What Can Personality Tell Us About Cultural Competence?

What Can Personality Tell Us About Cultural Competence?

Importance of Cultural Competence

Cultural competence is recognized as the ability to communicate and interact efficiently with people belonging of diverse culture. Intercultural or cross-cultural competence is acknowledged as a series of cognitive and behavioral expertise that help in the process of effective interaction with people belonging to various culture and social background. An effective intercultural communication is dependent on the behavior of the respondents and the desired goal of the communication process is achieved only when the behavior of the communicators built up on the willingness of the both the parties. It has been monitored that the intercultural competence is a social impulse that has advanced through the course of time. Moreover, building intercultural competence is necessary in order to maintain global harmony and peace in the context of globalization. It has been noticed that a successful intercultural communication, between different language and cultures initiates mutual bond and trust amongst the communicators. Hence, the essay will be focusing on the key factors that play important role in making an intercultural communication to be a successful one. In this regard, the importance of cultural intelligence along with social, emotionl and cognitive intelligence that constitute the definition of intercultural competence.

Along with the advancement of the intercultural exchanges and the globalization, the importance of intercultural competence is becoming one of the major factors in order to have a successful communication. As a result of the ever changing scenario in the global environment, cultural competency helps an individual to deal with the different cultures and people belonging to them. Moreover, it can be said that having cultural competency ensures of having better understanding for the diverse cultures. The major factors that influence the cultural competence are behavioral and cognitive skills (Betancourt et al., 2016). The behavioral skills, that are important to the intercultural competence, are the understanding of the differences amongst various cultures. The behavioral factors that create impact on the communication also ensure the reaction of the communicators. The behavioral factors are constituted of several aspects such as the one of speaking, body language, language of speaking and the surrounding environment. In addition to this, the cognitive process constitutes the thinking procedure of a person and his or her attitude towards the other cultures and languages (Wilson, Ward & Fischer, 2013). Moreover, the process of cognitive competency allows the individual to mold one’s attitude to be altered and present their thoughts and views in a more refined manner. In addition to this, cognitive skills help individuals in the process of better understanding of their own culture a traditions. As a result, individuals acquire the capability to express themselves in a better way and to defend their own culture.  In lieu with the discussion, the focus can be shifted to the other factors affecting the cultural competency (Matsumoto & Hwang, 2013). It has been noticed that the notion of cultural competency was not developed within a short span. It is a process, which has seen its evolution along with the evolution of the humankind and the increasing interaction amongst people in a global scale (Ang & Van Dyne, 2015). In addition to this, it has been widely observed that people belonging to different cultures have perceived the idea of cultural competency differently. Changing social structures and personal ideologies helped in the process of modification of the competency (Elphinstone, 2018). The intercultural competency hence vastly depend on the individual understanding, and the personal opinion of the communicators. Moreover, it can be said that the increasing experiences help an individual in the process of better understanding and developing the sense of cross-cultural diversity in a more efficient way.

Behavioral and Cognitive Skills

Due to the huge diversity of the cultures, it has been noticed that the process of evaluation of the personality traits is being influenced in a vast way. According to the sociologists, the appropriate procedure of assessing the cultural and personal traits. A constant conflict can be witnessed in order to take up the appropriate methodology of measuring the personality traits (Owe et al., 2013). In this regard the theories that are considered as the most effective ones in judging the personality and cross-cultural traits, can be taken into consideration. The first theory that can be taken into consideration is the theory of personality, coined by American psychologist Gordon Allport (Rand, 2018). The personality theory advocates for accessing the cognitive approach and it revolves around process of psychological system. The psychological traits that analyze the individual personality and their understanding is related to the individualism theory to a great extent.  The paradigm in evaluating the cross-cultural personality can be monitored due to the huge diversity amongst the cultures.

Another important theory that can be taken into consideration is the theory of ethnocentrism. It has been noticed that the cross-cultural communication is primarily generated from the ethnocentrism theory. Psychologists have defined the theory as to be the process where the people tend to perceive their culture and tradition as to be the superior than other communities. Moreover, it is seen hat this tendency of thinking one’s own culture to be the superior lead to judging the other communities and traditions (Rand, 2018). Hence, this can create a barrier in the way of having a successful cross-cultural communication. The people that are having ethnocentricity views are somewhat incapable of increasing their views and perceptions regarding the cultural diversity and the harmony between various cultures. This can cause a conflict between the different communities and hamper the social peace and harmony. Moreover, the ignorant attitude of the people believing in the ethnocentricity creates a huge barrier in the process of communication (Dervin & Hahl, 2015). Psychologist have pointed out that in the juxtaposition of the ethnocentric believes and theories, ethnorelativism theory supports and acknowledges the cultural diversity to a great extent. In the present scenario of globalization, the ethnorelativism theory is aware of the diversity that is existing while having a cross-cultural communication.

