The Values Americans Live By
Compiled byVladimir Pavlov
Adapted from Robert Kohl’s article,
The Values Americans Live By (April 1984)
Most Americans would have a difficult time telling international visitors, specifically, which values they live by. They probably have never given the matter any thought. Even if Americans had considered this question, they would probably decide not to answer in terms of a definitive list of values. The reason for this decision itself is one American value— that every individual is so unique that the same list of values could never be applied to all, or even most, of their fellow citizens. xxx Americans may think of themselves as being more varied and unpredictable than they really are. Americans think they have only been slightly influenced by family, church or schools. In the end, each believes, "I personally chose which values I want to live my own life by." xxx Despite this self-evaluation, an anthropologist from another country could observe Americans and produce a list of common values which would fit most Americans. The list of typically American values would stand in sharp contrast to the values commonly held by people in some other cultures.. xxx The different behaviors of a people or a culture make sense only when seen through the basic beliefs, assumptions and values of that particular group. When an international visitor encounters an action, or hears a statement in the United States which surprises him or her, he or she should try to see it as an expression of one or more of the values listed this passage. For example, if a female visitor asks Americans for directions to get to a particular address in their own city, they may explain, in great detail, how she can get there on her own, but may never even consider walking two city blocks with her totake her there. Some visitors have interpreted this sort of action as showing Americans’ "unfriendliness." Instead the self-help concept (value number 6 on our list), is so strong in Americans that they firmly believe that no adult would ever want, even temporarily, to be dependent on another. Also, their future orientation (value 8) makes Americans think it is better to prepare oneself to find other addresses on his or her own in the future.
It is necessary to point out that Americans see all these values as very positive ones. They are not aware, for example, that many people around the world countries view change (value 2) as negative or threatening. In fact, all 13 of these American values could be judged by many other cultures as negative and undesirable. Therefore, it is not enough simply to familiarize onerself with these values. One should also, so far as possible, consider them without the negative or derogatory connotation (= a meaning of the word that shows a lack of respect – V.P.) which they might have for them, based on their own experience and cultural identity.

1. PERSONAL CONTROL OVER THE ENVIRONMENT
Many cultures believe in the power of Fate, that there are certain events in life that could not be prevented by human beings. Americans do not believe in the power of Fate and they look at those who do as being naïve. To be fatalistic is a striong criticism in the American context. To an American, it means one is superstitious and unwilling to take any initiative in bringing about improvements. xxx believe that human beings should control Nature, rather than the other way around. More specifically, they believe individuals should have control over whatever forces in the environment might potentially affect them. Personal problems, such as accidents, do not stem from misfortune, but from one’s inability to control the situation. During the Challenger space-shuttle accident, for instance, human error was immediately said to be the cause. In earthquake prone cities like San Francisco, the focus is to control the quakes by constructing buildings that resist quake damages and installing earthquake detection devices.
Recently, however, with the growing damage to the environment, Americans have begun to question their right to control the environment. Increasingly, people in the United States think that tampering with nature’s intricate balance could prove disastrous for human beings.

Values, therefore, are not fixed ideologies, but are likely to change depending on the experiences of a particular culture.
2. CHANGE xxx Change is seen as positive in the United States because it is strongly linked to development, improvement, progress, and growth. In other societies change is seen as change as a destructive, destructive, disruptive and destabilizing force. In such countries continuity and stability are seen as positive. In the United States, for example, changing job is seen as an opportunity to develop new skills, to earn more money and to move up in the world. In many other cultures, however, changing jobs several times often indicates instability and lack of loyalty to the company.
These first two values – the belief that we can do anything and the belief that any change is good—together with an American belief in the virtue of hard work and the belief that each individual has a responsibility to do the best he or she can do have helped Americans achieve some of their most challenging goals.
3. TIME AND ITS CONTROL xxx Time is of utmost importance for Americans. For many international visitors, Americans seem to be more concerned with getting things accomplished on time (according to a predetermined schedule) than they are with developing deep interpersonal relations. For Americans schedules are meant to be planned and then followed in the smallest detail. It may seem that most Americans are completely controlled by their watches, cutting their discussions off abruptly to make it to their next appointment time.
The language of Americans is filled with references to time, giving a clear indication of how much it is valued. Time is something to be "on," to be "kept," "filled," "saved," "used," "spent," "wasted," "lost," "gained," "planned," "given," "made the most of," even "killed." Many American proverbs stress the value in guarding our time, using it wisely, setting and working toward specific goals, and even expending our time and energy today so that the fruits of our labor may be enjoyed at a later time. (This latter concept is called "delayed gratification.")
Whenever it is absolutely impossible to be on time, it is important to phone ahead and inform the person of the delay. Time is also valued in the United States because productivity is valued. Staying busy is a way to avoid committing that great American sin of wasting time. This philosophy has enabled Americans to be extremely productive.

