AMERICAN VALUES AND ASSUMPTIONS
- Individualism
Americans are devoted to individualism. They are trained from childhood to make their own
decisions in life and to have their own opinions. They are not trained to see themselves as members
of a close-knit, tightly interdependent family, religious group or tribe.
A person beyond the age of twenty or so, still living with his or her parents is said to be ‘tied to
mother’s apron strings’ and looked upon as immature or abnormal. However, due to the recent turn
in the economy for the worse, it is becoming more and more acceptable for young adults to remain
at home, especially if they are working to pay off college debts.
Americans assume others to conceive of themselves as individuals too, and h¬¬¬ave difficulty
understanding those of other cultures who seem excessively concerned with tradition, the opinions
of their parents, or fulfilling obligations to others. They assume such people are ‘weak’ not having
the opportunity to ‘do their own thing’.
Americans consider the ideal person to be individualistic, self-reliant, and independent. They
assume, incorrectly, that other people share this value and self-concept. Heroes are those
individuals who stand out from the crowd by doing something first or best, or who have overcome
adverse circumstances to succeed in life. They avoid becoming dependent on others.
- Privacy
Americans place high value on privacy. They assume that people need time alone and have difficulty
understanding someone who always wants to be with other people. If possible, each American child
will have his or her own bedroom - a place to be alone.
Americans assume that people have private thoughts they never share with anyone. Confidentiality
rules abound for doctors, lawyers, psychiatrists, and others to prevent personal situations becoming
known. American houses, yards and offices can be seen as open and inviting, yet in the American
mind there are boundaries other people are not supposed to cross.
- Equality
Americans believe in the ideal of equality. Even though the ideal is often violated in daily life,
especially in interracial or male/female relationships, Americans have a deep faith that in some way
all people (at least all American people!) are of equal value - no one is born superior. This causes
Americans to be uncomfortable with being the object of open displays of respect, being deferred to,
or treated as if they could do no wrong. Higher status is recognised by Americans, but in subtle ways
Those accustomed to obvious displays of respect like bowing, or averting eyes, or using titles rather
than first names may think that Americans are unaware of status and are disrespectful of others.
This faith in equality leads Americans to be informal in behaviour and relationships. Store clerks or
waiters may introduce themselves by their first names in a casual, friendly manner. Slang is heavily
used in most conversations. Americans of nearly any station in life appear in public in jeans, sandals,
or other informal attire; they slouch in chairs or lean on walls and furniture. For instance, an
advertising brochure for a highly regarded college includes a photograph of the college’s president in
shorts and an old T-shirt, jogging on the campus. Americans feel comfortable with a college
president who is just like everyone else, who doesn’t think he’s too good for others.
- Future-Oriented
Americans are generally less concerned about history and traditions than people from other
cultures; they believe the future is what counts. Americans believe in setting goals and working
toward them, that people can change the social environment if they just get to work. New things are
better than old ones.
- Improving Society
Americans assume that human nature is basically good and that more education and training or
rehabilitation can make people better. Many spend much time in volunteer work in schools, raising
money for worthy causes, cleaning up the environment, preserving wilderness areas, or perhaps
playing host to foreign students. Self-help books and groups to help Americans stop smoking, stop
drinking, lose weight, get into better physical condition, manage time more efficiently, or manage
money more effectively, are popular. ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way.’
- Time
For Americans, time is a resource that can be used well or poorly. ‘Time is money’ is a well-known
saying. The well-organised person has a list of things to do and a schedule for doing them. The ideal
person is punctual and does not waste other people’s time. Time must be saved whenever possible.
Americans place a premium on efficiency. The ‘fast-food’ industry is a good example of this.
Americans believe they should be doing something most of the time. They are usually not content to
sit for hours and talk with other people. Even recreation involves doing something.
- Achievement
Americans admire achievers, those who accomplish some physical, measurable thing. The ideal
person is a hard worker who works efficiently and meets reasonably high standards of quality. To an
American a good leader is someone who will inspire those s/he is leading to work towards a goal and
give them the tools and encouragement to reach that inspired goal.
- Openness
Americans consider themselves to be open and direct in dealings with other people. They assume
that disagreements are best settled by means of forthright discussion. Feelings and requests ought
to be plainly expressed. There are areas where Americans are reluctant to discuss things openly (e.g.
when the topic is in an area they consider excessively personal or sensitive, or when they want to
say ‘No’ to a request but do not want to ‘hurt the feelings’ of the person who made the request).
Americans are not taught to mask their emotional responses and therefore think it proper to display
feelings, within limits. Being ‘honest’ is usually more important than preserving harmony in
interpersonal relationships.
Americans engage in ‘small talk’ on first acquaintance and may inquire briefly about family matters.
They are explicitly taught not to discuss religion and politics unless they are fairly well acquainted
with the people they are talking to. They do not consider religion and politics to be appropriate
topics for informal discussion and debate. Financial matters are considered personal and usually
outside the bounds of acceptable topics for discussion. In a conversation, speakers take turns
frequently. Americans tend to be impatient with people who take long turns; they admire
conciseness, or ‘getting to the point’.
Americans from the West and East Coast have their cultural differences. Those from the West are
often outspoken, open and accepting of new ideas. Those from Mid-West or the East are more
reserved by nature and unwilling to yield to change quickly.
"Push yourself no one else is going to do it for you".
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