When you possess world-mindedness, you demonstrate acceptance and respect toward other cultures’ beliefs, values, and customs (Hammer, Bennett, & Wiseman, 2003). You can practice world-mindedness in three ways. First, accept others’ expression of their culture or co-culture as a natural element in their communication, just as your communication reflects your cultural background (Chen & Starosta, 2005). Second, avoid any temptation to judge others’ cultural beliefs, attitudes, and values as “better” or “worse” than your own. Third, treat people from all cultures with respect.

This can be especially challenging when differences seem impossible to bridge or when the other person’s beliefs, attitudes, and values conflict with your own. But practicing world-mindedness means more than just tolerating cultural differences you find perplexing or problematic. Instead, treat all people with respect by being kind and courteous in your communication. You can also preserve others’ personal dignity by actively listening to and asking questions about viewpoints that may differ from yours.

World-mindedness is the opposite of ethnocentrism, the belief that one’s own cultural beliefs, attitudes, values, and practices are superior to those of others. Ethnocentrism is not the same thing as pride in your cultural heritage or patriotism. You can be culturally proud or nationally patriotic and not be ethnocentric. Instead, ethnocentrism is a comparative evaluation; ethnocentric people view their own culture or co-culture as the standard against which all other cultures should be judged, and they often have contempt for other cultures (Neuliep & McCroskey, 1997; Sumner, 1906). Consequently, such people tend to see their own communication as competent and that of people from other cultures as incompetent.