Helpful Ideas About the American Culture

Culture definedCulture is an integrated system of learned behavior patterns.

Culture refers to the total way of life of particular groups of people.

Culture is learned and transmitted from generation to generation.

Every group of people, every culture is and has always been ethnocentric.

Common Stereotypes of Americans

Americans are:

Optimistic Wealthy Friendly

Materialistic Informal

Generous

Naive Impatient Hardworking Always in a hurry Superficial

Judgmental

American Values and Assumptions

Individualism• Trained to consider themselves as

separate individuals responsible for their own situations.

• Americans consider the ideal person to be an individualistic, self-reliant, independent person.

American Values and Assumptions

Equality

“All men are created equal. ”Declaration of Independence.

Americans are uncomfortable when someone treats them with obvious deference.

They dislike being the objects of open display of respect.

Informality Americans seem quite informal in their

general behavior and in their relationships with others.

Their superficial friendliness is related to their informal, egalitarian approach to others. ( “Hi”, “Howya doin?”, “How are you?”).

American Values and Assumptions

Time For Americans, time is a resource that

can be used well or poorly. ( “ Time is Money”). They use their time for

constructive,future-oriented activities. The fast-food industry is a symbol of

American society and culture playing an emphasis on speed and efficiency.

American Values and Assumptions

The Communicative Styleof Americans

According to Barnlund, these are the chacteristics of conversations between individuals:

1. The topics people prefer to discuss (small talk).2. Their favorite forms of interaction (turn taking, few ritual interchanges, no arguments,)3. The depth to which they want to get involved4. The communication channels (verbal or nonverbal).5. The level of meaning

Channels Preferred Verbal Communication Americans depend more on spoken words than on non-verbal behavior to convey their messages. Nonverbal Communication Volume of voice, appearance, body movements and gestures, facial expression, space and touching, silence).

Space and Touching

An aspect of nonverbal behavior

that is strongly influenced by culture has to do with space

and distance.

Foreign visitors notice the way

Americans react when they feel too crowded. (Personal space invaded in

restrooms, elevators, crowded rooms).

High-Context CulturesMost of the information is

either in the physical context or is internalized in the

people who are part of the interaction.

High-context cultures are relational, collectivist,

intuitive, and contemplative. People from these cultures emphasize interpersonal

relationships.

Low-Context Cultures

Most of the Information is contained in the verbal

message and very little is

embedded in the context.

Low-context cultures are

logical, linear, individualistic,

and action-oriented.

People from low-context

cultures value logic, facts,

and directness.

High- Context Cultures Japanese Arab Greek Spanish Italian English French American Scandinavian German German-Swiss

Low- Context Cultures

Monochronic and Polychronic CulturesMonochronic Culture Polychronic Culture

Interpersonal Relations Interpersonal relationships are subordinate to present schedule

Present schedule is subordinate to interpersonal relationships

Activity Co-Ordination Schedule co-ordinates activities, appointment time is rigid.

Interpersonal relationships co-ordinate activity; appointment time is flexible

Task Handling One task at a time Many tasks are handled at once; a.k.a. multi-tasking

Breaks and Personal Time

Breaks and personal time are sacrosanct regardless of personal ties.

Breaks and personal time are subordinate to personal ties.

Temporal Structure Time is inflexible, time is intangible

Time is flexible, time is fluid

Work and Personal Time Work time is clearly separate from personal time

Work time is not clearly separate from personal time

Organizational Perception

-Stephen Dhal

Activities are isolated from organization as a whole; tasks are measured by output in time (activity per hour or minute)

Activities are integrated into organization as a whole; tasks are measured as part of overall organizational goal

Skills that Make a Difference in the Overseas Adjustment ProcessTolerance for ambiguityOpen-mindednessEmpathyFlexibility, adaptabilityCuriosityTolerance for DifferencesAbility to failSense of HumorCuriosityNonjudgmentalness

Coping with a New Culture

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