A review of the concept of intercultural awareness

Authors

Guo-Ming Chen, University of Rhode IslandFollow
William J. Starosta

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

1998

Department

Communication Studies

Abstract

The development of a “global village” strongly demands the ability of intercultural sensitivity between people for all of us to survive in the 21^st century. Due to the lack of study on the subject, this paper aims (1) to provide a conceptualization of intercultural sensitivity, (2) to specify the role intercultural sensitivity plays in intercultural training programs, (3) to delineate the components of intercultural sensitivity, and (4) to critique and suggest directions for future study in this line of research.

As a result, a working definition of intercultural sensitivity is generated. The components of intercultural sensitivity examined include: (1) self-esteem, (2) self-monitoring, (3) open-mindedness, (4) empathy, (5) interaction involvement, and (6) non-judgement. In addition, the confusion among intercultural awareness, intercultural sensitivity, and intercultural competence is discussed and future directions for research in intercultural sensitivity is suggested.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Chen, Guo-Ming, and William J. Starosta. "A review of the concept of intercultural awareness." Human Communication, vol. 2, 1998-1999, pp. 27-54.

Available at: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED408634.pdf

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.