GENERAL AMERICAN VALUES

PAPER
Submitted to Fulfill an Assignment of the Course: Cross-Cultural
Understanding

Lecturer: Dra. Erni Haryanti, MA., Ph.D.

By:

Group 1 – EED 6D

Salma Nurul Azizah 1182040116

Siti Hidayati 1182040128

Syifa Nazla Zahrannada 1182040137

Widya Aprillia Bridanova 1182040147

ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

TARBIYAH AND TEACHER TRAINING FACULTY

STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF SUNAN GUNUNG DJATI BANDUNG

2021
 PREFACE

First of all, thanks to Allah SWT because of the help of Allah, the writer
finished writing the paper entitled "General American Values" right in the
calculated time. The purpose in writing this paper is to fulfill the assignment that
given by Dra. Erni Haryanti, MA., Ph.D, as lecturer in Cross-Cultural
Understanding (CCU) course.

In arranging this paper, the writers truly get lots challenges and
obstructions but with help of many people, those obstructions could pass. Writer
also realized there are still many mistakes in process of writing this paper.
Because of that, the writer says thank you to help in the process of writing this
paper. Hopefully Allah SWT will bless you all.

The writer realized this paper still imperfect in arrangement and the
content. Then, the writer hope the critic from the readers can help the writer in
perfecting the next paper. Last but not least, hopefully this paper can help the
readers to gain more knowledge about general American values to help the
understanding and recognizing as the difference culture.

Bandung, March 2021

Group 1

i
 TABLE OF CONTENT

PREFACE …………………………………………………………… i

TABLE OF CONTENT …………………………………………….. ii

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTIO..…………………………………….. 1

A. Background …………………………………………………….. 1
B. Problem Formulation …………………………………………... 1
C. Purpose …………………………………………………………. 2

CHAPTER II DISCUSSION ………………………………………… 3

Overview………………………………………………………… 3

A. General American Values ………………………………………. 3

B. Analyzing American Values through Situational Context
(Conversation)… ….……………………………………………. 9

CHAPTER III CLOSING

A. Conclusion ……………………………………………………… 11

REFERENCE ………………………………………………………….. 12

ii
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background

Cultural differences are something that cannot be avoided in human life.

Plurality and dynamic conditions allow human culture to continue to grow and
have more diversity. Individual interests often clash with culture outside the wider
community or environment. This enables the creation of an effort to introduce
new cultures which are the result of acculturation and in-acculturation. A
traditional society in the current global era cannot be avoided to open up and
wrestle with a new culture that brings a new paradigm to the development of
human civilization.

Cultural differences are the main issues in cross-cultural education.

Without recognizing differences in traditions and habits among people of different
ethnics, religions, localities, regions, and countries or nations, confusion and
misunderstanding will continually recur in communication with other
communities. It is the ability to recognize these differences, make correct
interpretation and react properly to people or situations in the communication with
these communities that constitutes the essence of cross-cultural understanding.

To understand the political, economic, social and even personal behavior

of any group of people, we must first know the dominant values of their culture
which are passed down from one generation to another through learning.
Therefore, in this paper we will discuss about general American values for
understanding and recognizing the difference culture between Eastern and
Western cultures/values.

B. Problem Formulation

The problem formulations of this paper are:

1) What are some general American values we should understand and

recognize?

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 2) What are general American values that showed in the situational context
(conversation)?

C. Purpose

The purposes of writing this paper are:

1) To know what some general American values are we should understand

and recognize.
2) To know what general American values that showed in the situational
context (conversation).

2
 CHAPTER II

DISCUSSION

Overview

To understand the political, economic, social and even personal behavior

of any group of people, we must first know the dominant values of their culture
which are passed down from one generation to another through learning.
American culture has been enriched by the values and belief systems of virtually
every part of the world. Consequently, it is impossible to be comprehensive.
Nevertheless, a few selected values are at the core of the American value system.

A. General American Values

Values are cultural guidelines that delineate what is good and bad, and
provide instruction for social living. In the United States, there are also important
American values. American values are the things that are most important cultural
guidelines that delineate what is good and bad, and provide instruction for social
living to Americans. There are general values that we should understand and
recognize, such as freedom, individualism, punctuality, volunteerism, equality,
informality, idealizing what is practical, mobility, and progress.

