课前活动3AmericanValues.ppt

Pre-class Activity American Values American Values 1. Personal Control over the Environment Ameicans do not believe in the power of fate. They think that everyone should have control over whatever in the enviornment might potentially affect him or her. The problems of one’s life are not seen as having resulted from bad luck as much as having come from one’s laziness and unwillingness to take responsibility in pursuing a better life. American Values 2|. Changes seen as Natural and Positive In the American mind, change is seen as indisputably good, leading to development, improvement, and progress. Many older, more traditional cultures consider change disruptive and destrutive; they value stablity, continuity, tradition, and ancient heritage—none of which are considered very important in the United States. American Values 3. Time and its control Time is of utmost importance to most Americans. It is something to be on, kept, saved, used, spent, wasted, lost, gained, planned, given, even killed. Americans are more concerned with getting things accomplished on time than they are with developing interpersonal relation. Their lives seem controlled by the little machines they wera on their wrists, cuttiing their discussions offf abruptly to make their next appoointment on time. American Values 4. Equality / Fairness Equality is so cherished in the U.s. that it is seen as having areligious basis. Americans believe that all people are created equal and that all should have an equal opportunity to succeed. This concept of equality is strange to seven-eighths of the world which views status and authority as desirable, even if they happen to be near the bottom of the social order. American Values 5. Individualism / Independence Americans view themselves as highly individualistic in their thoughts and actions. They resist being thought of as representaatives of any homogeneous group. When they do join groups, they believe they are s