SSgt Caldwell emphasizes the importance of adjusting behaviors in different cultures. This relates to which characteristic of cross-cultural communication?

Self-monitoring is vital in cross-cultural communication because it involves being aware of one's own behavior and adjusting it according to the cultural context of others. This characteristic emphasizes the importance of being sensitive to how one's actions and words may be interpreted differently across various cultures. By practicing self-monitoring, individuals like SSgt Caldwell can enhance their effectiveness in communicating with people from diverse backgrounds, ensuring that they adapt their messaging and behavior to foster understanding and respect.

In contrast, contextual understanding pertains to an awareness of the situational factors influencing communication, which, while important, is not as directly linked to the individual's behavioral adjustments. High-context and low-context communication refer specifically to the nature of the information conveyed—high-context relying on implicit messages and shared understandings, while low-context focuses on explicit verbal communication. These concepts are related to the broader framework of communication styles but do not address the proactive adaptable behavior emphasized by self-monitoring.