Final answer:
Multicultural awareness in Bennet's (2004) development model is categorized into Denial and Defense and Acceptance and Adaptation stages. These stages aim to enhance our understanding and interaction with diverse cultures. By progressing through these stages, individuals learn to value and adapt to cultural differences.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Bennet's (2004) multicultural sensitivity development model, multicultural awareness is divided into the two stages of Denial and Defense and Acceptance and Adaptation. These stages help individuals understand and interact more effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds. The Denial stage is when individuals do not recognize cultural differences and their own cultural biases, while the Defense stage involves recognizing some differences but seeing them as negative or threatening. Moving through these stages towards Acceptance and Adaptation allows individuals to appreciate and value cultural differences and adapt their behaviors accordingly.
Multiculturalism is the orientation of support toward various cultures and recognizes the benefits that diversity brings to an organization. By being aware of and overcoming ethnocentrism, individuals can improve their sensitivity to people's social, cultural, and economic backgrounds, leading to a greater understanding and appreciation for diversity.