Denial
Back to: Intercultural Sensitivity
In the following lessons we will introduce all stages of Bennett’s DMIS model, their typical attitudes and the developmental tasks they ask for.
The video gives a short overview of the six stages of the concept:
The first three DMIS stages (Denial, Defense, Minimisation) are ethnocentristic, meaning that one’s own culture is experienced as central to reality.
Denial
Live and let live, that’s what I say.
All big cities are the same – lots of buildings, too many cars, McDonald’s.
I never had plenty of contact with other cultures, and I’m not particularly interested.
When I’m in a foreign country I just want to get around and know how to order in restaurants.
Developmental Tasks
People at this level first have to recognise the existence of cultural differences. In an intercultural sensitivity training they should be made acquainted with politics and history of other cultures as well as with art, music, film, theatre and dance. They should learn about „Do’s and taboos“ as well as about heroes and symbols in different cultures. Eventually, values, beliefs and acting patterns of the target culture should be addressed. After all, it is essential to inspire curiosity and the ambition of exploration in the learners.