American Values And Assumptions

Report: ‘’American Values and Assumptions’’

In the article “American Values and Assumptions”, Gary Althen explains how people who live in a similar culture tend to share certain values and assumptions. These values and assumptions will then, be connected one to the other, fitting together. Therefore the author develops a definition for the concept of culture: ‘’a collection of values and assumptions that go together to shape the way a group of people perceives and relates to the world around them’’. This report will develop each American value from the article, in the following paragraphs.

The most important value to understand about Americans should be their commitment to individualism. Americans consider that they should be trained from a very young age to take care for themselves and face their own problems. Therefore, parents tend to encourage their children to become independent and responsible for their future. Americans see themselves as separate individuals and treat others that way too. So, the idea of individual freedom is of great significance for them. Everyone should be free to ‘’do their own thing’’, ‘’in their own way’’. Because of this individualism, naturally, in an American society, competitiveness cannot be avoided. American people, from children to adults are constantly comparing themselves with others. Life is a competition.

The author goes on saying that in an American culture it is believed that there are certain boundaries between oneself and the others. They assume people should have and need time for themselves to think about things. Therefore, the importance they give to privacy leads them to think that the ones who dislike being alone and are always with someone else, are weaker, dependent of others.

The fourth value discussed is equality. Americans strongly believe in the ideal that ‘’all men are created equal’’. No one is born superior to anyone else, and everyone has a voice. They assume that all men, no matter their conditions, are capable of achieving their goals, and deserve to receive a minimum respect. This view about equality, leads to a quite notable aspect in their behavior and the way they relate to others, their informality. From their speech, dress, to their body language. Their notions of equality, brings them to treat others in a casual, friendly manner.

In the constantly innovating and progressing society Americans live in, it wouldn’t be surprising if it is said that American people generally don’t give history and traditions much importance. They believe that what matters is the future because it is thought to be something within their control. That’s why they look ahead, set their goals and work hard for them to improve and make progress in society. New is always better than old, change is always improvement, is their ideal.

Linked to this idea of future and change discussed above, time is an essential element that goes with it. Americans place great value to time. Since they aim at a better future and change, they are trained to think that to achieve their goals, they have to use time wisely, get the best use of it. Their notion is that taking advantage of time, means efficiency, doing things in the quickest way and spending the smallest amount of resources. Americans are usually seen by foreigners as ‘’machines’’. Americans like action, they think they should always be doing something for their work. In this way, they can succeed and become an ‘’achiever’’, the ideal person for Americans. The author defines this idea as: ‘’people whose lives are centered around efforts to accomplish some physical, measurable task…’’. American ‘s lives are centered to their work and responsibilities. To show their success, American people tend to spend a lot of money on material goods.

Finally, related to the previous idea of Americans being open and

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