American Culture (Part 2)
- Concept of face:
-It’s important to tell it like it is: be straight with people.
-Confrontation is sometimes necessary to clear the air.
-Honesty is the best policy.
In individualist cultures, no premium is put on saving face because people can take care of themselves. What other people think is not so crucial to survival or success. We can say what we think without worrying about hurting people’s feelings, and we likewise appreciate directness.
- Source of self-esteem or self-worth:
-People judge you by how much money you make.
-First question at a party is, “What do you do?”
-Material possessions are a measure of success.
In an individualist culture, you are what you’ve achieved; that is, you create your own worth rather than receiving it by virtue of birth, position, seniority, or longevity. Your self-esteem comes from what you have done to earn self-esteem.
- Concept of equality:
-People try to treat everyone the same.
-While jogging, the President stops at McDonald’s for morning coffee.
–Putting on airs is frowned upon.
In a strong reaction to the repressive class structure in Europe, Americans created a culture virtually built around egalitarianism: the notion that no one is superior to anyone else because of birth, power, fame, or wealth. We are not all the same, but we are all of equal value.
- Attitude towards formality:
-Telling someone to help themselves to what’s in the refrigerator is common.
-Using first names with people you’ve just met is fine.
-Using titles like “Dr”. for someone with a Ph.D. is presumptuous.
Because of the strong egalitarian ethos, Americans tend to be casual and informal in social and professional interactions. Informality is also more necessary in a mobile society where people are always meeting new people. We don’t stand on ceremony, nor use titles or rank in addressing each other.
- Degree of realism:
-Things will get better.
-Bad things happen for a reason.
-It can’t get any worse.
-Tagline of fairy tales: “They lived happily ever after.”
Largely because of the notion that the individual is in control, Americans are generally optimistic. We don’t see things the way they are, but as better than they are, particularly if they’re not so good. We feel it’s important to be positive and that there is no reason not to be.
- Attitude towards doing:
-Doing is preferred over talking.
-The absent-minded professor, the ivory tower reflect anti-intellectualism.
-Be practical.
-Arts are an adornment of life but not central to it.
Individuals survive because they get things done, generally on their own. Words and talk are suspect and cheap; they don’t put food on the table or a roof over your head. Pursuits not directly related to the creation of concrete results, e.g., academia, the arts, are less highly valued. What is practical and pragmatic is favored over what is beautiful and inspiring.
- View of the natural world:
-Building dams to control rivers.
-Seeding clouds to produce rain.
-Erecting earthquake-proof buildings.
-Spending billions annually on weather prediction.
The natural world is a kind of mechanism or machine that can be studied and known and whose workings can be predicted, manipulated, and ultimately controlled. It is not to be feared.
Vocabulary:
tell it like it is – (idiom) to speak frankly and directly about a situation, even if the truth is unpleasant or harsh, “I appreciate that my manager is willing to tell it like it is instead of sugarcoating the budget cuts.”
be straight with – (idiom) to be completely honest, direct, and frank with someone, “Look, let me be straight with you: we don’t have enough resources to complete this project by Friday.”
clear the air – (idiom) to defuse tension or resolve a misunderstanding by talking about it openly, “After working in silence for three days, they finally had a meeting to clear the air.”
premium is put on – (idiom) to highly value something or consider it extremely important, “Our school puts a premium on creativity and critical thinking rather than just memorization.”
saving face – (idiom/gerund) avoiding humiliation, embarrassment, or a loss of social status and respect, “He accepted a minor role in the project just as a way of saving face after being demoted.”
crucial – (adjective) extremely important or necessary for success, “Getting enough sleep is crucial if you want to do well on your exams.”
possessions – (noun/plural) the things that you own or have with you, “When moving to a new apartment, it is best to pack your most valuable possessions yourself.”
by virtue of – (idiom/preposition) because of or by reason of a particular feature, status, or fact, “She was granted access to the secure facility by virtue of her high-level security clearance.”
seniority – (noun) the state of having a higher rank or more privileges because you have worked at a place for a long time, “In some traditional companies, promotions are based on seniority rather than job performance.”
longevity – (noun) long life, or the ability to last a very long time, “Healthy eating and regular exercise are key secrets to longevity.”
putting on airs – (idiom) behaving in an unnatural, snobbish, or pretentious way to make oneself seem superior to others, “No one in the neighborhood liked her because she was always putting on airs about her wealthy family.”
repressive – (adjective) controlling people by force and severely limiting their personal freedom, “Citizens protested against the government’s repressive laws that banned public gatherings.”
egalitarianism – (noun) the belief that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities, “The company’s flat organizational structure is rooted in a philosophy of egalitarianism.”
notion – (noun) an idea, belief, or opinion about something, “She rejected the traditional notion that you have to stay at one company your entire career.”
presumptuous – (adjective) failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate; bold, insolent, or overconfident, “It would be presumptuous of me to give advice on a subject I know very little about.”
egalitarian – (adjective) asserting, resulting from, or characterized by the belief in the equality of all people, “The country’s egalitarian laws ensure that everyone has equal access to healthcare.”
ethos – (noun) the set of core beliefs, moral values, or character of a specific group, community, or culture, “The startup’s ethos focuses heavily on environmental sustainability and teamwork.”
stand on ceremony – (idiom) to insist on strict adherence to formal rules, etiquette, or social protocols, “Please, come in and grab a seat—there’s no need to stand on ceremony in our house.”
happily ever after – (idiom) living in a state of continuous happiness, peace, and fulfillment for the rest of one’s life, “They sold their busy city company and moved to a quiet beach house to live happily ever after.”
optimistic – (adjective) hopeful and confident about the future; expecting good things to happen, “Despite the difficult start to the year, the business partners remained optimistic about their sales.”
ivory tower – (idiom/noun) a state of privileged seclusion or separation from the facts and realities of the real world, “Academic theorists are sometimes accused of living in an ivory tower, far removed from everyday struggles.”
adornment – (noun) a decoration, ornament, or something beautiful added to make another thing look more attractive, “The gold frame served as a beautiful adornment for the colorful painting.”
suspect – (adjective) causing doubts; not to be completely trusted or believed, “His sudden friendliness toward his rivals seemed highly suspect to everyone in the room.”
pragmatic – (adjective) dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations, “We need a pragmatic plan to cut costs immediately, rather than waiting for long-term solutions.”
mechanism – (noun) a system of parts working together like a machine, or a structured way of doing something, “The human body has a natural mechanism to defend itself against cold weather.”
manipulated – (verb/past participle) controlled, influenced, or handled in a skillful or clever way, often to suit one’s purpose, “The financial markets can easily be manipulated by sudden announcements from central banks.”