The Role of Cultural Sensitivity in the Relationship Between Intercultural Experience and Creativity

The aim of the study is to investigate the interrelation between multicultural experience, cultural sensitivity and creativity, more precisely, examining the role of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism in the relationship of other two contructs which was not investigated in the literature so far. The target sample of the study includes international students who study in Russia (N=102). The main tools that are intended to use in the study are “Many Instances Game” (Runco,2011) to assess level of creativity, and “Intercultural Sensitivity Scale Questionnaire” to assess the sensitivity to cultural differences of the respondents. The obtained results of the study are analyzed using regression analysis and mediation analysis performed in PROCESS MACRO for indicating whether there is mediation effect of cultural sensitivity on the relationship between multicultural experience and creativity. As for results obtained, I have found that ethnocentrism and cultural relativism have both direct effect on creativity of international students as well as an indirect mediational effect. Thus, studying abroad, indeed, stimulates creativity of students; and at least partly it can be explained in terms of becoming more culturally sensitive and open to cultural differences. Key words: creativity, intercultural sensitivity, ethnocentrism, cultural relativism, multicultural experience.