Cultural competence is the ability to understand, respect, and interact effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds.Explains psychologist Maria Padun.
Why do we need cultural competence?
Expats with high cultural competence experience a lower level of stress associated with adapting to a new culture. The sense of belonging that is important for our identity also depends on cultural competence. Expats with high cultural competence feel more like they belong to the host country.
Integration allows expats to use the practices of both cultures. Integration is considered the most optimal from the point of view of emigrants ‘ mental health.
Let’s decipher this concept in a little more detail.
Main components of cultural competence:
1. Mindfulness: We usually evaluate people from other cultures as if we have correct (learned from the native culture) ideas about how they should behave in society. This phenomenon is also called cultural bias. It’s normal to have one. It also forms a cultural identity (‘we’ are not like ‘they’). So, culturally competent people realize that they have this bias, and they work with it.
2. Knowledge: People who study different cultures (and especially the culture of the country to which they emigrated) understand how historical and cultural factors influence people’s worldview and behavior. In other words, they understand why members of a different culture are not like ‘us’.
3. Skills: Culturally competent people are able to listen to people from other cultures with respect and attention, they are actively interested in other people and show empathy.
4. Attitude: The main trait of culturally competent people is the acceptance of diversity as a value. This is manifested in openness to the ‘stranger’, willingness to learn from others.
Take care of each other, appreciate each other’s culture!
