course, they may write home about their wonderful times and experiences —
to hide their real feelings. Actually while they are in the U.S. they feel
as though they were nothing.
Some quotations from two different interviews with another subject:
Before I came to the States, I expected that whatever I would do in
the U.S. would be observed by Americans and would become their source of
knowledge of Japan and the Japanese. So I thought I had to be careful. In
the dormitory, there is a Nisei boy from whom I ask advice about my manners
and clothing! I asked him to tell me any time when my body smells or my
clothing is dirty. I, as a Japanese, want to look nice to Americans.
In general, I think I do less talking than the others in my courses.
I'm always afraid that if I raise questions along the lines of Japanese
thinking about the subject—or simply from my own way of looking at
something—it might raise some question on the part of .the others. When
talking to a professor I can talk quite freely, but not in class. I am self-
conscious.
These specimen quotations help to show that quite frequently the
perspective of many Japanese students toward America has some of the
qualities of the triangular model of interaction. Regardless of how our
Japanese subjects may have behaved, or learned to behave, they harbored, as
a picture in the back of their minds, an image of the Americans as people a
notch or two "above" Japan and the Japanese. Thus even while a Japanese may
"look down" on what he calls "American materialism," he may "in the back of
his mind" continue to "look up" to the United States and its people as a
whole, as a "generalized other." Our cultural model of interaction is thus
felt to be a very fundamental and highly generalized component of imagery,
as well as a very generalized way of describing the behavior of Japanese
and Americans in certain typical interactive situations.
Quite obviously the model, taken by itself, would be a very poor
instrument of prediction of the actual behavior of a particular Japanese
with Americans. It is apparent that there would have to be a considerable
knowledge of situational variability, amount of social learning, and many
other factors before all the major variants of Japanese social behavior in
America with respect to status could be understood. While there is no need
to seek complete predictability of individual behavior, some attempt may be
made to show how the social behavior of the Japanese subjects of research
did vary in actual social situations in America, and to see if these
variants followed a consistent pattern.
Here is a list of values that some visitors from other cultures have
noticed are common to many Americans:
Informality (being casual and down-to-earth) Self-reliance (not
looking to others to solve your problems) Efficiency (getting things done
quickly and on time) Social equality (treating everyone the same)
Assertiveness (saying what's on your mind) Optimism (believing that the
best will always happen)
SEVEN STATEMENTS ABOUT AMERICANS
Here is a list of comments a non-American might make about an
Americans:
1. Americans are always in such a hurry to get things done!
2. Americans insist on treating everyone the same.
3. Americans always have to say what they're thinking!
4. Americans always want to change things.
5. Americans don't show very much respect for their elders.
6. Americans always think things are going to get better. They are
so optimistic!
7. Americans are so impatient!
Reasons some cultural anthropologists have offered to explain why
Americans may appear the way they do to people from other cultures.
1. Americans are always in such a hurry to get things done!
Americans often seem this way because of their tendency to use
achievements and accomplishments as a measure of a person's worth. They're
in a hurry to get things done because it's only then that they feel they
have proven their worth to other people. The more Americans accomplish, the
more they feel they are respected.
2. Americans insist on treating everyone the same.
Americans do this because of our cultural roots as a free nation
(e.g., "All men are created equal"). Americans have a deep cultural
instinct toward social equality and not having a class system. Ibis is a
reaction to the European class system as well as the feudal system that
existed in Europe. In cultures where inequality between social classes is
more accepted, American insistence on egalitarianism, or social equality,
may be annoying.
3. Americans always have to say what they're thinking!
Americans believe that being direct is the most efficient way to
communicate. It's important to "tell it like it is" and "speak your mind" —
to say what you mean and mean what you say. Being direct is often valued
over "beating around the bush." Americans value "assertiveness" and being
open and direct about one's droughts and feelings. Not all cultures have
this same value. In some cultures, the "normal" way to disagree or to say
no is to say nothing or be very indirect.
4. Americans always want to change things.
Americans mink things can always be better, and that progress is
inevitable. The United States is just a little more than 200 years old, and
American culture tends to be an optimistic one. Older cultures are more
skeptical because they have been around longer, have experienced more, and
have been in situations in which progress was not always made. In American
businesses, being open to change is a strong value, because things really
do change quickly, and it is necessary to adapt. Many Americans believe it
is "good" to initiate change and "bad" to resist it.
5. Americans don't show very much respect for their elders.
Americans believe people must earn by their actions whatever regard or
respect they are given. Merely attaining a certain age or holding a certain
position does not in itself signify achievement.
6. Americans always think things are going to get better. They are so
optimistic!
America, because of its resources and successes, has always had a
culture of optimism. Americans believe that they are in control of their
own destinies, rather than being victims of fate. Many Americans tend to
believe that "the American dream" can be achieved by anyone who is willing
to work hard enough. Many Americans believe mat the only obstacle to things
getting better is "not trying hard enough." Americans also believe that a
personal lack of determination or effort can be "fixed." Other cultures may
believe more in fate ("what will be will be"). When something bad happens,
some members of these cultures believe it was fated to happen, must be
accepted, and cannot be changed.
7. Americans are so impatient!
Americans believe that if things take a long time to do, they won't be
able to do enough of them. Many Americans believe that more and faster is
better. They do not like to stand in line and wait, and they originated
"fast food." Americans believe that "getting things done" (and doing them
quickly) may be more important than other things. Many other cultures
believe that slower is better and that building and maintaining
relationships takes priority over "getting things done" at the expense of
relationships.
Americans are. . . (students of different countres)
What response would you give to these students? Do you consider their
observations biased? naive? limited? unfair? interesting? useless?
Student No.1-from Saudi Arabia: "I have learned three important things
about Americans since I came to the United States. First, I have learned
that all Americans are lively; they move and speak quickly, because time is
very important to them. Second, Americans are the same as the machine, they
do their work worthily but without any thinking, they just use the
instructions even if it is not completely right. Finally, they do not know
anything except their job, they do not know what is happened in their
country."
Student No.2-from Venezuela: "I have observed that Americans are
polite, pragmatic, and organized. Wherever you are in the United States you
can hear words of friendship and cordiality like, "May I help you?",
"Excuse me", "Have a nice day.", "Thank you", and many others. Another
characteristic is their pragmatism. Along years, Americans have worked a
lot in order to create many devices which have made their life more
comfortable. These devices not only save time but they also make things
easier. Last, but never least, Americans are very organized. Perhaps, for
the same fact that they are very pragmatic people, they have developed
different ways of organization that assure them better services. "
Student No.3-from Japan: "I have been learning about Americans since I
came here last September. First, Americans don't care what other people do
or what happened. For example, when I come out of my room my roommate never
ask me where you are going or where I went. Second, Americans are friendly
and open-minded. When I went to my roommate's home, I was welcomed by her
family. Her mother said to me immediately: "Help yourself to everything in
my home," and I was surprised to hear it. I thought that the words
indicated friendliness. In Japan we never open refrigerators or use my
friend's things without permissions, because to serve is a virtue in my
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