4. EQUALITY / EGALITARIANISM
Equality is a most cherished American value. This concept is so important for Americans that they have even given it a religious basis. They say that all people are "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. Americans differ in opinion about how to make this ideal into a reality. Yet virtually all agree that equality is an important civic and social goal. In many countries rank, status, authority and age are seen as measures with which to address people, and maintain a certain order within that society. The manner in which U.S. service personnel (such as waiters in restaurants, clerks in stores, taxi drivers, etc.) treat their customers is rarely based on social standing. In the United States a person of high position will not be treated in a noticeably deferential manner because of his or her status. No insult or personal indignity is intended by this lack of deference to rank or position in society.
5. INDIVIDUAL AND PRIVACY
The concept of individualism which was developed in the Western Europe in the late 15th century, has taken its most exaggerated form in 20th century United States. Each individual is seen as completely and marvelously unique – totally different from all other individuals and, therefore, particularly precious and wonderful. Americans think resist being thought of as representatives of a homogenous group, whatever the group. They may, and do, join groups—in fact many groups—but somehow believe they’re just a little different, just a little unique, just a little special, from other members of the same group. And they tend to leave groups as easily as they enter them.
The concept of privacy, the ultimate result of individualism, is perhaps even more difficult for many international visitors to comprehend. The word "privacy" does not even exist in many languages. If it does, it is likely to have a strongly negative connotation, suggesting loneliness or isolation from the group. In the United States, privacy is not only seen as very positive, but also is viewed as anecessity for their psychological health. It is not uncommon for Americans to say and believe such statements as "If I don’t have at least half an hour a day to myself, I will go stark raving mad." (… absolutely crazy – V.P.) xxx Individualism, as it exists in the United States, does mean that you will find a much greater variety of opinions here. Yet, in spite of this wide range of personal opinions, almost all Americans ultimately vote for one of the two major political parties. Americans credit themselves in being more individualistic than they actually are.
6. SELF-HELP CONTROL xxx In the United States, a person can take credit only for what he or she has accomplished by himself or herself. Americans get no credit whatsoever for having been born into a rich family. Since that is considered to be "an accident of birth." Americans pride themselves for being born poor and, through their own sacrifice and hard work, having reached a certain level of success all by themselves. The American social system has made it possible for many Americans to move up to the socio-economic ladder. xxx Take a look in an English-language dictionary at the composite words that have "self" as a prefix. In the average desk dictionary, there will be more than 100 such words, words like self-confidence, self-conscious, self-control, self-criticism, self-deception, self-defeating, self-denial, self-discipline, self-esteem, self-expression, self-importance, self-improvement, self-interest, self-reliance, self-respect, self-restraint, self-sacrifice—the list goes on and on. The equivalent of these words cannot be found in most other languages. The list is perhaps the best indication of how seriously Americans take doing things for one’s self. The "self-made man or women" is still very much the ideal in 20th-century America.
7. COMPETITION AND FREE ENTERPRISE xxx Americans believe that competition brings out the best in people, that it forces or challenges each person to produce the very best that is humanly possible. In some other cultures, on the other hand, the emphasis is on cooperation. The free-enterprise system is based on the premise that competition leads toward the production of better goods and services and encourages people to try their hardest. Competition reinforces the values of individualism, self-help, and hard work. In the United States creating a niche for oneself is a competitive process, as many people may be striving, some unsuccessfully, for the same niche.

8. PRESENT IMMEDIATE FUTURE ORIENTATION
Americans, at one time, emphasized looking towards the future, but this value has evolved into a present and immediate future orientation. Many societies place great importance on the past, seeing it as a source of identity and a reference point for both the present and the future. In the United States, however, the past is not as significant as the present or future. As happy as the past might have been, Americans have traditionally been hopeful that the future would bring even greater happiness. Almost all energy is directed toward realizing that better future. ……………………….allow them to own now and pay later) to purchase television sets, videocassette recorders, clothes, even groceries and they take loans to pay for their homes, their cars, and their higher education. Their faith in this better future encourages them to spend money so they can live well in the present.
9. ACTION/WORK ORIENTATION xxx "Don’t just stand there," goes a typical bit of American advice, "do something!" This expression is normally used in a crisis situation, yet, in a sense, it describes most American’s entire waking life, where action—any action—is seen to be superior to inaction. xxx Americans routinely plan and schedule an extremely active day. Any relaxation must be limited in time, pre-planned, and aimed at "recreating" their ability to work harder and more productively once the recreation is over. Americans believe leisure activities should assume a relatively small portion of one’s total life. People think that it is "sinful" to "waste one’s time," "to sit around doing nothing," or just to "daydream." xxx Such a "no nonsense" attitude toward life has created many people who have come to be known as "workaholics," or people who are addicted to their work, who think constantly about their jobs and who are frustrated if they are kept away from them, even during their evening hours and weekends. And when such a person finally goes on vacation, even the vacation will be carefully planned, very busy and active.
The workaholic syndrome, in turn, causes Americans to identify themselves wholly with their professions. The first question one American will ask another American when meeting for the first time is related to his or her work: “What do you do?”, "Where do you work?," or "Who (what company) are you with?"

