The Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS)

The Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS) describes how people grow in their ability to understand and relate to cultures different from their own. It outlines a continuum from rejecting differences (ethnocentrism) to fully appreciating diverse perspectives (ethnorelativism). Initially, people might see other cultures as inferior or strange (denial, defense), but as they develop, they become more open, curious, and respectful of differences (acceptance, adaptation). This model helps understand that intercultural understanding is a skill that improves over time through experience, education, and reflection.