American Values

• Values are culturally defined standards that

people use to decide what is desirable, good,
and beautiful and that serve as broad
guidelines for social living.
• The culture of the United States is primarily
Western, but is influenced by Native
American, African, Asian, Polynesian, and
Latin American cultures.
• American values could only have been forged
in a new country full of opportunity.
• Freedom because I believe we should be
able to pursue our personal goals.

• Practicality/efficiency because in the

world today you need to go to school for
something that will help you in life. You
aren’t going to get very far trying to chase
a dream right now with the way the
economy is.
• Equal Opportunity because I believe that
everyone should have the chance at
something.
Ex. Obama talked of restoring "an economy
where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone
does their fair share and everyone plays by
the same set of rules.
Equality: U.S. Americans uphold the ideal that
everyone "is created equal" and has the same
rights. This includes women as well as men of
all ethnic and cultural groups living in the U.S.
There are even laws that protect this "right to
equality" in its various forms.
The distinctions are acknowledged in subtle
ways. Tone of voice, order of speaking,
choice of words, seating arrangements-such
are the means by which US Americans
acknowledge status differences among
themselves.
• The general lack of deference to people in
authority is one example of equality. Titles,
such as "sir" and "madam" are seldom used.
Managers, directors, presidents and even
university instructors are often addressed by
their first or given name.
• Time: U.S. Americans take pride in making the
best use of their time.
o In the business world, "time is money".
o Being "on time" for class, an appointment, or
for dinner with your host family is important.
U.S. Americans apologize if they are late.
o Some instructors give demerits to students
who are late to class, and students at most
universities have institutional permission to
leave the classroom if their instructor is 10 or
15 minutes late.
• Informality: The U.S. American lifestyle is
generally casual.
o You will see students going to class in shorts
and t-shirts.
o Male instructors seldom wear a tie and some
may even wear blue jeans.
o Female instructors often wear slacks along
with comfortable walking shoes.
o Greetings and farewells are usually short,
informal and friendly.
o Students may greet each other with "hi",
"how are you"? and "what's up"?
o The farewell can be as brief as: "See you",
"take it easy", or, "come by some time"
(although they generally don't really mean it).
o Friendships are also casual, as Americans
seem to easily develop and end friendships.
• Achievement & Hard Work/Play
o The foreign visitor is often impressed at how
achievement oriented Americans are and how
hard they both work and play.
o A competitive spirit is often the motivating
factor to work harder.
o Americans often compete with themselves as
well as others.
o They feel good when they "beat their own
record" in an athletic event or other types of
competition.
o Americans seem to always be "on the go",
because sitting quietly doing nothing seems
like a waste of time.
Direct & Assertive
o U.S. Americans try to work out their
differences face-to-face and without a
mediator.
o They are encouraged to speak up and give
their opinions.
o Students are often invited to challenge or
disagree with certain points in the lecture.
o This manner of direct speaking is often
interpreted by foreign visitors as rude.
• Looking to the Future and to Change
o Children are often asked what they want to
be "when they grow up"; college students are
asked what they will do when they graduate;
and professors plan what they will do when
they retire.
• Change is often equated with progress and
holding on to traditions seems to imply old
and outdated ways. Even though Americans
are recycling more than before many
purchased products are designed to have a
short life and then be thrown away.
• Individual achievement and personal success,
In term of Individuality: U.S. Americans are
encouraged at an early age to be independent
and to develop their own goals in life.
They are encouraged to not depend (too much)
on others including their friends, teachers and
parents.
They are rewarded when they try harder to
reach their goals.
• Privacy
o U.S. Americans like their privacy and enjoy
spending time alone.
o Foreign visitors will find U.S. American homes
and offices open, but what is inside the
American mind is considered to be private.
o To ask the question "What is on your mind?"
may be considered by some to be intrusive.
• Puritan and pioneer morality
The world is made up of people who are good
and bad, foul and fair. You are either one of
the good guys or you are one of the bad guys.
If you are not with us, you are against us.
• Value of the individual
The individual has rights above that of general
society and government.
Success occurs at the level of the individual.
People should not have to fight for their
rights.
The government should protect the rights of the
individual, not the other way around.
• Achievement and success
Success is measured by the accumulation of
power, status, wealth and property. What you
already have is not as important as what you
continue to accumulate. A retired wealthy
person was successful, but is now less
admirable.
Change and progress
Change is inevitable. Progress is good and
leads to success. If you do not keep up, you
will fall behind. Newer is always better. The
next version will be better than the last.
Ethical equality
All people are equal, both spiritually and in
the opportunities they deserve. This includes
differences in race, gender, disability, age,
sexual preference and so on.
• Effort and optimism
• Hard work and striving is the key to success.
The great American Dream of fame and
fortune comes to those who work hard and
never give up.
• Efficiency, practicality and pragmatism
Solution is more important than ideology. Utility
is more important than show. A key question
to any idea is 'Will it work?'
 So what?
• Are these values still apparent? Values change
very little.
• If you think they do, then this may give you an
insight into how to communicate effectively
with Americans.
• If you embody these values, they are more
likely to look up to you.
• If you appeal to these values, they are likely to
buy into your message.
• If you think this is a damn fine set of values,
they are probably your values -- and maybe
you are an American (or at least you will easily
agree with a lot of Americans).
THANK YOU