Six+Stages+of+Intercultural+Sensibility

=== ** Six Stages of Intercultural Sensibility: Moving from Ethnocentrism to Ethnorelativism by Milton Bennett ** === In this stage people are assertively ignorant and unaware of cultural difference. To move passed this stage is to recognize cultural differences that are escaping notice.
 * 1) Denial (of difference): ** Disinterest & Avoidance

** 2) Defense (against difference): ** Denigration, Superiority & Reversal In this stage cultural differences are seen yet belittling attitudes and arrogance sees them as a threat to their own value system. To move passed this stage, with a positive evaluation of some other cultures and a willingness to be self-critical, recognize basic similarities and become tolerant of differences among people and cultures.

** 3) Minimization (of difference): ** Human Similarity & Universal Values In this stage there’s a tolerant behavior and recognition of the essential humanity of all people; yet, own values remain privileged and their view as universal rather than as part of one’s own individual ethnicity. To move passed this stage we must be aware of our own culture, avoid projecting this culture onto other’s people experience, reconcile similarity & difference, and reconcile diversity & unity for action.

** 4) Acceptance (of difference): ** Respect for Behavioral Differences Respect for Value Differences In this stage there is the ability to value and to shift cultural perspective, while still maintaining one’s own. Acceptance stage must be reached by participants to be successful in a collaborative process. To move passed this stage, cultural awareness, openness and trust expunges the line between one’s own cultural perspective and that of another.

** 5) Adaptation (to difference): ** Cognitive adaptation {Frame-Shifting/Empathy} & Behavioral adaptation {Code-Shifting/Pluralism} In this stage, with a deep cultural understanding, a person may function in an intercultural capacity by (1) cognitive adaptation implementing a mental shift into the value scheme of another culture and by (2) behavioral adaptation producing behaviors appropriate to the norms of another culture. Persons serving as good Liaisons between cultures have reached an authentic adaptation stage. To move passed this stage one starts to expunge the need to do a mental shift from one culture to another merging cultures.

** 6) Integration (of difference): ** Contextual Evaluation & Constructive Marginality In this stage a person functions with an internalization of multicultural frames of reference by (1) contextual evaluation using multiple cultural frames of reference in evaluating phenomena and constructive marginality accepting an identity that is not primarily based on one culture and having the ability to facilitate constructive contact between cultures – for one’s self and for others.

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