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| Cultural Valuesp> From the information on contrasting cultural norm and cue systems supplied thus far, it is possible to predict in a general way that I when a Japanese interacts with an American, certain blockages to communication and to the correct assessment of status behavior may occur. Japanese are likely to confront Americans with unstated assumptions concerning status differences, while the American may be inclined to accept the Japanese at face value—that is, as a person, not a status. In the resulting confusion it may be anticipated that the Japanese will retreat into what he calls enryo, since this form of behavior involving attenuated communication is appropriate toward persons of unclear or superior status. THE NATIONAL STATUS IMAGE For reasons usually found in the cultural background of the peoples concerned, and in the historical relations of nations, there is a tendency on the part of some to view other nations and peoples much as one would view persons in a hierarchically oriented social group. Modernization, which brings an increased need for knowledge of other peoples, has brought as well a strong sense of competition—a desire to know where one stands, or where one's nation stands relative to other nations in technological and other areas of development. This desire to know one's position and the tendency to view other nations hierarchically are probably found to some degree in all modern societies, but may be exaggerated among those nations that are in the middle ranks in the competitive race for modernization—and particularly in those societies which have incorporated into their own culture a strong hierarchical conception of status. Thus, in societies with hierarchical patterns, there will occur certain established techniques which are defined as appropriate for governing behavior toward the nationals of countries judged either to be higher or lower than that of the actor. On the other hand, for societies with egalitarian ideals of social relations, while there may be a tendency in the national popular ideology to view other nations hierarchically in terms of power and progress, there will be no ready behavioral pattern to follow toward individual members of these other societies. Ideally, regardless of national origin, individuals will be considered as "human beings," theoretically equal. Such theoretical equality is often violated in practice, of course, but the violations are based not on systematic hierarchical conceptions, but on transitory and situationally determined attitudes. The Japanese tendency to locate other nations on a hierarchical scale
is well known, and is observable even at the level of formal diplomatic
interchange. With respect to the Japanese attitude toward the United Within tolerable limits of generally, America may be specified as a society in which egalitarian interpersonal relationships are the ideal pattern and, in tendency at least, the predominant pattern of behavior. But in the United States, especially as the country emerges from political isolation, there also has appeared a tendency to rate other nations in a rough hierarchical order. Thus, some European nations in the spheres of art, literature, and the manufacture of sports cars would be acclaimed by many Americans as superior, and Americans are increasingly concerned about their technological position vis-a-vis Russia. However, this tendency to rate other nations hierarchically does not automatically translate itself into code of behavior for Americans to follow toward the people of other countries, as is the case for many Japanese. It may leave the social situation a little confused for the Americans, but in the background of thinking for many individual Americans is the notion that in social relations people should be treated initially as equals. A CULTURAL MODEL OF INTERACTION When a person from a national society with hierarchical tendencies encounters a person from a society with egalitarian tendencies, and moreover when the country of the latter is generally "high" in the estimation of the former, the idealized paradigm as shown in Figure 1 would be approximated. In this diagram, X, the person from a country with egalitarian views, behaves toward Y, the person from a hierarchically oriented country, as if he occupied the same "level"; that is, in equalitarian terms. Figure 1. But Y perceives X in a high-status position X1, "above" X's image of his own status in the relationship. Since from Y's point of view X does not behave as he "ought" to—he behaves as an equal rather than as a superior—Y may be expected to feel confusion and disorientation. The confusion can be resolved readily only by Y's assuming an equal status with X, or by X's assuming the position X1 assigned to him by Y; i.e., either by closing or by validating the "arc of status-cue confusion" shown by the arrow. The reader will note that in effect we have already substituted A revealing interchange on the matter of status imagery by some twelve M: As I see it, Japanese think of Americans as nobility. So, it is hard to accept invitations because of the status difference. K: I don't agree fully. Americans are not nobility to us, but they do have a higher social status, so that it is hard to accept invitations. But there is a "category" of persons who are known and placed as "foreign students," and we can take advantage of this general foreign student status and go to American homes and places. N: During foreign student orientation we came and went as we desired as "foreign students." But here, as an individual person, I have felt it necessary to return invitations which are extended to me, and this I find very difficult since I have no income and must return the invitation in a manner suited to the status of the person. M: Only if the invitation is from Americans who we can accept as
status equals to us should it be returned. . . . American table manners are
difficult to learn, and it is a problem similar to that encountered by
anyone who attempts to enter a higher social class in Japan. . . . Japanese
just can't stand on an equal footing with Americans. ... I wouldn't want an N: Why? That seems extreme. M: Because I have social aspirations. I am a "climber." A Japanese house in Tokyo is too dirty to invite an American to—for example, could I invite him to use my poor bathroom? (General laughter) At a later point in the discussion, the following emerged: Mrs. N: I have watched American movies in Japan and in the United M: Again I say it is not a matter of beauty, but one of status. Mrs. N: No, it is not status—not calculation of economic worth or
anything —but of beauty. Americans are more beautiful—they look nicer than U: It is the same in other things. Americans look nice, for example, during an oral examination in college. They look more attractive. Japanese look down, crushed, ugly. At a still later point, one of the discussants embarked on a long monologue on the ramifications of the status problem. Part of this monologue runs as follows: A high-status Japanese man going out with American girls knows
something of what he must do—for example, he must be polite—but he does not
know the language so he can be no competition to American men, who will be
superior. In an emergency, for example, the Japanese male regresses to 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. 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 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 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) SEVEN STATEMENTS ABOUT AMERICANS Here is a list of comments a non-American might make about an 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 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 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 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 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?", 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 country. Third, Americans like cards, sometimes I can find cards are delivered to my American friends without special reasons. As far as I look at Americans, they seem not to care what other people do as a whole, while they think it's important to keep relation-ships between them and their friends and them and their parents." AMERICANS AND MONEY MARY'S FEELING BLUE Mary Rathbun, 57, spent a restless night in the San Francisco jail thinking about the "magical cookies" that she baked to add to her fixed income. "The police wouldn't let me have one before I went to jail," she said. "I might have slept better if they had." Mary started her home baking business six months ago after a back injury forced her to quit her job as a grave-yard shift waitress. "I was a waitress for 43 years. I was good at it." Mary's dozen magical brownies, which were baked with a lot of marijuana, were taken Wednesday night from her apartment, along with 20 pounds of pot and large amounts of sugar, margarine and flour. Mary, who has no previous criminal record, admitted doing a great business out of her home selling her "health food cookies." She said that she wouldn't give away her special recipe. Mary advertised her "original recipe brownies" for $20 a dozen. Her lack of carefulness, especially taking orders over the phone from anyone amazed and amused the police officers who arrested her. "Life is a gamble. I played by the rules for 57 years. Then I gambled and lost." True, Americans enjoy money and the things it can buy. But in defense
of the so-called materialistic American, one expert in American culture
points out, ". . . however eager we are to make money, we are just as eager
to give it away. Any world disaster finds Americans writing checks to
relieve distress. Since the war we have seen the spectacle of the United The average American is also accused of being "rough around the edges" |
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