American values and assumptions

The main purpose of this chapter is to find out similarities and     differences in values, beliefs and  practices and the conflicts and   misunderstandings that arise when people from different cultures    interact. It also describes the issues like verbal and non-verbal  communication, perceptions of time,  cultural adjustment, and   concepts of friendship.

American values and assumptions

Althen: a foreign student advisor at the University of Lowa.

Althen in this chapter focuses on nine central values and assumptions shared by the majority of people living in the US. He contrasts these cultural patterns with those of other nations and describes the types of problems and misunderstandings that can occur when people from different cultures, with diverse beliefs and perceptions, interact.

The most important thing to understand about Americans is probably their devotion to individualism  the fundamental value of a free, self-reliant individual is closely related to all the other cultural values Althen discusses and helps explain many aspects of US behavior and thinking like child rearing, independence and personal freedom, heroism, common idiomatic expression, competition and communication style.

Althen focuses on two major consequences of cultural variations in values and assumptions: first negative value judgments, which often result in intercultural misunderstandings and second, difficulties people from different cultures have understanding each other and the negative feelings caused by these differences.

Althen also contends that cultural variations exist in values and assumptions relating to human nature, social relationships, activity, time and people’s relation to nature. He maintains that this can cause problems when individuals from different part of the world interact.

Although this is underlying idea of the excerpt, students often provide another possible answer to this question: Althen’s   main point is to introduce visitors to the United States to the predominant cultural values and assumptions of the country, especially individualism, in order to minimize intercultural tension and misunderstanding.

Individualism: Americans are devoted to their individualism. From the very beginning of their life, they are trained to lead their individual life and to be responsible for their own situations in life and their own destinies. American children from the very beginning of their life are expected and taught to be a self reliant individual. Parents help and teach their children to make their own decision and to be accountable for their money and anything else. American adult are expected to live apart from their parents. For them, being dependent is immaturity.

Competition: For Americans, competitiveness pervades the society. They are taught to think that they are in the world of competition. There is no nepotism and favoritism. They themselves should try to be faster, smatter, richer, and better looking.

Privacy:  Americans feel comfort when they are alone. They think that they need some time to think about things or recover their spent psychological energy. They think people who dislike being alone is weak.

Equality: Americans think that all people are created equal so they are of equal value and should be treated equally, none is born superior and none is junior. All the people whatever their status or position are treated equally.

Informality:  Americans are quite informal in their behavior and with their relationship with other people. They prefer being informal in their speech, dress, and body language.

The future, change and progress: Americans are quite less concern about future. They think history does matter; it is the future that counts. For them, a matured sensible person is one who looks ahead, sets goals for the future and works systematically towards them.

Time: For Americans, time is money, it is highly valued. An ideal person is punctual and is considerate of other people’s time. They do everything in the right time.

Achievement, action, work and materialism: Americans are hard working. They respect work. For them, an ideal person is one who works hard.

Directness and Assertiveness: Americans are frank, open and direct in their dealings with other people. They state clearly and openly what they think and what they want from others.