2.1 Open-Mindedness

How this open-mindedness module is build up

“The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size.” (Albert Einstein).

First of all you have to get acquainted with the concept of open-mindedness; what is it and on what is it based. Secondly, you have to be aware about your own open or closed mind by doing small tests. Third, open-mindedness has to contribute to your competences in teaching or mentoring students from another country and culture, with other values and norms than you have. How can you open your mind? To reach these goals, you read theories, view video’s, make some assignments for yourself and discuss with your peers.

The order of the Chapter:

1. Indicator chart.
2. Open-mindedness, the concept.
3. Self-tests.
4. Prejudices.
5. Open-mindedness from two sides.
6. Johari window.

Indicator chart

This Indicator Chart is meant to give an overview on the content and the goals of the module. It also shows briefly the context in which Open-mindedness is important and which knowledge and skills are required.

The concept of Open-mindedness
The meaning, the importance and the improvement of Open-mindedness will be explained, in 4 paragraphs: A. Metaphore, B. Transfer to Education, C. Definition and description, and D. Your position as a teachear or mentor.

A. Metaphore
We will start with the “apple peeling metaphor”. Before reading or studying on this indicator, please take two minutes to see the Video “the Apple Lesson”.

B. Transfer to Education We go back from this apple peeling metaphor to your own situation as teacher or mentor in Education, Rehabilitation and Health & Social Care. You may have experienced a certain personal preference how your students/trainees have to learn, have to behave or have to perform.

C. Definition and description¹ For multicultural competences, open-mindedness is a requirement, defined as having an open and unbiased attitude towards members of a group with other cultural norms and values.

Open-mindedness is the readiness or preparedness to engage in and with the situation and the other person and the willingness to question or have questioned own action patterns and familiar viewpoints. Open-mindedness covers a willingness to question current thinking and practice, to be receptive to emerging possibilities, to share ideas and to consider differing perspectives. It is a willingness to learn about difference, and treat each person as an individual in a way that can ultimately reinforce behavioural understanding of culture. Listening to different opinions and explanations carefully and sincerely without prejudices. Open-mindedness is a mind that is open to revising firmly held views on the basis of evidence and having a respect for the opinions of other people, as well as understanding and comprehending their opinions.

Open-mindedness within health and social care relates to the ability to draw attention away from social conditions and power differentials that underlie health inequalities. Open-mindedness is to have few or no stereotypic beliefs about cultural differences. It expresses the tolerance of the person for different approaches and sensitiveness for their own mistakes. In this dimension, the individual takes the opinions of other people into consideration as well, while making any decision. Whatever is strange should be regarded and evaluated not as a threat, but as enriching and enlightening. Open-mindedness means that you and the field can spell out new ideas that can mean the end of basic principles, underlying ways of thinking, canons and dictums that you and the field take for granted (Mahrer, 2007)². It is vital to perceive others as different and as the same – something that is ruled out by both hierarchical ordering and universal equality. Whatever is strange should be regarded and evaluated not as a threat, as something that brings disintegration and fragmentation in its train, but as enriching in the first place (Beck and Grande, 2007, p.71)³.

To show the importance of open-mindedness, next video demonstrates cultural competenses in nursing. Please see this video and focus especially on open-mindedness. Try to transfer the importance of open-mindedness from the nurse profession to your teacher/mentor profession, especially if it concerns foreign students or trainees.

To understand this indicator better, it is advisable to read some literature on Open-mindedness.

As a teacher or a mentor in an environment with foreign students and trainees in Education, Rehabilitation and Health & Social Care, you interact with people with different ages, cultures, languages, religions, spiritual beliefs, political persuasion, class, education, etc. In chapter ‘Culture’ you have seen two possibilties to test culture: Lewis and Hofstede. The main goal is to know who you are, your norms, values and beliefs and your position between the different cultures. Values, norms and beliefs influence not only your own behaviour, but also those of whom you teach or mentor. It is good to know these norms, values and beliefs and also to be aware of the environment you are in. It will assist you in the development of ‘good’ practices. Open-mindedness focuses on differences and “other” beliefs, which means different or other than your self. In addition, the importance of knowing how values/norm/beliefs of your students/trainees influence the interaction is evident and crystal clear. Do you have any idea how shocked your foreign students can be? In several videos students want to explain their “shock”, for example in the video’s about the American culture shock for international students, or about the international students who went to the Netherlands. Please see these videos.

In your job as a teacher or a mentor cultural you may have noticed that cultural differences play a role in the interaction. Many aspects influence the interaction, like philosophy of life, attributions, orientation in time and space, humour, role behaviour, opinions about marriage and sexuality, religion, doing business. Awareness of the differences between you and ‘the other’ is crucial for the interaction. Taking these into account is even a step further. Reflecting on this and learning from it, is the goal of this programme. Therefore, you are asked to make next assignment in which you describe a situation and reflect on it.

Prejudices

As mentioned in the definition and description, Open-mindedness is unbiased and without prejudices. This paragraph will focus on prejudices. Have you been a victim of prejudices your self? Have you noticed your own prejudices? How do you manage or reduce your prejudices? Prejudice is prejudgment, or forming an opinion before becoming aware of the relevant facts of a case. The word is often used to refer to preconceived, usually unfavorable,judgments toward people because of gender, political opinion, social class, age, disability, religion, sexuality, race/ethnicity, language, nationality, or other personal characteristics. In this case, it refers to a positive or negative evaluation of another person based on their perceived group membership. Prejudice can also refer to unfounded beliefsand may include “any unreasonable attitude that is unusually resistant to rational influence”.It can be defined as a “feeling, favorable or unfavorable, toward a person, prior to, or not based on, actual experience”.

In next video you will see how to manage your prejudices.

 

Johari Window – Joseph Luft and Harry Ingram (duration: 10:09)

Assignments