Living successfully in a second culture for an extended period time can often lead to a transformation. This transformation is a change in perspective requiring a stranger to look at his or her new world from a different perspective, often in conflict with deeply held values and beliefs, leading to a more reflective, inclusive, and open worldview. This transformation is indicative of a learning process of becoming interculturally competent, which can be explained by transformative learning theory, developed by Jack Mezirow. After defining the nature of transformative learning, this entry delineates the relationship between intercultural competence and transformative learning, notes alternative perspectives, and describes current research dilemmas.

Transformative learning is a constructivist theory about the process of constructing a new or revised meaning of an experience ...