Denial

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 

Persons at this stage are not aware that cultural differences exist. They know how things are handled in their own culture and act on the assumption that other persons in other cultures handle them in the same way. Usually they are not very interested in cultural matters. They have a naive, but rather ignorant view at cultural discrepancies. They are content with the own attitude and sometimes show a sort of aggressive ignorance (I don’t need to know“).
Typical statements at this level are:

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.

Project Partners

Casework is a cooperation between the Innovation in Learning Institute (ILI), the ECC Association for Interdisciplinary Consulting and Education, the INTRGEA Institute for Development of Human Potentials, and Oxfam Italy. More info…