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3rd Edition

WORLD INTELLIGENCE NETWORK


05/05/05

A Word From The Editor - by Florian Schröder


Contents Dear friends,

the cold days in the northern hemisphere now finally come to an end
► A Word From The Editor...1 and the time of relaxing in a park or having extended barbecue-
evenings with friends is approaching or has even already arrived for
►Essays…………….…..1 - 6 some of us.
Intelligence and Competence ..…1 - 6
And like the flowers in front of my window our common ground at
WIN is flourishing. New members join regularly and we have
► Art ………….……….7 - 8 continuously discussions at our boards—who would have thought
Asiatiques...…...…..………………..7 WIN would become such a lifely meeting place after such a short
A sunny autumn afternoon …………8 time?

► Poetry ……..….…….9 - 10 The 3rd edition of WIN ONE again presents some of our members‘
Voluntades / Wills....………….…….9 works. Thanks to all active contributors. Without you WIN and
The Quest.....………….……….…...10 WIN ONE would not be what they are.
So now print out this new edition and have a good time in the sun
reading it!
► Riddles ……..…………..11
Bakery Puzzle.…………...…….…...11
All the best to you and have a beautiful summer!

Yours
Florian

Intelligence and Competence - Part 1 of 2 - by Thomas Baumer


This article is an extract of ‘Handbook Intercultural Competence’ (Volume 2, Chapter 1.4), actually available in german
language (Thomas Baumer: Handbuch Interkulturelle Kompetenz, zwei Bände, Verlag Orell Füssli, Zürich; all refer-
ences are mentioned there).The publication in english language is planned for 2005/2006. (Part 2 of this article will be
published in the following WIN ONE Magazine in late 2005.) More information is available at the website of the ‘Center
of Intercultural Competence’, www.cicb.net.

the wider sense, intelligence is a problem-solving behaviors suited


1. Characteristics of particular form of talent which to the specific situation.
Intelligence manifests itself in an individual’s Any individual dealing with other
ability (or group of abilities) to cultures and their representatives
comprehend, create and interpret is continually faced with new
In essence, intelligence is the both concrete and abstract rela- situations: unexpected or unfa-
ability to solve new problems by tions and thus adapt to and master miliar behavior, thinking patterns
means of thought and intellect. In unfamiliar situations by applying and value systems.

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Intelligence thus also includes the five key aspects of human intelli- Interaction with the social envi-
ability for complex and relative gence: ronment also has a great influ-
thinking. Stereotypical concepts ence: traumatic experiences, non-
and prejudicial attitudes have to 1. Good orientation acceptence or exclusion, lack of
be discarded. A self-critical ap- 2. Consistent action self esteem etc. can cause a vi-
proach is required, and the re- 3. Creative thinking cious circle resulting in increas-
solve to recognise and respect the 4. Ability to learn quickly ingly abnormal behavior. Con-
diversity and uniqueness of other 5. Well developed social skills versely, an encouraging and sup-
cultures and the people who live portive environment can promote
in them. Researchers have identi- The extent to which an individual the development of both intelli-
fied over 100 primary factors of displays - or fails to display – in- gence and social and emotional
intelligence. Culturally deter- telligence depends to a large de- competence. In serious cases, cul-
mined or cristalized intelligence gree on the given situation and tural deprivation (homesickness,
(word comprehension, working the cultural environment. Ex- lack of encouragement, social
with numbers and general knowl- tremely varied forms of intelli- exclusion) can even cause symp-
edge) and biological or fluid in- gence are required. In addition to toms of mental deficiency. Intelli-
telligence (inductive thinking, the manifestations of intelligence gence can never be regarded one-
associative memory) have proven encouraged and tested in industri- dimensionally: Motivation, atti-
to be the most educationally valu- alized countries, these include for tude and experience have to be
able. example the intelligence of an included in the picture.
elderly individual who resolves a
The capacity for tolerance, the conflict with the aid of oral tradi- Many cultures hold less intelli-
ability to suspend one’s own cul- tion, of a hunter following animal gent people in considerably
turally determined attitudes, is tracks, or of a boatman who higher regard (in Lebanon, Egypt
closely linked with intelligence, steers a vessel safely over a reef and Java they are even believed
but still on a rational level. Un- or rapids by making precisely the to have supernatural or magic
derstanding does not, however, right movement at exactly the powers) than the industrialized
mean that one can or must accept right moment. nations, where they violate the
everything. central values of high perform-
Intelligence is often ascribed to ance and competitiveness and are
Other characteristics or strengths an individual by virtue of his or thus regarded as inferior or even
which are particularly important her social rank (“aptness comes offensive.
in cross-cultural interaction but with the office”). In many socie-
lie more in the emotional than the ties, the ruling caste is generally 2. Emotional Intelligence
rational sphere (like intelligence) regarded as more intelligent than and Emotional Competence
are strength of personality (see the lower classes. On the other
below), the ability to establish Emotional Intelligence
hand, a variety of factors influ-
positive social relationships, ence the development of intelli-
knowledge of foreign languages The concept of emotional intelli-
gence within the individuals gence has become increasingly
and specialist expertise. Addi- abilities, mainly defined by the
tionally, it is necessary to be able accepted over the last few years.
genes: perinatal damage resulting The intelligence expert Howard
to concentrate – except perhaps from inadequate health care or
in the case of casual contacts - on Gardner speaks of various intelli-
complications during birth, the gences: linguistic, musical, logi-
one’s own goals in spite of ac- effects of undernourishment, de-
companying difficulties. cal-mathematical, spacial, physi-
fects caused by toxins or infec- cal, kinesthetic, intrapersonal and
tion, lack of support and often interpersonal (emotional), ra-
Living intelligently requires suc- extremely negative experiences tional and naturalistic.
cessful interaction between the such as hard physical labor dur-
ing childhood, and lack of sleep.

