Soldier Development Following Negative Cross-Cultural Experiences: An Integrated Review of the Literature

Abstract : One of the military's top priorities is to aid Soldiers in developing skills that will help them understand and more effectively interact with members of other cultures. A key determinant of cross-cultural skill development is the acquisition of hands-on experience within the culture itself. Previous research has focused heavily on the importance of multicultural experiences in cross-cultural skill development, but has largely ignored the effects when such experiences are difficult or challenging. Even fewer studies have examined the role of these experiences within a military context. This report is a preliminary attempt at addressing some of the factors that may contribute to (or hinder) Soldier development and learning following negative or challenging cross-cultural experiences. This report was assembled as part of a multidisciplinary effort wherein subject matter experts were asked to provide their perspectives on a number of topics related to the processing of and development following negative cross-cultural events. These topics included (a) the role of individual difference, group, and contextual factors as determinants of skill development following negative experiences, (b) differences in the types of cognitive processes that occur while a negative event is transpiring, and (c) factors and strategies that aid in recovery following a negative event.