American Culture

1
American Culture

• The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
• 2006 Suzhou English Teacher Training
• By Gordon Zhang

2
Conception Of the Self

• CHINESE Collectivist Higher value placed on
  group cooperation and individual modesty.
• AMERICAN Individualist  Higher value placed on
  self-reliance.  Self-promotion is more accepted.
  High value placed on "freedom" from externally
  imposed constraints.

3
Social Relationships

• CHINESE Formal, hierarchical. People most
  comfortable in the presence of a hierarchy in
  which they know their position and the
  customs/rules for behavior in the situation.
• AMERICAN Informal, egalitarian. People most
  comfortable with their social equals importance
  of social rankings minimized.

4
Friendship

• CHINESE Small number of close, lifelong friends
  who feel deeply obligated to give each other
  whatever help might seem required.
• AMERICAN Large collection of "friends" and
  acquaintances which changes over time and
  involves only limited mutual obligations.

5
Obligation

• CHINESE Relationships with other people involve
  reciprocal obligations.
• AMERICAN People avoid interdependent
  relationships and situations that might entail
  long-term obligations.

6
Task vs. Relationship

• CHINESE Orientation Relationship-oriented 
  Maintaining a harmonious relationship has
  priority over accomplishing tasks.
• AMERICAN Task-oriented.  Relationships are less
  important than getting the work done.

7
Harmony versus Truth

• CHINESE Avoid direct confrontation, open
  criticism, and controversial topics.  Concern
  maintaining harmony and with "face.
• AMERICAN "Willing to confront directly,
  criticize, discuss controversial topics, press
  personal opinions about what they consider "the
  truth.  Little concern with "face."

8
Role of laws, rules, and regulations

• Chinese More faith in personal relationships
  than in written rules and procedures for
  structuring interactions.
• AMERICAN Written rules presumably apply to
  everyone and are assumed to produce fair,
  reasonable procedures and decisions.

9
Time Consciousness

• CHINESERelatively more attention to the past and
  to the longer-term future.
• AMERICAN Less interested in the past eye on
  near-term future.

10
Ascribed vs. Achieved Status

• CHINESE Traditionally, a person's status in the
  society was based importantly on inherited
  characteristics such as age, gender, and family. 
  This is changing.
• AMERICAN People's status is based mainly on
  their own achievements, including education
  obtained and level of success realized in their
  line of work.

11
Americans really live in the future. The present
is just a way station."-- from "It's About
Time" by Syed and Joyce Zafar, intercultural
experts, the Compass Diversity Group
12
American Cultural Attitudes
Time-oriented In contrast to many other cultures
around the world, the American culture puts great
emphasis on man's ability to control outside
events, in large part through his mastery of
technology. Americans believe in setting strict
deadlines and timetables, even for casual social
events. Productivity, self-reliance and "getting
things done" are prized personal and professional
qualities.
13
American Cultural Attitudes
It is important to be on time for appointments.
Even being 5 minutes late without calling
beforehand may doom an interview or important
business meeting, while social occasions are
slightly more flexible - 10-15 minutes late for a
date is acceptable. Learn to estimate the time it
will take to complete certain tasks.
14
American Cultural Attitudes
Exception If you are invited to a party, unless
the hosts specify exact starting and ending
times, it is generally understood that you may be
up to a half-hour late, or "fashionably late,"
for the occasion.
15
Individualism
Some Americans can be stubbornly so, to the point
of appearing self-centered to members of other,
more communally-centered cultures. Read Syed
Zafar's "Swimming in a Sea of Choices" to get an
idea of the sometimes overwhelming array of
options available to those living in the U.S.,
from career choices to salad dressing.
16
Friendly and Direct
Americans generally appear outgoing. When you
meet someone for the first time, it is considered
normal to smile, shake hands if both parties are
men or professional colleagues, and make direct
eye contact. "My friends used to say, 'Why are
you so sad? Is everything O.K. back home?'"
-- from "Informality - A
Unique American Value
17
Hobby-loving

• In the large cities and towns there are many
  opportunities to get involved in social and
  cultural activities, with a multitude of hobbyist
  clubs and associations catering to almost every
  interest travelling, cooking, writing, dining
  out, sailing and watersports, etc. If you love to
  read books or watch films, for example, there are
  a number of clubs in large cities catering to
  these interests. If you like nature, you can join
  hiking clubs or environmental organizations.

18
Sports-loving

• Americans love their sports, especially baseball,
  football, basketball, soccer, golf, hockey and
  tennis. "Team spirit" is celebrated - the
  subsuming of individual needs to the greater good
  of the team. Being a "good sport," having a good
  sense of humor, taking insults and slurs lightly,
  are all signs you are being a "good sport."

19
Prejudice

• In many small towns, Americans are suspicious of
  foreigners - racism and cultural prejudice do
  exist there, especially in remote areas and in
  the South (the Northeast and California urban
  areas are considered more accepting towards
  diverse cultures and lifestyles. although
  suspicion against Latino immigrants in Southern
  California prevails.) Some are resentful and
  fearful that educated immigrants may be taking
  jobs they feel are rightfully theirs.

20
Off-Color Humor

• Some Americans like to poke fun, but most of the
  time it is meant to be in good humor. Many
  Americans do not understand when they are being
  racist. In fact, more Americans than ever are
  sensitive to cultural diversity. However, if
  racist comments are persistent, it would be
  better to find a new friend.

21
Prejudice

• Getting involved in community and educational
  activities is one way of getting to know people
  and overcoming others' fears. If your work takes
  you to Silicon Valley, on the other hand, you may
  find the transition eased greatly due to the
  sheer number of immigrant professionals there. If
  you are Latino, Miami, San Diego, L.A. or New
  York may merely seem an extension of home.