Peru Key Terms Flashcards

Flashcards of key vocabulary terms from the lecture notes.

Civic Engagement

Developing knowledge, skills, values, and motivation to make a difference within communities. Taking action to improve the quality of life for the group.

Collective Action

Efforts by a group with a common goal. When taken, strength, knowledge & efforts are multiplied.

Colonialism

When one group subjugates another, exploiting it, while forcing their culture upon the people. A strict hierarchy exists between the colonizer and the colonized lasting generations.

Community

Any assemblage of interacting individuals in a given area with something in common; fellowship.

Critical Thinking

The disciplined process of actively evaluating to form conclusions and solve problems. It involves observation, experience, questioning, perspective-taking, reflection, reasoning, and communication - not just assuming.

Culture

That which organizes the way we experience & gives meaning to our world. The shared values, learned norms, or rules for behavior, and ways of communicating in a group.

Cultural Generalization

Categorizing a group as having similar characteristics, but (unlike stereotyping) remaining flexible to allow for new info, allowing for increased curiosity, openness, and understanding.

Ecotourism

Tourism to fragile, or relatively undisturbed natural areas; low-impact; fosters respect for local peoples; often provides education and funds conservation.

Empathy

The imaginative leap into another’s experience. This goes beyond walking in another’s shoes. Attempting to feel what they feel to achieve a common understanding. Embracing difference for the purpose of shared connection.

Environmental Literacy

The understanding of ecological principles and ways society affects or responds to environmental conditions. One’s awareness of the world and how they interact with it.

Global Citizen

One who is actively engaged in an emerging world-community; understands their role in contributing to creating a more just, sustainable planet. Responsible, willing to act; believes that together a difference can be made. A philosophy on how to view the future of our changing world.

Group Dynamic

Attitudes, behavior, & ways of thinking within groups of people; influenced by maturity, choices, the acts of others, or accidental circumstances. How individuals respond to the culture created within a community.

Intercultural Effectiveness

A developmental process to communicate and interact successfully and authentically with people different than you, locally & globally. Understanding of culture-specific concepts in perception, thinking, feeling, and the behavior of oneself and others.

Intercultural Learning

The ongoing process of developing intercultural effectiveness – establishing a mindset, heart-set, and skillset to navigate differences; learning how to improve interactions with people who are different, whether from a different country, religion, or if they work, think, or act in ways you simply don’t prefer.

Mindfulness

Paying purposeful attention without judgment; using your senses for full awareness of the present moment (internally & externally). A vital component of being interculturally effective.

Mythical Norm

Audre Lorde’s concept that power resides within identity characteristics - specifically white, thin, young, hetero, Christian, financially secure men. An unachievable ideal for the majority of humans, holding all “others” back.

Reflective Writing

Writing that dissects an incident. A process of bringing past events to mind in order to determine appropriate ways to think, feel, and behave moving forward. Promotes personal meaning-making, which is central to connecting new ideas to prior experiences and future application.

Social Justice

Fairness in a society; the unbiased distribution of wealth, opportunity & privilege.

Sustainability

Ability to support & endure indefinitely. Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. The three pillars are: economic, environmental, & social.

Systemic Change

Change that infiltrates all parts of a system, considering the interrelationships & interdependencies amongst all parts. Change that can make a difference and can last.

Traveler

Has intent to be affected by their journey; seeks connection, engagement, understanding, knowledge. A mindset that drives one’s choices, behaviors, and actions. Distinctly different from a passive sightseer.

Values

One's judgment of what matters; principles by which we behave and make choices; a guide for human behavior.

Vulnerability

A state of being exposed to potential physical or emotional harm; consciously stepping into discomfort.

Worldview

The lens through which we interpret experiences and make sense of our world influencing how we live.