Form of activity

There are four elements of analyzing American cultural patterns and values: form of activity, form of relations to others, perception of the world, and perception of the self. Every element has a limited effect among others. The authors talk about the orientation to action which is usually viewed as decision making. Decision making is defined as two meanings: “a vaguely understood social norm used to justify a wide range of behavior” and “incorporating a loose constellation of assumptions and values “. The authors give the example of the differences of making decision between Americans and Japanese. There is a close relationship between decision making and responsibility; the two actions always happen together. The preparations are important for decision making; on the other hand, conceptualizing focuses on barriers that affect the actions. The authors introduce the two concentration about problem solving, and they say that people, especially problem solvers, need to realize what the obstacles are. Emphasizing on choice is the last aspect of the American orientation toward action. Americans would focus on the consequences or effects of their behaviors. There are three forms of activity: "doing", "being", and "being in becoming". The word "doing", which is a compatible with other characteristics, is viewed as the dominant type of activity for Americans. The other two types exist in non-Western countries. "Being" represents "the motivational and cognitive life of fully evolved people". "Being in becoming" regulates all people in their developments. Americans separate the works from plays. However, they find out that other countries do not really distinct works and plays. Time and temporal orientation is important for Americans, and they are very strict on time tracking. Therefore, Americans are explained as attributing of effort-optimism, which