271003 Normal, as in “My Way”? Culture and Encounters with Difference (BS) (WiSe 2026/2027)

Apparently, we are all open to other cultures, right?... at least until someone turns up late for a meeting, speaks too bluntly, or stands just a little too close.
During this interactive seminar, we will explore what culture is, where it is “encoded,” and how it shapes our perceptions, judgements of others, and everyday communication. Edward T. Hall will help us uncover the hidden language of space, time, and context. With Fons Trompenaars, we will examine dilemmas involving rules and relationships, while Milton Bennett will guide our exploration of intercultural sensitivity and our ability to shift perspectives.
We will consider what the mysterious, sudden death of 160 deer on an island can teach us, what our judgements of Abigail’s choices reveal, and what questions arise from engineer Hans’s encounter with a Voodoo shaman in Kenia. These stories will open up a discussion about encounters with difference: whether, how, and when to adapt, how to maintain our own values, and what to do when both sides are convinced they are behaving perfectly „normally”.
There will be activities, case studies, and discussions, with room to share personal experiences and put the concepts into practice. Bring your curiosity and a willingness to take our own assumptions a little less for granted. And don’t forget to bring your own culture to class!

Dr Mariusz Wołońciej is a psychologist at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. His teaching draws on intercultural research and practical experience from community projects in Kenya, Ecuador, and Palestine.