Analyzing Development Model of Intercultural Maturity

¶ … Intercultural Maturity

In today's world where global connection is rapidly increasing, it is becoming extremely important to educate capable citizens who can participate in cultured and moral decision making when they have to face the challenges related to diversity. Students who have better understanding of diversity can appreciate, team up and learn from others with a different nationality, culture, or race and provide better solutions to a problem by combining diverse views. They also show great skills required to work successfully in teams and able to respond effectively to the demands of all kinds of customers.

The Intercultural Maturity Model is known as one of the best models established (Baxter) that emanated from Kegan's Lifespan Development Model. Kegan explained that individuals who are matured are able to response to difficult jobs more effectively than others. People plan their lives, keeping a balance between their own interests, interest of others and outsider's impact. Model developed by (Kegan) is universal and combines three development aspects: cognitive, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. Likewise, model developed by Baxter also represents three aspects: cognitive (understanding differences in cultures), interpersonal (to be appreciative and behave interdependently towards people with differences) and intrapersonal (accepting the diversity in cultures without feeling threatened). There are three intercultural growth levels included in each dimension such as initial, intermediate and mature. The model explains that students prosper well when they learn about different cultures through ethnocentric approach to the ethno relativism understanding and admiration. This model is designed as a 3 x 3 matrix, connecting the dimensions (cognitive, interpersonal, and intrapersonal) with three development levels; initial, intermediate and mature. This intercultural learning process states that, in today's increasing global connections, the idea is to prepare the individuals who would be able to attain maturity in all the three aspects of intercultural development. Another model developed by Magolda is based on multi-dimensions and defines the levels of intercultural development (Magolda). This structure explains that people are becoming more skilled in understanding and becoming aware of different cultures and behaving in an ethical way which is suitable for the people from various origins (Reid).

Discussions

After discussing various models of intercultural development, its further explanation can be given. The first and main rule states that individuals must show a character of acceptance and interest. These individuals engage themselves in intercultural meetings enthusiastically which make them special and prosperous. In addition to that, they are well aware of the fact that unity of people and building groups of mutual trust and admiration can happen effectively if they provide necessary input. Adult students are tending to be more successful in achieving the development intricacy (Baxter) that helps them accept others positively in individual's improvement and tolerance for different cultures on the main level of intercultural development.