Another aspect, important in the cross-cultural communication is the theory of collectivism. The follower of this theory believe in the interest of the group rather than thinking about the welfare of the individuals. Moreover, the collectivism theory advocates for the individual loyalty towards the community (Leung, Ang & Tan, 2014). For them, loyalty towards the community is very important so that the individuals are able to defend their own culture in front of other communities. However, it is emphasized that the group or the community will be responsible for the individual. It the responsibility of the community to take care of the individuals belonging to that particular community. However, it is argued by many of the sociologists that the collectivism  theory can pose as a barrier in the process of cross-cultural communication.

Factors Affecting Cultural Competence

Cultural intelligence is considered as one of the most important theories related to the cross-cultural communication. Cultural intelligence (CQ) is widely used in educational and business sectors (Rand, 2018). It is recognized as the capability of an individual to relate and give out proper reaction in regards to the situation. Hence, this practice is highly appreciated in the business fields where the communicators need to have a proper understanding of other cultures in order to work effectively. Soon Ang and Linn Van Dyne as have coined the term “Cultural Intelligence” (Ang & Van Dyne, 2015). The researchers have made the predictions so as to understand and analyze the way of predicting and assessing the intellectual performance of an individual. The concept of assessing social intelligence is vastly related to the concept of cross-cultural competence (Van Dyne et al., 2012). As it has been already mentioned that a person’s capability to understand other culture and traditions are assessed on the scale predefined by the CQ (Ang, Van Dyne & Koh, 2006). This understanding of the cultural and traditional diversity however plays an influential role in the behavioral and metacognitive strand of an individual. In this regard, the aspects that relates the CQ with the cross-cultural communication process are to be assessed. By using the scale prescribed by the cultural quotient, a person’s understanding towards the diverse communities can be assessed. It has been noticed that the individuals having the understanding and appreciation for the cultural diversity, are aware of the benefits of the cultural diversity (Crowne, 2013). It is seen that the people having the understanding derives pleasure from the cross-cultural communications. Thy often look forward to such opportunities where they can have interactions with people belonging to diverse cultures. As pointed out by the psychologists, the cross-cultural communication is a tool for these people in achieving cultural insights (Erez et al., 2013). Moreover, the individuals having insight of the diversity, often becomes confident enough to represent and defend their own culture (Van Dyne et al., 2012). The strategies taken up by the theory of cultural quotient or cultural intelligence are adaptive towards the awareness of the diversity. As well as the individuals are capable of taking up strategies so that the can give out proper reaction while encountering a multi-cultural situation. Moreover, the individuals tend to assume the emotional and social perspective of the person with whom they communicate (Papadopoulos, Foster & Caldwell, 2013). Taking up these strategies help the communicators to move towards having a successful intercultural communication.

Personality Traits and Cultural Competence

In this context, the diverse assessment tools are to be taken into consideration. It can be found that there are various ways and tools to evaluate cultural competence. In an organizational scenario, these tools to measure inter-cultural competence are regarded of high importance (Matveev & Yamazaki Merz, 2014). The characteristics that are tested in measuring the inter-cultural competence are segregated into two primary sections. Quantitative and qualitative are the two most important assessment tool that can measure the cultural competence of an individual. The quantitative assessment tool includes intercultural inventory of development, cultural intelligence and questionnaire related to the cross-cultural communication. The qualitative measurement tool includes the method of appraisal of collaboration and cross-cultural communication. These provide the proper guidance to the communicators. The personal traits are being nurtured in regards to the inter-cultural communication (Matsumoto and Hwang, 2013). However, these assessment tools have been subjected to criticism for a long time. As pointed out by the psychologists as well as the sociologists, the inter-cultural competence should not be dragged down to the mere application of the theories and the stereotypes. However, the assessment tools aim towards the promotion of understanding of the diversity of the cultures and encourages the communicators to think and build an understanding. Although it has been noticed that these assessment modes often fail to recognize the need of the individuals and focuses more on the tendency of the groups. In the context of the heterogeneous population, the application of the assessment modes are to be found facing barriers while implementing on a larger scale. As per many of the psychologists and sociologists, by employing the models of assessing the intercultural competence tend to over simplify the process of understanding and acknowledging the diversity present amongst the diverse cultures.

In conclusion it can be said that due to the changing environment and globalization inter-cultural competence has become a very important aspect. The urge to understand and evaluate the intercultural communications are seen to rising along with the passing day. In most of the organizational environment, the importance of intercultural competence has been stressed. The success of the different theories and assessment modes in analyzing the needs of the individuals belonging to the diverse cultures. By applying the models and theories pertaining to the intercultural competence, the organizations can achieve success in an efficient manner. Moreover, the immense rise in the usage of the concept has been helpful for the business sectors as well as the educational fields. Moreover, to impart a better insight and understanding amongst the communicators, the model of intercultural competence have to be used vastly. The concept of cross cultural or intercultural competence hence can be marked as one of the most valued theories that will be proved as a tool of maintaining cultural harmony and peace.

Reference:

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