In the United states it is reasonable to speak about the "dignity of human labor," meaning hard, physical labor. Even corporate presidents will engage in physical labor from time to time and gain respect from others for such action.
10. INFORMALITY
International visitors find Americans extremely informal. Americans believe that formality distances people and creates inequality. Formality as found in rituals is thought to be inefficient in a culture that emphasizes the new and practical. U.S. bosses often urge their employees to call them by their first names and often feel uncomfortable if they are called by the title "Mr." or "Mrs." xxx Dress is another area where U.S. informality will be most noticeable. One can go to a symphony performance, for example, in any large American city nowadays and find some people in the audience dressed in blue jeans short-sleeved shirts and without a tie.
11. DIRECTNESS xxx Many other countries have developed subtle, sometimes highly ritualistic, ways of informing other people of unpleasant information. Americans, however, prefer the direct approach. They are likely to be completely honest in delivering their negative evaluations. International visitors who come from cultures that use the indirect manner of conveying bad news or uncomplimentary evaluations are shocked at Americans’ bluntness. It is important for international visitors who come from cultures where saving face is important to realize that Americans are not trying to make them lose face with their directness. Americans urge their fellow citizens to become even more open and direct. The large number of "assertiveness" training courses that appeared in the United States in the late 70s reflects such a commitment. xxx Americans consider anything other than the most direct and open approach to be dishonest and insincere and will quickly lose confidence in and distrust anyone who hints at what is intended rather than saying it outright. xxx Anyone who, in the United States, chooses to use an intermediary to deliver the message may be considered manipulative and untrustworthy.
12. PRACTICALITY AND EFFICIENCY xxx Americans have a reputation of being an extremely realistic, practical and efficient people. The practical consideration is likely to be given highest priority in making any important decision in the United States. Americans pride themselves in not being very philosophically or theoretically oriented. If Americans would even admit to having a philosophy, it would probably be that of pragmatism. xxx Will it make any money? Will it pay for itself? What can I gain from this activity? These are the kinds of questions that Americans are likely to ask in their practical pursuit. Highly unlikely are such questions as Is it aesthetically pleasing? Will it be enjoyable?, or Will it advance the cause of knowledge? The love of practicality has also caused Americans to view some professions more favorably than others. Management and economics, for example, are much more popular in the United States than philosophy or anthropology, law and medicine more valued than the arts. Preference for the practical in the United States, is also seen through the belittling of "emotional" and "subjective" evaluations in favor of "rational" and "objective" assessments. Americans try to avoid being too sentimental in making their decisions. They judge every situation "on its merits." The popular American "trail-and-error" approach to problem solving also reflects the practical. This approach suggests listing several possible solutions to any given problem, then trying them out, one-by-one, to see which is most effective.
13. MATERIALISM/ACQUISITIVENESS
International visitors generally consider Americans much more materialistic than Americans are likely to consider themselves. Americans would like to think that their material objects are just the natural benefits which always result from hard work and serious intent—a reward, they think, which all people could enjoy were they as industrious and hard-working as Americans. In addition, many of these possessions are considered to be essential for efficient and practical living.This means that they value and collect more material objects than most people in some other countries would dream of owning. It also means they give a high priority to obtaining, maintaining and protecting their material objects.
The modern American typically owns: • one or more color TV sets • VCR • an electric hair dryer • an electronic calculator • a stereo • a clothes-washer and dryer, • a vacuum cleaner, • a powered lawn mower • a refrigerator and a dishwasher • one or more automobiles • several telephones • an answering machine • many own personal computers xxx Since Americans value newness and innovation, they sell or throw away their possessions frequently and replace them with newer ones. A car may be kept for only two or three years, a house for five or six years before trading it for another one.