East West, Different Values.ppt

East West, Different Values Content The concept of values Oral presentation: The comparison between American and Chinese middle school students’ code of conduct Material study: Supplementary information Case study (1): Talk about Yao Ming Case study (2): The case of Shi Hai The concept of values Values are ideas about what is right and wrong, desirable and undesirable, normal and abnormal, proper and improper. It also includes the assumptions, the unquestioned givens, about people, life, and the way things are. The concept of values People who grow up in a certain culture share certain values. That does not mean they all share exactly the same values to the same extent; it does mean that most of them, most of the time, agree with each other’s ideas about human nature, social relations, right and wrong. A mainstream culture can be viewed as a collection of values and assumptions that go together to shape the way a group of people perceive and relate to the world around them. The concept of values In the United States, for example, values might include material comfort, wealth, competition, individualism or religiosity and sex, drugs and rock and roll. The values of a society can often be identified by noting which people receive honor or respect. The concept of values In the US, for example, professional athletes are honored (in the form of monetary payment) more than college professors, in part because the society respects personal values such as physical activity, fitness, and competitiveness more than mental activity and education. The concept of values Values are related to the norms of a culture, but they are more general and abstract than norms. Norms are rules for behavior in specific situations, while values identify what should be judged as good or evil. Flying the national flag on a holiday is a norm, but it reflects the value of patriotism. Wearing dark clothing and appearing solemn are normative behaviors at a funeral. They reflect the values o