American Values

I found this document while being in school. I apologize for not showing any copyright info. I simply do not remember

American Values

• Personal Control over the environment.
  People can alter nature, and, to a large extend, can determine the direction of their lives.
  Contrasting value - Fate: What happens in life is a result of a grand plan or destiny.
• Change: Change is healthy. People stagnate if they don't make enough changes.
  Contrasting value - tradition: Preservation and emphasis of rituals, customs, and beliefs from the past.
• Control over time: Time flies. People are pressured and constrained by time because they are trying to control it. People shouldn't waste or kill time. They must rush to get things done. They must follow their schedules to be productive.
  Contrasting value - Time walks: There is no need for people to feel so pressured. They should take it easy.
• Equality and egalitarianism. All people are created equal. (Remember: This is a value or ideal, not a fact.)
  Contrasting Value - Hierarchy, rank, status: Peoples roles are defined in terms of their relationships to other people; people are mostly either subordinate to or superior to someone else.
• Individualism and privacy: Individual needs are considered primary.
  Contrasting value - Group orientation: The individual sacrifices his or her needs to those of the group.
• Self-help: People can and should try to improve their own lives. Many middle- and upper class Americans have the belief that people can "pull themselves up by their own bootstraps."
  Contrasting value - Birthright inheritance: People are born into either wealth or poverty; they cant change their status in life.
• Future Orientation. Look to the future and not to the past.
  Contrasting Value - Past or present orientation: People should live for today or for their ancestors; they should live according to tradition.
• Action and work orientation. Work often defines people; their identities come from what they do. (Don't just stand there! Do something)
  Contrasting value - "Being" orientation: Work is not the center of peoples identity: It is acceptable not to focus on work, accomplishments, and achievements.
• Informality: First name usage ("Just call me Bob"), casual clothes, and the lack of formal ritual are typical in American life.
  Contrasting value - Formality: Use of titles and last names are common. People are restrained and polite with each other.
• Directness, openness, and honesty: Honesty is the best policy. People should express themselves openly. It is not considered good to "beat around the bush."
  Contrasting value - Indirectness and "saving face": People should consider another’s feelings when deciding what to say. Honesty is not always the best policy.
• Materialism: Tendency to be more concerned with material than spiritual or intellectual goals.
  Contrasting value - Spiritualism.
  

Note of caution for critics. I am NOT that naive to think that all "American Values" are so absolute that they are 100% correct in most circumstances.

The "Contrasting values" are also present in many parts of America. America is such a vast and diverse culture (in many way; not so much in others) (It is at least very big geographically) that any generalization about values is bound to fail.

For instance, as a Polish person I would say that Polish people are in general much more materialistic than Americans. Materialism is also paying attention and assigning value to wealth - not necessarily only having wealth.

Sincerely, Shamick Przemek Gaworski