic relationships. Western Journal of Communication (includes Communication Reports), 67(4), 382-412.

Mack, A. E. (2018). Identity reconciliation: Understanding the relationship between the pursuit of the ideal-self and intrapersonal conflict. Nova Southeastern University.