New Directions

1. American values and assumptions
Baiku Blues 2:49 PM English Notes No comments
The main purpose of this chapter
is to find out similarities and differences in values,
beliefs and practices and the conflicts
and misunderstandings that arise when people from
different cultures interact. It also describes the issues
like verbal and non-verbal communication, perceptions
of time, cultural adjustment, and conceptsof friendship.
American values and assumptions
Althen: a foreign student advisor at the University of
Lowa.
Althen in this chapter focuses on nine central values and
assumptions shared by the majority of people living in the
US. He contrasts these cultural patterns with those of
other nations and describes the types of problems and
misunderstandings that can occur when people from

2. different cultures, with diverse beliefs and perceptions,
interact.
The most important thing to understand about Americans
is probably their devotion to individualism the
fundamental value of a free, self-reliant individual is
closely related to all the other cultural values Althen
discusses and helps explain many aspects of US behavior
and thinking like child rearing, independence and
personal freedom, heroism, common idiomatic
expression, competition and communication style.
Althen focuses on two major consequences of cultural
variations in values and assumptions: first negative value
judgments, which often result in intercultural
misunderstandings and second, difficulties people from
different cultures have understanding each other and the
negative feelings caused by these differences.
Althen also contends that cultural variations exist in
values and assumptions relating to human nature, social
relationships, activity, time and people’s relation to
nature. He maintains that this can cause problems when
individuals from different part of the world interact.

3. Although this is underlying idea of the excerpt, students
often provide another possible answer to this question:
Althen’s main point is to introduce visitors to the United
States to the predominant cultural values and assumptions
of the country, especially individualism, in order to
minimize intercultural tension and misunderstanding.
Individualism: Americans are devoted to their
individualism. From the very beginning of their life, they
are trained to lead their individual life and to be
responsible for their own situations in life and their own
destinies. American children from the very beginning of
their life are expected and taught to be a self reliant
individual. Parents help and teach their children to make
their own decision and to be accountable for their money
and anything else. American adult are expected to live
apart from their parents. For them, being dependent is
immaturity.
Competition: For Americans, competitiveness pervades
the society. They are taught to think that they are in the
world of competition. There is no nepotism and
favoritism. They themselves should try to be faster,
smatter, richer, and better looking.

4. Privacy: Americans feel comfort when they are alone.
They think that they need some time to think about things
or recover their spent psychological energy. They think
people who dislike being alone is weak.
Equality: Americans think that all people are created
equal so they are of equal value and should be treated
equally, none is born superior and none is junior. All the
people whatever their status or position are treated
equally.
Informality: Americans are quite informal in their
behavior and with their relationship with other people.
They prefer being informal in their speech, dress, and
body language.
The future, change and progress: Americans are quite
less concern about future. They think history does matter;
it is the future that counts. For them, a matured sensible
person is one who looks ahead, sets goals for the future
and works systematically towards them.

5. Time: For Americans, time is money, it is highly valued.
An ideal person is punctual and is considerate of other
people’stime. They do everything in the right time.
Achievement, action, work and
materialism: Americans are hard working. They respect
work. For them, an ideal person is one who works hard.
Directness and Assertiveness: Americans are frank,
open and direct in their dealings with other people. They
state clearly and openly what they think and what they
want from others.