Competition and Cooperation

There is a developmental advantage in learning how to interact effectively with individuals from different cultures. Individuals who are exposed to only one culture or who are taught that only their own culture is worthwhile will be at a disadvantage in school, at work, in the community, and in social settings. Intercultural competence is the degree to which the consequences of one’s behavior match one’s intentions in interactions with individuals from cultures different from one’s own. A person gains intercultural competence through interacting with individuals from different cultures in ways that result in positive relationships and candid and open conversations. Although the context for such interactions may be predominantly cooperative, competitive, or individualistic, it is only within a cooperative context that such interactions can occur ...