Defense
Back to: Intercultural Sensitivity
motortion, fotoliaAt this second stage, persons perceive cultural differences, mostly coupled with a negative view at the foreign culture. They feel threatened or intimidated by expressions of differences. The stage is characterised by dualistic thinking patterns („Us“-„Them“) and frequently accompanied by negative stereotyping. Usually there is a tendency towards condescension of „underdeveloped“ cultures. The own culture is considered as superior. Positive aspects of the own culture are emphasised and exaggerated.
There is also a second type of defense, named reversal: In this case, there is a tendency to see another culture as superior while badmouting the own culture.
I see the differences but I don’t like them, and my culture is better.
I wish these people would just talk the way we do.
When you face other cultures, it makes you realise how much better our culture is.
We could teach these people a lot of stuff.
Developmental Tasks
At this stage, people should be encouraged to diminish polarisation by emphasising a common basis of all human beings. Ethnocentric points of view (in-group/out-group) should be described as universal. It is also useful to accentuate existing differences within the in-group in order to promote higher differentiation. In a training learners can be stimulated to explore similarities of cultures and to intensify communication with members of different cultures.
It is also useful to highlight historical contexts that have been experienced by a number of cultures, e.g. wars, slavery or colonisation, and the consequences all of these cultures had to face.
The main step persons at the stage „defense“ have to make is to deal with differences and the stress they may cause. It is crucial to be aware of the own anxiety about other cultures and to develop tolerance and acceptance towards unfamiliar values, attitudes and behaviour.