1. Freedom

Americans commonly regard their society as the freest and best in the
world. Americans’ understanding of freedom is shaped by the Founding Fathers’
belief that all people are equal and that the role of the government is to protect
each person‘s basic inalienable‖ rights. The U.S. Constitution‘s Bill of Rights
assures individual rights, including provisions for freedom of speech, press and
religion. No one single church dominates or controls in the US, there is a religious
diversity.1

1
Pujiyanti, U., & Zuliani, F. R. (2014). Cross Cultural Understanding: A Handbook To
Understand Others’ Cultures. Yogyakarta: CV Hidayah, page 13

3
 The example is freedom of religion; there shall be full freedom of
conscience for people of all faiths or none. Religious liberty is considered to be a
natural inalienable right that must always be beyond the power of the state to
confer or remove. Religious liberty includes the right to freely practice any
religion or no religion without government coercion or control.2
2. Individualism

Americans’ notion of freedom focuses on the individual, and

individualism has strong philosophical roots in America. Thomas Jefferson
believed that a free individual‘s identity should be held sacred and that his or her
dignity and integrity should not be violated.

Individualism, understood not only as self-reliance but also as economic

self-sufficiency, has been a central theme in American history. Frontiers heroes
who braved the wilderness alone, farmers whose success depended on their ability
to confront the hardships of land and resourcefulness, the celebration of the small
businessman who became a financial success on his own; individual
proprietorship in business is still extolled as the ideal.3

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 and,
therefore, particularly precious and wonderful. People are seen as separate
individuals (not group members) with individual needs. People need time to be
alone and to be themselves. As the result, Americans may be seen as self-centered
and sometimes isolated and lonely.4

2
Wikipedia. Freedom of Religion. Retrieved 13 March 2021, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_religion
3
Pujiyanti, U., & Zuliani, F. R. (2014). Cross Cultural Understanding: A Handbook To
Understand Others’ Cultures. Yogyakarta: CV Hidayah, page 14
4
Robert, KL. The Values Americans Live By. Retrieved 14 March 2021, from
https://www.fordham.edu/download/downloads/id/3193/values_americans_live_by.pdf

4
 3. Punctuality

Punctuality is the characteristic of being able to complete a required task

or fulfill an obligation before or at a previously designated time. "Punctual" is
often used synonymously with "on time." It is a common misconception that
punctual can also, when talking about grammar, mean "to be accurate."

According to each culture, there is often an understanding about what is

considered an acceptable degree of punctuality. Usually, a small amount of
lateness is acceptable; this is commonly about ten or fifteen minutes in Western
cultures, Japanese society, or in the military there basically is no allowance.

Some cultures have an unspoken understanding that actual deadlines are

different from stated deadlines; for example, it may be understood in a particular
culture that people will turn up an hour later than advertised. In this case, since
everyone understands that a 9 am meeting will actually start around 10 am, no one
is inconvenienced when everyone turns up at 10 am.

In cultures which value punctuality, being late is tantamount to showing

disrespect for other's time and may be considered insulting. In such cases,
punctuality may be enforced by social penalties, for example by excluding low-
status latecomers from meetings entirely. Such considerations can lead on to
considering the value of punctuality in econometrics and to considering the effects
of non-punctuality on others in queuing theory.5

4. Volunteerism

Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity, and is intended

to promote good or improve human quality of life, which in return produces a
feeling of self-worth and respect, but no financial gain. Volunteering is also
famous for skill development, socialization and fun. It is also intended to make
contacts for possible employment or for a variety of other reasons.
5
Pujiyanti, U., & Zuliani, F. R. (2014). Cross Cultural Understanding: A Handbook To
Understand Others’ Cultures. Yogyakarta: CV Hidayah, page 14

5
 The willingness to participate in such groups is so widespread that six out
of ten Americans are members of a volunteer organization. Volunteerism reflects
Americans’ optimistic pride in their ability to work out practical solutions
themselves. Americans like to form associations of different kind. Many
volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine,
education, or emergency rescue. Others serve on an as-needed basis, such as in
response to a natural disaster.6

