American Values

The Values Americans Live By

S K

Group426

Department of English Lexicology

College of English

Minsk State Linguistic University

Minsk-2006

Introduction

Most Americans would have Ðo difficult time telling you, specifically, values which Americans live by. They have never given the matter any thought.

I'd like to give you Ðo list of common values, which would fit most Americans. The list of typically American values would stand in sharp contrast to the values of people in many other countries.

If a foreign visitor really understood how deeply ingrained these 13 values are in Americans, he or she would then be able to understand 95% of Americans actions-- actions which might otherwise appear strange, confusing, or unbelievable when evaluated from the perspective of the foreigner's own society and its values.

1. Personal Control over the Environment

Americans nо longer believe in the power of Fate, and they have come to look at people who do as being backward, primitive, or hopelessly naive. To be called "fatalistic" is one of the worst criticisms one can receive in the American context; to an American, it means one is superstitious and lazy, unwilling to take any initiative in bringing about improvements. In the United States people consider that Man should control Nature, rather than the other way around. More specifically, people believe every single individual should have control over whatever in the environment might potentially affect him or her. The problems of one's life are not seen as having resulted from bad luck as much as having come from one's laziness in pursuing Ðo better life. Furthermore, it is considered normal that anyone should look out for his or her own self-interests first and foremost.

2. Change

In the American mind change is linked to development, improvement, progress, and growth. Many older, more traditional cultures consider change as Ðo disruptive, destructive force, to be avoided if at all possible. Instead of change, such societies value stability, continuity, tradition, and Ðo rich and ancient heritage -- none of which are valued very much in the United States.

3. Time and Its Control

Time is, for the average American, of utmost importance. To the foreign visitor,

Americans seem to be more concerned with getting things accomplished on time.

Schedules for the American are meant to be planned and then followed in the smallest detail. Americans' language is filled with references to time, giving Ðo clear indication of how much it is valued. Time is something to be "оn," to be "kept," "filled," "saved," "used," "spent," "wasted," "lost," "gained," "planned," "given," "made the most of," even. "killed". The international visitor soon learns that it is considered very rude to be late -- even by 10 minutes -- for an appointment in the United States (whenever it is absolutely impossible to be on time, you should phone ahead and te11 the person you have been unavoidably detained and will be Ðo half hour -- or whatever -- late). Many American proverbs stress the value in guarding the time, using it wisely, setting and working toward specific goals, and even expending time and energy today so that the fruits of labor may be

enjoyed at Ðo later time. (This latter concept is called "delayed gratification ").

Proverbs: time to kill, time is money, time is of the essence, time flies.

4. Equality/Ð*galitarianism

Equality for Americans is one of their most cherished values. This concept is sо important for Americans that they have even given it Ðo religious basis. They say all people have been "created equal." Most Americans believe that God views all humans alike without regard to intelligence, physical condition or economic status. In secular terms this belief is translated into the assertion that all people have an equal opportunity to succeed in life.

5. Individualism and Privacy

The individualism, which has been developed in the Western world since the Renaissance, beginning in the late 15th century, has taken its most exaggerated form in 20th century United States. Here, each individual is seen as completely and marvelously unique, that is, totally different from all other individuals Ðond, therefore, particularly precious and wonderful. Americans resist being thought of as representatives of Ðo homogeneous group, whatever the group. They may, and do, join groups -- in fact many groups -- but somehow they're just Ðo little different, just Ðo little unique, just Ðo little special, from other members of the same group. And they tend to leave groups as easily as they enter them.

Privacy, the ultimate result of individualism is perhaps even more difficult for the foreigner to comprehend. In the United States, privacy is viewed as Ðo requirement, which all humans would find equally necessary, desirable and satisfying. It is not uncommon for Americans to say: "If E don' t have at least half an hour Ðo day to myself, I will go stark raving mad!"

Individualism, as it exists in the United States, does mean that you will find Ðo much greater variety of opinions (along' with the absolute freedom to express them .Yet, in spite of this wide range of personal opinion, almost all Americans will ultimately vote for one of the two major political parties. That is what was meant by the statement made earlier that Americans take pride in crediting themselves with claiming more individualism than, in fact, they really have.

6. Self-Неlp Concept

In the United States, Ðo person can take credit only for what he or she has accomplished