Bilatelal relationships

HOBBIES AND COOPERATION 1/3

Treat others the way you wish to be treated

  • Greet people around you!
  • Be selfless and take others into account as well. Offer help to those who need it, and dare to ask for help yourself.
  • Share your expertise and experiences. Tell your opinions openly and remember to justify them, and also listen to what others have to say.
  • Be trustworthy and stay true to your words. Assume responsibility for your actions: enjoy success and dare to admit your mistakes.
  • Appreciate your study and work colleagues and say it aloud. Be considerate and apologize if necessary.
  • Accept diversity and consider it a resource.
Students warming up their shoulders with a smile.
Drawing of two people. The other has broken a plate but pretends to be innocent. Does not take responsibility for own actions.

Characteristics of a good group

  • everyone can be themselves and express their feelings
  • everyone’s opinion is listened to and the persona is respected
  • humour blossoms
  • problems are not swept under the carpet and cooperation is proficient

Interaction requires both the ability and the willingness to cooperate with others. Both verbal and non-verbal communication can be used as a means of communication.

Avoid the trap of prejudice

Prejudice is an idea that is formed before there is enough information or experience about its subject. Often prejudices are based on things told by others or information obtained from the media. Stereotypes are generalizations that a person may do without sufficient grounds or in-depth judgment. 

It is also advisable to deal with the stereotypes with caution and set them subject to criticism. For example, people of a particular group of people or nationality are often very different. For example, you could consider whether all Finns are alike. Both prejudices and stereotypes are attitudes that simplify reality.

Drawing of two people. One carries a huge amount of stuff in his arms and looks angrily at the other who carries nothing i.e. does not offer help.

The most important thing is to identify your prejudices and consider their objectiveness.

Culture is a way of life of people of a particular society or community (Vartia et al. 2007, 178). Culture includes things that people have learned to do and value throughout history, and things in which they have learned to believe. Cultural background influences people’s values, attitudes and worldview. Cultures are also shaped by people. For example, you could consider whether the Finnish culture is different now compared to what it was 100 years ago.

Read more about cooperation in the “Power of cooperation” section.

Understanding your own values and attitudes is the first step in understanding diversity. Sub-cultures, in turn, consist of groups of people and communities that are united by common values, interests, hobbies or music. Sub-cultures often have their own symbols that appear, for example, in clothing and interacting.