1. Using terms from the chapter, how would you characterize American culture? What
particular traits distinguish the USA from other nations?
2. Given that American culture is so big and wide, how would you characterize the co-
cultures with which you identify? How have these helped to shape who you are and how
you see the world?
1. I would characterize American culture as an individualist culture, low power distance
culture, and a low and high uncertainty avoidance culture. I would characterize
American culture as an individualist culture because individuals do what will make
themselves successful. For example, individuals go to college to make themselves a life
they will enjoy. Individuals do not think about other people when creating their future. I
would characterize American culture as a low power distance culture because unlike
other cultures, anyone can have the opportunity to accomplish anything if they work
hard enough. I would characterize American culture as both low and high uncertainty
avoidance culture because a lot of people break the rules, but we want to see them
punished for the rules they break. Some of the traits that distinguish the USA from other
nations are independence and equality. Other nations do not give as much freedom for
independence like the USA. For example, wearing what we want, being able to go
wherever we please, and being able to identify with what we want. Other nations also
do not encourage equality like the USA. We are all equal and get treated the same in the
USA while other nations treat people differently based on their co- cultures.
2. I would characterize the co cultures I identify with by my family and friends. For
example, my family shares the same ethnicity and religion that I identify with. I have a
twin brother as well so we can share the co culture of age and identify with that. These
have helped shape me into who I am today because without co cultures I would not be
as close with my family. I also think that the traditions and values we hold with these co
cultures shaped me into a better person. They have helped me view the world by being
accepting of other co cultures and knowing the different co cultures other people
identify with.
particular traits distinguish the USA from other nations?
2. Given that American culture is so big and wide, how would you characterize the co-
cultures with which you identify? How have these helped to shape who you are and how
you see the world?
1. I would characterize American culture as an individualist culture, low power distance
culture, and a low and high uncertainty avoidance culture. I would characterize
American culture as an individualist culture because individuals do what will make
themselves successful. For example, individuals go to college to make themselves a life
they will enjoy. Individuals do not think about other people when creating their future. I
would characterize American culture as a low power distance culture because unlike
other cultures, anyone can have the opportunity to accomplish anything if they work
hard enough. I would characterize American culture as both low and high uncertainty
avoidance culture because a lot of people break the rules, but we want to see them
punished for the rules they break. Some of the traits that distinguish the USA from other
nations are independence and equality. Other nations do not give as much freedom for
independence like the USA. For example, wearing what we want, being able to go
wherever we please, and being able to identify with what we want. Other nations also
do not encourage equality like the USA. We are all equal and get treated the same in the
USA while other nations treat people differently based on their co- cultures.
2. I would characterize the co cultures I identify with by my family and friends. For
example, my family shares the same ethnicity and religion that I identify with. I have a
twin brother as well so we can share the co culture of age and identify with that. These
have helped shape me into who I am today because without co cultures I would not be
as close with my family. I also think that the traditions and values we hold with these co
cultures shaped me into a better person. They have helped me view the world by being
accepting of other co cultures and knowing the different co cultures other people
identify with.
