Edukacja międzykulturowa - drogą kształtowania wrażliwości na Innego

Abstract

Children's activity in social environment is an important source and stimulant of appropriate development - it enhances life-long shaping of their personality. The course of the child's individual development in different life periods depends on the nature of sources and mechanisms which trigger the changes. That is why, psycho-emotional activity and maturity are developed in a specific way, changes occur in the structure of personality, and (owing to the collected experience) various social competences develop, which increase emotionalism, empathy and ability to cooperate. Whether or not, or when exactly, it becomes possible to shape these preferences and abilities on one's own, is determined to some extent by endogenic factors related to the character and mental construction of a young person. The other determinants come from upbringing environments, education, and broadly understood socialization. Together with the occurrence of appropriate human potentialities, they shape the child's sensitivity to the observed social similarities and differences. Then, new and constantly richer social experiences and situations enable children to shape their cognitive and emotional openness and to carry out the on-going, creative reconstruction of the surrounding reality. The authoress is of the opinion that these activities are enhanced by intercultural education.