When I think about American culture, a significant aspect that comes to mind is the individualistic nature of society. Compared to the more collectivist culture in Europe and in Asia, in the US every person is viewed as a self-sufficient individual. I think this connects significantly to the idea of ” The American Dream”. Over time, the phrase “American dream” has come to be associated with upward mobility and sufficient economic success to lead a comfortable life. For many people, the American Dream defines the American identity. The American dream cultivates individualism, gaining control of one’s life, and the pursuit of happiness and upward mobility.
The American dream of individual, independent happiness has increasingly become a lonesome and harmful one, and technology has only exacerbated the problem. Many psychologists have commented on this issue and have rightfully concluded that the level of this isolation is unnatural for human beings. Maybe it is time for American society to reassess whether hyper-individualism is compatible with communal enterprise. For one without the other leads to an increasingly alienated society.
I think in many other cultures and societies, the group is valued to a higher degree than the individual. Having lived in India for eleven years, I have definitely found this to be true and from my experience traveling, I have also observed the same in some parts of Europe and in most countries in Asia.
People who live in more collectivist cultures value social harmony, respectfulness, and group needs over individual needs. These values influence personality and the way in which social situations are confronted. Those in collectivist cultures value group cohesion, even at the expense of the individual, while those in individualistic cultures value the self over the group.
From my experience living in India and traveling to more than thirty countries, I have found that the individualistic nature of American society is often critiqued in higher regard than the level of individualism present in other countries. I think this has a lot to do with the extent that individualism exists in the US as compared to other countries. The social climate of needing to be the best in every circumstance is often extensively seen in the US as individuals are instilled with the need to constantly be achieving and doing more. A big part of this has to do with the highly capitalistic nature of the US, from an economic stance as capitalism creates an environment conducive to individualism in order to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, efficiency, and productivity.
This exercise has definitely helped me in preparing for my time abroad as it has allowed me to engage in meaningful reflection and observation. I also found that the structure of this exercise was well formed as instead of entirely focusing on comparing cultures and expressing an opinion, it required us to form an objective stance first before applying any criticism and comparison. Furthermore, I think this exercise will help me in preparing for the differences in culture I may see and observe during my time abroad.