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Emotional intelligence includes other people’s. Reason and emo- tion, sensing what is right (the
empathy, intuition, control of tion are closely interlinked: rea- “gut” feeling – see also in part
one’s emotions and the ability to son provides arguments, conclu- 2/2 of this article: “Key Compe-
correctly interpret one’s own mo- sions and analysis, while emotion tences”), even when reason or
tivations. Success and failure in contributes motivation, attention feeling send a different
partnerships, at home and at and sensitivity. “message”. Intuition constitutes a
work, depend to a large extent on sort of freedom with oneself. It is
these abilities. Emotional intelli- One characteristic of emotionally not the product of blind emotion
gence is also closely linked with intelligent action is honesty and but represents a deeper level of
social and cross-cultural compe- the ability to admit one’s own knowledge based on experience
tence: Individuals with emotional errors. It also entails a high level (see also in part 2/2: “Intuition”).
intelligence and/or emotional of ambiguity tolerance (the ability
competence are characterised by to cope with contradictory situa- From Emotional Intelligence
their ability to communicate, the tions). to Social and Emotional
way in which they interact with Competence
other individuals, their social In the past, excellent references
management style and their abil- and expertise were called for. In the case of emotional intelli-
ity to work as a member of a These days the focus is increas- gence, the focus is on the rela-
team. ingly shifting to a holistic view of tionship with one’s own personal-
the individual. “Soft factors” and ity. With social competence, on
Indicators of emotional intelli- “soft skills” are becoming more the other hand, the ability to es-
gence are a high degree of self important in all walks of life. tablish relationships with others
control and intuitive knowledge While rational intelligence is re- is the crucial factor. Emotional
of the right time to show or give garded as largely innate, emo- intelligence is thus the prerequi-
in to emotions. It certainly does tional intelligence can be pro- site for social competence.
not mean suppressing spontaneity moted and enhanced: “hunches”,
or feelings. A good metaphor is sensitivity to the environment and Social competence as a strong
that of a river which is neither the recognition and interpretation factor can also be interpreted
dammed up nor left to break its of feelings are just a few exam- negatively, such as when socially
banks. It finds its own way along ples of factors in decisions which competent (understanding, sensi-
its riverbed and tributaries, which are increasingly being made in tive) people are too accommodat-
hold back the water when an un- practise with the “heart” or on the ing in negotiations.
expected flood occurs. basis of “gut feeling”. Emotional
intelligence also manifests itself The third step (after emotional
While the term “cognitive intelli- in the faculty of critical self- intelligence and social compe-
gence” refers to logical, linguistic awareness. One’s own image of tence) is emotional competence:
and abstract thought, emotional oneself does not always corre- using experience of oneself to
intelligence means the ability to spond to the picture which others further personal aims or promote
recognize and deal with one’s have of one. The differences al- the development of others
own feelings. It also entails sensi- low us to learn more about our- (employees, wards, partners etc.)
tivity in dealing with other people selves. – in other words, to create and
(see following chapter) which grant freedoms. The motives for
helps us to do the right thing in- One emotion which typically doing this can be varied (personal
tuitively in a variety of situations, emerges in connection with goals, corporate policy, religious
thus facilitating cooperation, the change is fear, which often con- conviction etc.), but should al-
resolution of conflicts and the flicts with reason. Emotional in- ways be tailored to the possibili-
establishment of relationships. telligence means accepting one’s ties and willingness of the other,
Emotional intelligence is also the own fear – one’s own feelings in may not be intrusive and must be
ability to understand and deal general – as a portal to another
with one’s own feelings as well as dimension of experience: intui-
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based on ethical principles – they Self control: adapted to the Career suitability diagnostics
must not be manipulative. given situation, but al- have identified two human traits
ways authentic and under which are closely related to pro-
The key to success – and this control fessional success: general intelli-
takes us back to cross-cultural gence and conscientiousness (e.g.
competence – is striking the right Tenacity: purposeful, but not care, ambition and stamina).
balance between tolerance (an obstinate; the ability to Other traits relate also to profes-
open approach to other people, recognize when a situa- sional requirements: for example,
acceptance, respect, adaptability tion is counterproductive manual dexterity plays a role in
and openness for criticism) and technical professions.
one’s own personality (values, Striving for constant improve-
