Intercultural Training: Learn to avoid treading on other people’s toes or experience walking in the other person’s shoes
Journal article, Peer reviewed

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Date
2014Metadata
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- Articles (FSK) [28]
Original version
FLEKS - Scandinavian Journal of Intercultural Theory and practice 2014, 1:1-14Abstract
This article raises the question of whether the traditional approach in intercultural training
focusing on knowledge about cultural differences and skills to avoid culture clash is
sufficient in order to prepare intercultural communication trainees for dynamic and
psychologically demanding multicultural environments. Inspired by the concept of
mentalizing
in the psycho-therapeutic method called
Mentalization-based treatment
,
training that encourages imaginatively “seeing the other from the inside and oneself from
the outside” is suggested as better able to prepare for complex intercultural realities.
Tolerance is seen as tolerance for being in the intercultural process as much as tolerance for
others’ differences. A theoretical discussion between the notion of
mentalizing
in
mentalization-based treatment and perceptions of
empathy
,
imagination
and
mindfulness
further provides insight into the role of interactive tools such as case work and role plays in
intercultural training. These, in turn, are seen as best suited to fulfil the goals and
ambitions of the theories. However, experiences gained from them must be verbalized in
order to cause increased awareness.