In 2014, 1 out of 4 Americans volunteered at a charity, and two thirds

helped their neighbors. Corporations now organize days during the year when
employees can work as a group at a local charity, doing tasks such as sorting
items at a food bank or clothing collection center, or tackling a building remodel
in a poorer neighborhood. In addition, many Americans volunteer their time at
organizations overseas, using their vacation days to take ‘a trip with a purpose’,
and many corporations allow their employees to take extra time off if this is how
it is to be spent.7

5. Equality

The Declaration of Independence states that "all men are created equal". In
many ways people believe this; we can see equality in such common practices as
"waiting in line". When we go to the bank, to the post office, or to immigration,
we will be asked to take a number and wait. Regardless of how important or
trivial our need is, we will be treated like everyone else; first come, first served.8

In America, there is not a strongly embedded social hierarchy or

caste system. Sometimes people who you might expect to treat you with respect

6
Pujiyanti, U., & Zuliani, F. R. (2014). Cross Cultural Understanding: A Handbook To
Understand Others’ Cultures. Yogyakarta: CV Hidayah, page 15
7
Corps, A. (2014). New Report: 1 in 4 Americans Volunteer; Two-Thirds Help Neighbors.
Retrieved 14 March 2021, from https://americorps.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2014/new-report-
1-4-americans-volunteer-two-thirds-help-neighbors
8
Values in American Culture. Retrieved 13 March 2021, from
https://www.bu.edu/isso/files/pdf/AmericanValues.pdf

6
may treat you as an equal. For example, children may call an older adult by their
first name. If this happens to you, try to remember they are not being rude, but
they have a different cultural value. We can also see equality in the classroom. All
students are the same in the eyes of professors, and many professors view students
(particularly graduate students) as their equals. Professors may ask students to call
them by their first names.

6. Informality

Although equality is ignored in some parts of life, it is followed closely in

others. For example, people treat one another very informally, even in the
presence of great differences in age or social status. This is not a "lack of respect,"
this is the custom in the United States. Informality is right understood as idealism
in practice, or democracy in action, the right of the individual balanced by his
responsibilities, in the basic unit is the family.

The American visiting Indonesia on the other hand might be surprised to

see that in Indonesia, the parent-children relationship is rather formal, where
children have to respect their parents, parents still have the authority, and there is
no ‘equality’ at home.

7. Idealizing what is practical

Many historians believe that most of the beliefs and values which are
characteristically American emerged within the context of the frontier experience.
Survival in the wilderness was best achieved to robust individualists. Survival
experiences also explain the American tendency to idealize whatever is practical.
In America what works is what counts. Inventiveness was necessary for survival.
This can do spirit is something Americans is proud of today. They like to think
they are natural born do it yourselfers. Then, practicality is usually the most
important consideration when decisions are to be made. As the result, Americans
place less emphasis on the subjective, aesthetic, emotional or consensual
decisions.

7
 8. Mobility

As a nation of immigrants, Americans have shared from the beginning the

assumption that the practical solution to a problem is to move elsewhere and make
a fresh start. Mobility in America is not a sign of aimlessness but optimism.
Change is seen as positive and good. This means progress, improvement and
growth. Moving about from place to place is such a common and accepted
practice that most Americans take it for granted that they may live in four or five
cities during their lifetime. Americans hate to feel that buying a house might
immobilize them forever. Therefore, the result is an established transient society
geographically, economically and socially.

9. Progress

The nation‘s progress has been measured by the taming of the frontier and
industrial expansion. The desire to progress by making use of opportunities is
important to Americans. In this immigrant society, progress is personally
measured as family progress over generations. Many Americans can boast that
with each succeeding generation since their first ancestors arrived, the family‘s
status has improved. The classic American family saga is all about progress. The
great-grandparents work hard and suffer poverty and alienation so that they can
provide a good education for their children. The second generation, motivated by
the same vision of the future and willingness to work hard and make sacrifices,
pass these values to their children. The attainment of the vision of one‘s
grandparents is part of the American Dream.9

Americans are generally less concerned about history and tradition than
are people from older societies. "History doesn't matter," many will say. They
look ahead. They have the idea that what happens in the future is within their
control, or at least subject to their influences. They believe that people, as
individuals or working cooperatively together, can change most aspects of the

