MB529/629: Intercultural Attachment: Building Relationships Across
Cultures (4 units)
Evelyne A. Reisacher,
Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies and Intercultural Relations
Spring 2008
DESCRIPTION:
This course explores the dynamics
involved when people from different cultures interact with one another, the
changes they undergo and what facilitates and hinders attachment. Attention is
given to nonverbal communication at levels beneath awareness, the importance of
connecting emotionally as well as intellectually across cultures, and how
interactively to regulate emotions to facilitate healthy attachment. Part of
the course draws on the latest developments of attachment theory and uses Allan
N. Schore’s developmental attachment theory as a framework to investigate
intercultural attachment. It is designed for students with no previous
psychological or neurobiological training to improve their understanding and
skills in relating with people from other cultures.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Identifies theoretical and methodological
horizons of intercultural interactions.
2. Describes the theory of attachment
and its importance for analyzing intercultural relationships.
3. Names the principles of Schore’s
developmental attachment theory as they are integrated into intercultural
studies.
4. Integrates conceptual tools and
skills that will enhance one’s own intercultural attachment.
5. Analyses attachment behaviors across
cultures.
COURSE
FORMAT:
This course meets twice weekly.
The course will be developed through lectures, audio-visual presentations, and
class interactions. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on their own
intercultural attachment experiences and engage in exercises and group work to
apply attachment principles.
REQUIRED
1. Bretherton, Inge. “The Origin of Attachment
Theory: John Bowlby and
2. Brewster Thomas E., and Elizabeth S.
Brewster. Bonding and the Missionary
Task: Establishing a Sense of Belonging.
3. Clinton, Tim, and Gary Sibcy Why You Do the Things You Do : The Secret to
Healthy Relationships. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006.
4. Elmer, Duane H. Cross-Cultural Connections: Stepping Out and Fitting In Around the
World.
6. Schore. Allan N. “Attachment and the
Regulation of the Right Brain.” Attachment
and Human Development 2 (1). 23-47, 2000 (article).
RECOMMENDED
1. Finnegan, Ruth. Communicating: The Multiple Modes of Human Interconnection.
2. Kitayama, Shinobu, and Hazel Rose
Markus. Emotion and Culture: Empirical
Studies of Mutual Influence.
3. Gudykunst,
William B, Stella W.C. Ting-Toomey, and Tsukasa Nishida, eds. Communication
in Personal Relationships Across Cultures. Sage Publications,1996.
4. Lingenfelter, Sherwood G. and Marvin
K. Mayers. Ministering Cross-Culturally:
An Incarnational Model for Personal Relationships.
5. Schore, Allan, N. Affect Regulation and the Origin of the
Self: The Neurobiology of Emotional Development.
6. Van Ijzendoorn, Marinus H., and
Abraham Sagi. “Cross-Cultural Patterns of Attachment: Universal and Contextual
Dimensions.” In Handbook of Attachment.
Jude Cassidy and Phillip R. Shaver, eds. Pp. 713-734.
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. The student is required to read 1,500 pages
from the required and recommended reading lists and write interaction papers,
each 300 words long, on three books of the required reading list (15% of
grade).
2. Class attendance and participation (15%
of grade).
3. Interview with three persons from a
cultural background different from student’s own and reflection on attachment
issues (20 % of grade).
4. 15 minute group presentation on
intercultural attachment issues (20% of grace).
5. A 2000 word (8 page) paper
integrating emotion based attachment and personal living or working context (30%
of grade).
• Th.M. Students will add 1,000 words to the integration paper.
PREREQUISITES:
None.
RELATIONSHIP
TO CURRICULUM: Meets core competency requirement for MACCS degree.
FINAL EXAM: No written
examination.