THE IMPORTANCE OF VALUE ATTITUDES IN SOLVING INTERCULTURAL CONFLICTS

Dublin Core

Title

THE IMPORTANCE OF VALUE ATTITUDES IN SOLVING INTERCULTURAL CONFLICTS

Author

Kriaučiūnienė, Roma

Abstract

Contemporary world is complicated and we face many difficult problems that sometimes can turn into conflicts that have to be solved. As S. L. Dolan (2011) claims, these problems are: environmental pollution, human alienation, unemployment, crimes, drug addiction, disintegration of the family, mistreatment of the elderly, unequal distribution of wealth, food, educational opportunities, and many more. These challenges cause chaos and disturb the established senses of values across cultures. Some Lithuanian researchers (Aramavičiūtė, 2005) also maintain a view that such chaos has a vast influence on psychological condition of people as they loose the sense and meaning of life, which has a negative impact on their intra and inter-relations.The documents of the EU also highlight the need for educational institutions to promote social cohesion, intercultural dialogue, diversity and equality. The development of personal and social skills and respect for human dignity and shared values are considered to be essential in resolution of intercultural problems. The article is based on the research into the cognitive-notional component of value attitudes of the students of management and foreign languages. The criteria were the acknowledgement of the importance of values and the depth of understanding of the meaning of values. The conclusion is made that students have to be prepared to understand the world, its cultural variety and values, think critically, make a stand against the injustice and only then there can be a hope for life without prejudice, violence and contempt. Therefore, educational institutions have a huge and essential responsibility in this respect (Popovici, 2006). Keywords: value attitudes, acknowledgment of the importance, depth of understanding, moral values, intercultural competence.

Keywords

Conference or Workshop Item
PeerReviewed

Date

2014

Extent

3526