1. One major aspect of the USA’s culture is emphasizing individualism over the collective. Essentially, US society tends to value and favor the actions that benefit and accentuate the individual, rather than a collective. Cultural individualism largely manifests in people’s behaviours, such as the choices that they make. For example, someone would likely decide to go to college for their own individualistic, personal goals. Meanwhile, more collectivistic goals such as family legacy would likely be of a secondary importance with an American individualistic mindset. Individualism also is seen in American values and cultural attitudes, where people above a certain age are expected to be self-sufficent and successful on their own.
2. I have always thought the USA’s emphasis on individualism is a mostly positive thing. Ultimately, an individual’s life is their own to live. So, I think that it is important that someone takes care of themselves first and foremost. Also, I believe that individualism is important for holding people accountable. Admittedly, there can be bad things that happen to people that are not their fault, but I believe that, most of the time, individualism is good for helping people understand that events that happen to them, good or bad, are their responsibility. Graduate college? Your responsibility. Get your dream job? Your responsibility. Fail an exam? Your responsibility. The main negative element associated with individualism is the potential for it to give rise to selfishness. Essentially, a person is so hyperfocused on themselves as an individual that they do not see (or do not care) how their actions can harm the wider societal collective. I think that this largely mainfests in US culture in the form of greed, whether that be through individuals or corporations.
3. How someone else would view individualism largely depends on what culture they come from. I would imagine that western countries, such as the UK, Germany, Australia, etc, would likely view individualism in a similar way to an American. To my cultural understanding, their view of individualism is fairly similar. Other countries, especially in Asia, I think take a more collectivist approach. So, they would disagree with the concept of emphasizing the individual, rather they would see themselves as a part of a unit, whether that be their family, their hometown, or their country.
4. I think that this blog helps me prepare in two main ways. By thinking about a major aspect of US culture, I think that it helps put my own thoughts about the US culture into order and perspective. I would imagine that studying abroad and experiencing a new cultureis easier if you better understand the aspects of your home culture and your feelings about that home culture. Also, I think this blog helps me identify any preconceived notions that I have about the Australian culture that I am studying abroad with. I would think that Australian and American cultures are fairly similar to each other. So, I think that it will be interesting to see whether I am right or wrong in my predictions.