views, limits, clarity and credibil- ment: continual learning; A crucial prerequisite for enhanc-
ity). regarding mistakes as an ing emotional competence is a
opportunity to learn from willingness to deal with other
Finding the right balance between the experiences of others people in an open, considerate
openness and detachment also and unprejudiced manner.
means having the courage to be Honesty and morality: integ-
vulnerable and the willingness to rity, authenticity, fairness Research has shown that keeping
learn from mistakes. An honest and directness; willing- animals, for instance pets, can be
interest in the other person (at ness to admit mistakes a step in this direction. People
least on a professional but pref- without making unneces- who grow up with animals are
erably also on a personal level), sary apologies more likely to be considerate,
taking them as they are and ac- helpful, responsible and sociable.
cepting and understanding differ- Think before you speak: the Some animals undoubtedly pos-
ent ways of thinking and acting – right choice of words, eas- sess highly developed communi-
this is evidence of emotional ily remembered and sensi- cative and social skills. Research-
competence. tive; also ability to listen ers and animal trainers in particu-
and be silent lar, but also anybody who keeps
Tolerance and personality, but animals, combine knowledge of
also honesty and reliability have Creativity in thought and ac- an animal and its natural behavior
to be conveyed and accepted. tion: Creativity and origi- with emotional competence skills
“Small things” (e.g. admitting nality are particularly such as sensitivity and empathy.
mistakes) as well as long-term valuable at times of They thus become accepted by
experiences (e.g. mutual respect) change the animal whose social instincts
can be helpful. Emotional compe- recognise the person as occupy-
tence presupposes a process of Modesty, particularly in pub- ing a position within its hierar-
learning how to get what we want lic; ability to explain even chy, thus – given mutual respect
- without constantly having to complex subjects simply – enabling successful and interac-
fight for it and with aims which and comprehensibly tive communication.
are realistic and as altruistic as
possible. Flexibility, adaptability and Hierarchical structures exist to
changeability varying degrees in all societies –
The following character traits also in the animal world. There is
facilitate successful communica- Pleasure in acting for others no such thing as a perfectly egali-
tion between individuals: tarian community. It is particu-
Direct communication style; larly important to have a talent
Self-confidence: believing in creative enquiry and curi- for forging alliances and being
oneself osity about other people socially cleverer than others if an
individual wants to assert him or
Ability to tell stories herself and bring his or her abili-
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ties and needs to bear. Steep hier- intuitively display a greater de- employees to contribute their
archies (large power differences) gree of emotional intelligence (sometimes considerable) stock
often cause – independent of apti- than men are willing or able to of ideas and experience. This is a
tudes and abilities – inefficiency, do. Since a man’s control over his good way of avoiding rivalry and
demotivation and illness emotions is less efficient because dominance, hasty decision-
(employees). Flat hierarchies the two halves of his brain are making, criticism, aggression and
(small power differences) result less well connected, men are the desire to “score points”. Job
in more efficiency and satisfac- more prone to emotional out- satisfaction and self esteem
tion. bursts, particularly of an aggres- among employees have a major
sive nature. A wide variety of effect on corporate success, and
The important thing is therefore easily comprehensible and this is why high priority must be
to identify and encourage forms workable (but also complex) given to developing a creative
of interaction which allow the training methods are available to atmosphere which is open to new
individual to feel comfortable, improve emotional intelligence in ideas.
live a long life and realize his or general and emotional sensitivity
her potential in a social context as in particular. Gender-specific differences can
free of conflict as possible. Hier- be observed in a wide variety of
archies must be as flat as possible Women and girls often have a fields, although it should be noted
and as steep as necessary to en- more pronounced ability to link that scientific evidence is based
sure that unavoidable conflicts what they say with statements on statistical majorities. Individ-
are resolved fairly. made by others, to wait until they ual exceptions are also possible.
are noticed instead of taking cen-
Gender Differences tre stage, to make suggestions Women are better able to recog-
instead of demands, to support nize two separate stimuli very
Women generally perceive posi- comments made by others instead close together on their skin. It has
tive and negative feelings more of trying to ensure that their own long been known that women are
quickly and strongly than men. statements sound original. These more sensitive when it comes to
Research has shown that the left forms of discourse have a very smell, taste and hearing. Their
and right hemispheres of a constructive effect when all the greater sensitivity generally
