Development of Intercultural Sensitivity
Milton Bennett 1998
Denial
• Individuals do not perceive difference or use wide categories - "Tokyo same as London because both are large cities with lots of cars"
• Doesn't allow recognition of phenomena which fall outside familiar categories -perceive Korean, Chinese & Japanese as looking the same
Defense
• Goes beyond denial as must recognise something before it becomes a threat.
• Involves "negative stereotyping" towards whole cultural group - not based in ignorance but ethnocentrism.
Minimization
• Cultural difference openly acknowledged and not negatively evaluated.
• Difference though is only seen as superficial - people are still subject to same universal "laws" or "forces"
Acceptance
• Cultural difference is both acknowledged and respected
• Difference seen as essential and preferable in human affairs. People should be accepted for who they are
• People may seem ignorant but are willing and enjoy learning new things
Adoptation
• Marked by an ability to intentionally shift frames of reference to suit culture.
• Able to exercise intentional empathy among internal frames of reference
Integration
• Indicated by a lack of strong cultural identification combined with well developed levels of Acceptance & Adoptation
• Content with self made identity and comfortable adjusting to a wide range of cultural settings