9
Pujiyanti, U., & Zuliani, F. R. (2014). Cross Cultural Understanding : A Handbook To
Understand Others’ Cultures. Yogyakarta: CV Hidayah, page 16-18

8
physical and social environment if they decide things to do and a schedule for
doing them. The ideal person is punctual (that is, arrives at the scheduled time for
a meeting or event) and is considerate of other people's time (that is, does not
"waste people's time" with conversation or other activity that has no visible,
beneficial outcome).10

B. Analyzing American Values through Situational Context (Conversation)

Anita Meilani, an Indonesian exchange student, is visiting a radio station in

Minneapolis. Analyze and discuss the American values implied in the
conversation.

Erica : Welcome to America Anita. How‘s it going? I‘m Erica Kay.

Anita : How do you do, madam Erica. Thank you for showing me your
station. I’m studying radio broadcasting at the University of
Minnesota. I look forward to meet your staff.
Erica : Just call me Erica…
(A man enters a room)

Erica : Hi Fred! How‘s it going! Glad you‘re back from vacation. We

missed you here.
Fred : Hi Erica. How are you doing girl?
(He slaps Erica’s open palm with his palm)
Erica : Bad boy! You‘ve been late for 15 minutes in your first day!
Fred : Terribly sorry for that. I had a very bad jet lag.
Erica : Oh Fred…meet Anita… she‘s from Bandung.
Fred : What‘s happening girl?
Anita : I‘m visiting your station, Sir.11

10
American Values and Assumption. Retrieved 14 March 2021 https://www.up.edu/iss/advising-
services/american-values.html
11
Pujiyanti, U., & Zuliani, F. R. (2014). Cross Cultural Understanding : A Handbook To
Understand Others’ Cultures. Yogyakarta: CV Hidayah, page 19

9
 There are some values that showed in this conversation:

1) Informality, when Erica said ‘How‘s it going?’ in their first meeting.

2) Equality, Erica wanted Anita just call her first name ‘Just call me Erica’, even
though she is older than Anita. It is very different with Anita who is from
Indonesia who calls her madam Erica.

3) Punctuality, Erica mad to Fred because he was late for 15 minutes in his first
day. It is proved that, Americans usually on time in every moment.

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 CHAPTER III

CLOSING

A. Conclusion

Cultural differences are something that cannot be avoided in human life.

Without recognizing differences in traditions and habits among people of different
ethnics, religions, localities, regions, and countries or nations, confusion and
misunderstanding will continually recur in communication with other
communities. Therefore, to understand the political, economic, social and even
personal behavior of any group of people, we must first know the dominant values
of their culture which are passed down from one generation to another through
learning.

American values are the things that are most important cultural guidelines
that delineate what is good and bad, and provide instruction for social living to
Americans. There are general values that we should understand and recognize,
such as freedom, individualism, punctuality, volunteerism, equality, informality,
idealizing what is practical, mobility, and progress.

According to the analyzing conversation, there is showed three American

values such as informality, equality, and punctuality. Then, there is also showed
the Indonesian value ‘hierarchy’ and ‘formality’. Which Indonesian call the older
one with ‘madam’.

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 REFERENCE

American Values and Assumption. Retrieved 14 March 2021

https://www.up.edu/iss/advising-services/american-values.html

Corps, A. (2014). New Report: 1 in 4 Americans Volunteer; Two-Thirds Help

Neighbors. Retrieved 14 March 2021, from
https://americorps.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2014/new-report-1-4-
americans-volunteer-two-thirds-help-neighbors

Pujiyanti, U., & Zuliani, F. R. (2014). Cross Cultural Understanding : A

Handbook to Understand Others’ Cultures. Yogyakarta: CV Hidayah.

Robert, KL. The Values Americans Live By. Retrieved 14 March 2021, from
https://www.fordham.edu/download/downloads/id/3193/values_americans
_live_by.pdf

Values in American Culture. Retrieved 13 March 2021, from

https://www.bu.edu/isso/files/pdf/AmericanValues.pdf

Wikipedia. Freedom of Religion. Retrieved 13 March 2021, from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_religion

12