woman’s brain are more closely participants in a discussion ad- means that women have a lower
interconnected than a man’s. here to them. Many aspects of pain threshold than men. This is
While the left hemisphere is re- socialization (in most cultures) largely due to dramatic fluctua-
sponsible for rational and logical teach women to behave reticently tions in oestrogen levels. Oestro-
thought, the right hemisphere and not to draw attention to them- gen increases the water content in
largely controls the emotions. On selves, particularly in the pres- skin, which in turn raises its con-
average, women’s brains are ence of men. Such behavior can, ductivity and therefore its sensi-
smaller and have approximately however, have negative effects, tivity to electrical stimuli. In ad-
four billion nerve cells less than since it makes it difficult for an dition to biologically determined
men’s, but they make up for this individual to “stand out from the differences in the sort of pain
by having more efficient links crowd”. Here again it is important which men and women encounter
between the synapses. There is no to identify differences and to (women for example suffer far
gender-based difference in intel- adapt to the situation and to other more often from headaches, ab-
lectual ability, which depends on involved individuals without los- dominal pain and aching joints),
intelligence and the efficient use ing sight of the aim of the discus- there are also psychosocial differ-
of neural networks. sion or negotiations. The discus- ences in the way the sexes deal
sion leader or manager’s job is to with pain.
During upbringing, girls are more deliberately encourage “female”
likely to be encouraged to accept characteristics (consideration for Particularly in connection with
and show feelings than boys. In others, sensitivity) but also to call pregnancy and birth, the female
general this means that women on more reticent participants or body has, however, evolved a
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specific form of “pain manage- Don’t wait, make demands Guugu Yimithirr, an aboriginal
ment”. During pregnancy, a tribe in Northern Australia. They
women’s sensitivity to pain de- Don’t be afraid of conflict; seem to possess a sort of internal
clines by almost one half. This is have the will to resolve compass and seldom lose their
believed to be the result of an in- problems and uncertain- way, even in the dark. Their se-
crease in progesteron levels in the ties cret is an absolute system of ori-
blood, although this particular sex entation based on the four points
hormone also triggers the produc- Trust your own inner voice of the compass. In this system,
tion of neuropeptides Evaluate risks intelligently “you are on my right” becomes
(endorphines or opioids), which “you are east of me”. The crucial
have a similar effect to morphine. Women generally display less difference becomes apparent
open aggression than men, tend when the observer makes a 180-
to use indirect methods of influ- degree turn. The other person is
War, violence, terrorism and encing events and practise a more now on his left, but the easterly
greed are frequently male do- participative style of leadership – direction remains valid.
mains, as men tend to be more i.e. they are more likely to in-
competitive and goal-oriented. volve others in decision-making The Max Planck Institute for Psy-
For them, the end justifies the processes. cholinguisitics in Nijmegen
means. For women on the other (Netherlands) has discovered that
hand, the means is generally more Since the notion of strangeness is around one-third of all languages
important than the end, or the a construct, it can also be prefer an absolute system for
means even determines the end. “deconstructed” in the daily rou- navigation. The method of orien-
tine of cross-cultural partner- tation is determined largely by
Successful women are often ships. cultural influences such as lan-
(intuitively) more aware of the guage and systems of spacial rea-
following points. Here too, the Cultural Differences in soning. The sense of orientation
crucial element is not ruthless- Spacial Orientation establishes itself during the first
ness but a suitable balance be- ten years of a person’s life.
tween sensitivity and self confi- In Western cultures, spacial ori-
dence (adapted to the given situa- entation is based mainly on the Here too there are differences be-
tion, but also strategic): right-left system: the world is in- tween the genders and the cogni-
terpreted according to its position tive abilities which they employ.
Roles can be broken, one’s in relation to the observer’s body. Men mainly use the hippocampus
own can be shaped This relative system has a intrin- of their left hemisphere (spacial-
sic weakness: with every turn the geometric orientation), whereas
A clear, future-oriented vision observer makes, all the things women employ almost exclu-
around him have to be reclassi- sively the parietal lobes and the
Concentrate on what is im- fied. right prefrontal cortex – both ar-
portant eas which play a part in associa-
Being driven around in a taxi or tion and memory.
Not every wish has to be ful- bus makes orientation particularly
filled; not everyone has to difficult, since it is easy to lose
have a favor done for one’s grasp of the underlying pat-
them tern. This cannot happen to the

