A developmental approach to training for intercultural sensitivity

doi:10.1016/0147-1767(86)90005-2

International Journal of Intercultural Relations

Volume 10, Issue 2, 1986, Pages 179-196

https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-1767(86)90005-2 Get rights and content

Abstract

The development of Intercultural sensitivity demands attention to the subjective experience of the learner. The key to such sensitivity and related skills in Intercultural communication is the way in which learners construe cultural difference. This article suggests a continuum of stages of persona! growth that allows trainers to diagnose the level of sensitivity of individuals and groups and to sequence material according to a developmental plan. The developmental continuum moves from ethnocentrisrn to ethnorelativism. Earlier stages of the continuum define the parochial denial of difference, the evaluative defense against difference, and the universalist position of minimization of difference. Later stages define the acceptance of difference, adaptation to difference, and the integration of difference into one's world view. The stages of development are illustrated with typical statements and behaviors of learners that can be used to diagnose levels of sensitivity, and strategies to facilitate movement from each stage to the next are suggested. Special attention is given to questions of ethics and credibility that often arise in intercultural training situations.

Résumé

Le developpement de la sensibilite interculturelle exige qu' on examine l' experience sujective de l' apprenant. La cle de cette sensibilite et des connaissances pratiques qui sont liees a la communication interculturelle est la maniere dont les apprenants conceptualisent les differences culturelles. Cet article suggere une suite d' etapes de croissance personnelle qui permet aux enseignants de diagnoser le niveau de sensibilite d' un individe ou d 'un groupe et de placer les matieres dans une sequence en accord avec un plan de developpement.

Le developpement procede de l' ethnocentrisie a 1' ethnorelativisme. Les premieres etapes du developpement definissent tout d'abord un deni de la difference, une defense contre la difference, qui en contient cependant une evaluation, et enfin la position uni versai iste de minimisation de la difference. Les etapes ulterieures definissent l' acceptation de la difference, l' adaptation a la difference, et finalement son integration dans la vision du monde.

Les etapes du developpement sont illustrees de declarations et de comportanents typiques des apprenants qui peuvent etre utilises pour diagnoser le niveau de sensibilite et des strategies pour faciliter le passage d'une etape a la suivante sont suggerees. Une attention particuliere est accordee aux questions d'ethique et de credibilite qui sont souvent soulevees dans les situations d' apprentissage inter culturel, (author-supplied abstract)

Resumen

El desarrollo de sensibilidad intercultural requiere que se preste atencion a la experiencia subjetiva del aprendiz. La clave de tal sensibilidad y de habilidades relacionadas con esta en la comunicacion intercultural es la manera en que los aprendioes perciben diferencias culturales. En este articulo se sugiere un continuo de etapas de crecimiento personal que pemite que los entrenadores diagnostiquen el nivel de sensibilidad de individuos y grupos, y, segun un plan de desarrollo, que pongan en secuencia sus materiales.

El continuo de desarrollo va desde el etnocentrismo hasta el etnorelativigmo. Las primeras etapas del continuo deflinen la negacion de diferencias (posicion limitada, la defensa contra las diferencias (etapa de evaluacion), y la minimzacion de las diferencias (posicion universalista). “Las etapas ” .as avarzadas definen la aoeptacion de las diferencias, la adaptacion a las diferencias, y la integracion de las diferencias en la vision que uno tiene del mundo.

Las etapas de desarrollo son ilustradas con declaraciones y comportamientos tipicos de los aprendices, que pueden servir para diagnosticar el nivel de sensibilidad; y se sugieren estrategias para facilitar el movimiento de una etapa a le siguiente. Se presta atencion especial a las cuestiones de etica y credititidad que surgen con frecuencia en situaciones de entrenamento Intercultural. (author-supplied abstract)

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A developmental approach to training for intercultural sensitivity

Abstract

Résumé

Resumen

Beyond cultural identity: Reflections upon cultural and multicultural man

Experiential learning in intercultural communication

Communication in a global village

Intercultural communication training in cultural selfawareness for study abroad

Towards ethnorelatvism: A developmental model of Intercultural sensitivity

Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Council on International Exchange. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Overcoming the golden rule: Sympathy and empathy

The social construction of reality

The mediating man and cultural diversity

The mediating person: Bridges between cultures

Conceptualizations of Intercultural behavior and training