common features of us culture

8/8/2019 Common Features of US Culture

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Common features of US

Culture

Presented by: Garima, Anita,Vandana, Rajeev and Rahul


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Wh at is Culture?

Set of commonly h eld values A way of life of a group of people Includes

knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs andh

abits Everyt h ing t h at people h ave, t h ink and do asmembers of t h eir society

An integrated system of learned behavior patterns that are characteristic of the members of any given society


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Wh y its important?

To av o id getting trapped in Cr o ssCultural Myths Myth One: We really are all the same

Myth Two : I just need to be myself and everything will be okay

Myth T hree: I have to adopt the practices Of the other culture to succeed (Adapt rather than adopt)


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Culture is learned

Culture is transmitted through the process of learning and interacting withones environment rather than through

the generic process

Primary Socialization

Cultures and Subcultures Secondary Socialization


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Common features of US culture

Pr o gress and Change:1. Mo st pe o ple in this c o untry accept

change as an inevitable part of lif e.2. T hey are m o re inclined t o make

decisi o ns based o n the anticipated o r desired immediate f uture.

3. Achievement, po

sitive change, andpr o gress are all seen as the result of e ffo rt, & hard wo rk.


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Individualism

Americans generally believe that

peo

ple sho

uld strive to

beaut o n o m o us and sel f- reliant. M o stAmericans see themselves asseparate individuals, m o re thanmembers of a nati o n, f amily o r c o mmunity.


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Cont

Mo ralistic Orientati o n: Americanstend t o w ant t o w in o ther pe o pleo ver t o their w ay of thinking andare likely t o judge o ther s o cieties interms of the U.ST ime Orientati o n: T hey placec o nsiderable value o n punctuality.Because they tend t o o rganize their activities by means of schedules


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Cont..

W o rk Relati o ns and S o cialRelati o ns

Racial prejudiceRo le of wo men - Str o ng f eministm o vement in USHygieneFriendliness and o penness


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N on verbal cues

Greetings: When you shake hands,look them straight In the eye and givethem a good firm gripWhere to place hands when eating?Beneath table

Arms: Folded arms universaldefensive posture


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P roxemics

D istance preferred by middle classUS:

I ntimate distance - body contact to18P ersonal distance - 18 to 4 feetS ocial distance - 4 feet to 12 feetP ublic distance - 12 to 20 feet


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Communication StyleCommunication StyleI nformalI nformal First names and nick namesFirst names and nick names Joking and banteringJoking and bantering Extrovert behavior (highly respected)Extrovert behavior (highly respected) Uncomfortable with silenceUncomfortable with silence the Japanesethe Japanese

weaponweaponT ime is moneyT ime is money-- --be brief be brief Conflict and confrontation acceptedConflict and confrontation accepted


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P rotocolP rotocol

D ressD ress ----fo rmal in business, in fo rmalfo rmal in business, in fo rmals o ciallys o ciallyT imeT ime ---- punctual in business, 20punctual in business, 20minute rule s o ciallyminute rule s o ciallyLimited gi f t giving (Christmas)Limited gi f t giving (Christmas)Achievement based respect, n o tAchievement based respect, n o t

seni o rityseni o rityNo t as rigid rules as Asia andNo t as rigid rules as Asia andperhaps Eur o peperhaps Eur o pe


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