Cultural Self-Awareness and Cultural Intelligence Reflection

This essay delves into the significance of cultural self-awareness and its profound influence on an individual's cultural intelligence. The author, drawing from personal experiences as a third culture kid, highlights the importance of embracing diverse cultural backgrounds and adapting to varying societal norms. The essay defines cultural self-awareness and cultural intelligence, emphasizing their interconnectedness, and explores how self-awareness enhances the ability to navigate cross-cultural interactions effectively. It references several academic readings to support the arguments and discusses how cultural intelligence facilitates effective communication, eliminates cultural gaps, and fosters empathy, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and harmonious society. The author also examines how cultural diversity can be celebrated by eliminating stereotypes and prejudices.

Running head: CULTURAL SELF-AWARENESS AND CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE
Cultural self-awareness and cultural intelligence
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Author’s Note

CULTURAL SELF-AWARENESS AND CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE
Every individual in this world has grown up in a certain surroundings that has a collective
influence on the overall growth of that person. We often use the word “culture” interchangeably
with the upbringing of a person which also has a significant impact on the behavior and beliefs.
A person’s ability to perceive and her/his action is somehow deep rooted in the society from
where s/he belongs along with the cultural and upbringing values that has been instilled. It is
imperative on the part of any individual to be culturally aware, especially in the age of
globalization, where one can see the remarkable amalgamation of culture. In this essay, the
importance of being culturally aware will be discussed and how it is related to the cultural
intelligence of an individual that leads to the inclusive growth. It also opens the way for effective
cross-cultural communication.
Cultural awareness essentially has an influence on the cultural intelligence of a person.
Growing up as a third culture kid has shaped me in many ways which is unimaginable to most of
my peers. My parents were of American origins. Since childhood, we had to relocate to several
outside countries that made me accustomed to embrace different societies and not adhering to a
particular cultural thoughts and beliefs. Though, I faced many hardships in bending myself with
the ever-changing situation, I had acquired a diverse field of knowledge by the time I reach the
age of 15. Moreover, I have also felt the static nature of my inner soul in an atmosphere which is
not constant. According to Taipale 2012 (pp.173-178), it is important for the cultural information
to be transformed on basic infrastructure that would help in the dissemination of cultural
awareness to cultural intelligence. However, it is the responsibility of every person to correlate
with other culture that would help eliminating cultural difference.
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CULTURAL SELF-AWARENESS AND CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE
Travelling is a part of education since it helps one to infuse the basic cultural awareness
within oneself that eventually enhances the cultural intelligence and knowledge. For instance,
when I was travelling to Bali for academic purpose, I came across many people from different
background. Here, the diversity of culture is something which I learned from the entire trip. A
few of my fellow travelers were intolerant of the language difference they faced while moving
on to a new country. According to them, English is the only language of communication which
to their exasperation, turned out to be not according to their expectation. What they should have
done had they were more culturally aware is an understanding of the difference (where language
is one of the many differences) that exists between cultures (Russell, 2011 pp. 29-42). In this
particular scenario, a more culturally intelligent individual will respect the language barrier and
try to look for other ways to communicate with the locals, which, in my opinion is the best
method to adopt while in a different country for a better cross-cultural communication.
A person often tends to judge the condition around her/him according to the level of
perception s/he has got from the societal structure. As per the words of Spencer-Oatey (2012 pp-
1-2), the mental programming of an individual is both an individual and social construct. This
can be well asserted by the very fact that I, being a third culture person has been privileged of
being born and brought up in different countries that has certain influence on my nature. Now, as
I have developed an analytical mind, it helps me judge circumstances more unbiasedly.
Moreover, I have seen people who have travelled overseas but could not get adjusted to the
behavioral (Spencer-Oatey, 2012 pp. 16-17) or cultural difference. Had the person shared and
adopted the culture within oneself, s/he wouldn’t have had faced severe culture shock and return
(Flanja, 2009 pp.107-124). The direct implication of cultural intelligence, therefore, is evident in
these cases, where it prompted the person to not be able to attune to a different place.
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CULTURAL SELF-AWARENESS AND CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE
Managing cultural diversity is one of the important aspects which needs to be addressed
more frequently. Since, there is no hard and fast rulebook which will feed a person to behave a
certain way, however, one is expected to be considerate while dealing with other people from
diverse cultural background. According to Quappe and Cantatore (2005 pp. 1-2), one must check
certain factors like inculcating empathy, admitting our ignorance, suspending judgments, etc.
which can help one in celebrating the uniqueness of cultural diversity.
One of the primary problems people face while intermingling with people of other
culture is the feeling of superiority. This particular thought is preceded by the non-admittance of
the other culture that leads to significant culture gaps. The co-existence of diverse culture is only
possible when there is a connection between them and this is when interchange of ideas are
possible that helps to flourish a society.
From the above experiences I have gathered during various phases of my life, I have
come to the realization that the diversity of culture is one of the most beautiful things which
defines the exclusivity of the human species. The idea of cultural self-awareness helps a person
to be more culturally intelligent because it helps in the person to become more sensitive towards
other culture. It also eliminates the possibility of experiencing culture shock, bridge the gap of
cultural difference, more empathetic behavior, enhancement of knowledge, and facilitate cross
cultural communication. A culturally aware person has a lot of influence on her/his intelligence
and makes one more open to ideas. The entire species is privileged with the multiplicity of
culture, races, religions, and ethnicity that needs celebration which is possible only with an open
mind that helps to associate one member of a culture with another. This co-existence should be
emphasized with the elimination of stereotypes /prejudices and the integration of acceptance
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CULTURAL SELF-AWARENESS AND CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE
/empathy that will lead to a more organized society. In this 21st century, the importance of
intercultural communication has grown to leaps and bounds that requires intercultural training
more relevant than ever.
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