Thinking Styles and Intercultural Competencies

The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate specific strategies to deconstruct dichotomous, hierarchical, and linear thinking styles and to develop holistic thinking. Developing holistic thinking is the foundation of increasing intercultural competencies for students, faculty, managers, and CEOs. Holistic thinking style allows us to view the world from both Western (linear) and Eastern (non-linear) perspectives. Participants were 35 students (23 American and 12 South Korean students) in an intercultural competence course at a State College in the US. The study found that it is possible for Westerns to increase non-linearity (holistic thinking) by completing specific repetitious reflective writing on a regular basis without censoring. Limitations of the study were the small sample size (N=35) and the short duration (3 months).