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Art

Asiatiques - by Julie Tribes

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May 2005

A sunny autumn afternoon - by Maria Claudia Faverio

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May 2005

Voluntades - by Irene Alexandra Taboada


Había una criatura
en una realidad atrapada…
Congelada como estatua…

Una estricta realidad repleta de reglas,


como su vestido de columna aflautada… Poetry
Nacida para libre ser,
con una clara, focalizada, Translation:
fuerte y sabia mente dotada
fue galardonada, Wills
como claramente puedes ver
en sus ojos de blanco cristal, There was a creature,
donde sus pupilas, trapped into a reality…
siendo piedras preciosas, Frozen like a statue…
nunca dejaron de brillar,
como si fueran los guias A strict reality full of rules,
que lo llevarían lejos, like his colom like flutted
hasta el alcance de sus sueños… dressing…
Como cabalgando en la más poderosa Born to be free,
cuádriga jamás hecha, with a clear, focused,
en los más maravillosos caballos strong and wise insightful mind
que jamás existieran… was awarded,
as you could see it clearly
Nunca detenida por realidad alguna, in his white glass like eyes,
su voluntad de seguro cumplirá, where his pupils,
pues fuertemente decidida estaba, looking like semiprecious stones,
para sacrificar incluso su vida mortal… never stopped shinning,
as if they were the guide to lead
Como prueba su brazo izquierdo dió… himself
further upon his dreams…

Like riding in the most powerful

quadriga ever made…


by the most powerful horses
that ever existed…

Never stopped by no reality,


his wills for sure he will reach,
since strongly decided he was,
to scarify even his mortal life…
Delphi, Greece, 29 May 2004
As a proof he gave his left arm…
© 2004

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May 2005

The Quest - by Maria Claudia Faverio


Like cry of gull
fading away in the quiet of twilight,
slinking through felicities
of light and shade,
the soul strives after its goal,
spanning flights of eternity
and snaps of visions.

Flying over shards of time


strewn over patches of landscape
pale with mortality
and songs of moon,
unable to stop
where sorrow laughs
Shaping itself
like drunken clown
into explosions of light,
at the indifference of the world,
flights of birds
or where necessity deplores
and bizarrerie of winds,
its deplorable existence,
the soul continues its quest,
the soul hovers towards its goal.
unaware of changes
and extravaganzas of being.

Until one day,


one night, sometime,
after endless succession of seasons
and shine of sun and moon,
it cautiously comes down
and fold its wings
on the same branch
from which it departed,
singing its most beautiful song.

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May 2005

Riddles

Bakery Puzzle - by Maria Claudia Faverio

A caring mother has baked cookies for her two children. Obviously, as they are home-
made, they are irregular and not all the same weight. As the children start to fight for the
cookies, Mum weighs them, and they turn out to be 10, 20, 15, 35, 25 and 30 g.

Sarah, who has been admitted to Mensa as a “gifted child”, makes the following sugges-
tion: “We should divide the cookies in such a way that the average weight of yours is the
same as the average weight of mine”. “OK”, answers little Craig. Yet, after sharing the
cookies according to Sarah’s suggestion, he is not so happy any more.

Why?

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