美國人的價值觀

So you're going to visit the United States? Great! But be prepared: the values Americans live by may seem strange to you. As a result， you might find their actions confusing， or even unbelievable.

這么說你要去美國了？好極了！不過，得先做好心理準備：美國人所遵循的價值觀或許在你看來有些奇怪。要是那樣的話，你可能會覺得他們的行為令人困惑甚至難以置信。

Personal Control over the Environment

Americans do not believe in the power of fate. They think that everyone should have control over whatever in the environment might potentially affect him or her. The problems of one's life are not seen as having resulted from bad luck as much as having come from one's laziness and unwillingness to take responsibility in pursuing a better life.

Changes Seen as Natural and Positive

In the American mind， change is seen as indisputably1) good， leading to development， improvement， and progress. Many older， more traditional cultures consider change disruptive2) and destructive; they value stability， continuity， tradition， and ancient heritage—none of which are considered very important in the United States.

Time and Its Control

Time is of utmost importance to most Americans. It is something to be on， kept， saved， used， spent， wasted， lost， gained， planned， given， even killed. Americans are more concerned with getting things accomplished on time than they are with developing interpersonal3) relations. Their lives seem controlled by the little machines they wear on their wrists， cutting their discussions off abruptly to make their next appointment on time.

Equality/ Fairness

Equality is so cherished in the U.S. that it is seen as having a religious basis. Americans believe that all people are created equal and that all should have an equal opportunity to succeed. This concept of equality is strange to seven-eighths of the world which views status and authority as desirable4)， even if they happen to be near the bottom of the social order.

Individualism/ Independence

Americans view themselves as highly individualistic in their thoughts and actions. They resist being thought of as representatives of any homogeneous5) group. When they do join groups， they believe they are special—Just a little different from other members of the same group. In the U.S. you will find people freely expressing a variety of opinions anywhere and anytime. Individualism leads to privacy， which Americans see as desirable. It is not uncommon for Americans to say， and almost to believe: \"If I don't have half an hour a day to myself， I go stark-raving6) mad!\"

Self-help Initiative7)

Americans take credit only for8) what they accomplish as individuals. They get no credit for having been born into a rich family but pride themselves in having climbed the ladder of success， to whatever level， all by themselves. In an English-language dictionary， there are more than 100 composite words that have the word \"self\" as a prefix. The equivalent9) of these words cannot be found in most other languages. It is an indicator of how highly Americans regard the self-made man or woman.

Competition

Americans believe that competition brings out the best in10) any individual and in any system. This value is reflected in the American economic system of free enterprise， and it is applied in the U.S. in all areas—medicine， the arts， education， and sports.

Future Orientation11)

Americans value the culture and the improvements the future will surely bring. They devalue12) the past and are， to a large extent， unconscious of the present. Even a happy present goes largely unnoticed because Americans are hopeful that the future will bring even greater happiness. Since Americans believe that humans， not fate， can and should control the environment， they are good at planning short-term projects.

Action/ Work Orientation

\"Don't just stand there，\" says a typical bit of American advice \"do something!\" This expression， though normally used in a crisis situation， in a sense describes most Americans' waking life， where action—any action—is seen as superior to inaction. Americans routinely schedule an extremely active day. Any relaxation must be limited in time and aimed at \"recreating13)\" so that they can work harder once their \"recreation\" is over. Such a \"no-nonsense14)\" attitude toward life has created a class of people known as \"workaholics15)\".

Informality

Americans are even more informal and casual than their close relatives—the Western Europeans. For example， American bosses often urge their employees to call them by their first names and feel uncomfortable with the title \"Mr.\" or \"Ms.\". Dress is another area where American informality is most noticeable， perhaps even shocking. For example， one can go to a symphony performance in any large American city and find people dressed in blue jeans. Informality is also apparent in Americans' greetings. The more formal \"How are you?\" has largely been replaced with an informal \"Hi\". This is as likely to be used with one's superior as with one's best friend.

Directness/Openness/Honesty

Many other countries have developed subtle16)， sometimes highly ritualistic17)， ways of informing others of unpleasant information. Americans prefer the direct approach. They are likely to be completely honest in delivering their negative evaluations， and to consider anything other than the most direct and open approach to be \"dishonest\" and \"insincere\". Anyone in the U.S. who uses an intermediary18) to deliver the message will also be considered \"manipulative19)\" and \"untrustworthy\".

Practicality/Efficiency

Americans have a reputation for being realistic， practical， and efficient. The practical consideration is likely to be given highest priority in making any important decision. Will it make money? What is the bottom line? What can I gain from it? These are the kinds of questions Americans are likely to ask， rather than: Is it aesthetically20) pleasing? Will it be enjoyable? Will it advance the cause of knowledge? The love of \"practicality\" has also caused Americans to view some professions more favorably than others. Management and economics are much more popular in the United States than philosophy or anthropology21)， and law and medicine more valued than the arts.

個人左右環境

美國人不信“命”。他們認為每個人都應該掌控環境中任何可能對其產生潛在影響的事物。某個人生活中的問題與其說是壞運氣帶來的，倒不如說是由于他懶于、不愿承擔起追求更好生活的責任而造成的。

視“改變”為必然而積極

在美國人的心目中，“改變”毫無疑問是件好事，它能帶來發展、改善和進步。很多更為古老、更為傳統的文化認為“改變”就意味著混亂和破壞；他們推崇穩定、延續、傳統和歷史遺產——在美國人看來，這些沒有一個是十分重要的。

時間及時間管理

對大多數美國人而言，時間極其重要。人們要準時、守時、省時、用時、耗時、浪費時間、耽誤時間、爭取時間、計劃時間、限定時間，甚至打發時間。和發展人際關系相比，美國人更看重按時做完事情。他們的生活似乎被手腕上戴著的那塊小小機械所操控，那個小東西會令他們突然終止討論，以準時趕赴下一場約會。

平等/公平

“平等”在美國備受珍視，都到了被認為是有宗教基礎的地步。美國人相信人人生而平等，人人都應享有獲取成功的平等機會。這種平等的觀念對世界上十有八九的民眾而言都很難理解，這些人認為地位與權力是值得追求的，哪怕他們自己碰巧身處社會的最底層。

個人主義/獨立自主

美國人認為自己的思想和行為都是高度個人化的。他們不愿意被視為任何一個興趣相同的團體的代表。當他們真的加入團體時，他們認為自己是特別的——與同一團體的其他成員多少有些不同。在美國，你隨時隨地都會發現人們在自由發表著各式各樣的觀點。個人主義帶來個人隱私，而美國人對此非?？粗?。美國人常常會這么說，甚至這么認為：“我如果每天不能有半小時的獨處時間，就會發瘋！”

自立進取

美國人只對他們作為個人所取得的成就感到自豪。他們不以出身豪門為榮，而以僅憑己力攀登上成功的階梯為傲，無論攀到的是哪個高度。在英文字典中，有上百個以“self”為前綴的復合詞，但很難在其他大多數語言中找到和它們相對應的詞語。它表明了美國人對那些靠自我奮斗獲得成功的人是多么地尊敬。

競爭

美國人相信競爭能夠把任何個人、任何體制的長處充分發揮出來。這種價值觀體現在美國經濟制度的自由企業制度中，并被運用于美國的各個領域——醫療、藝術、教育、體育等之中。

未來至上

美國人看重未來必將帶來的文化與進步。他們貶低過去，并在很大程度上忽視當下。美國人甚至不太留意眼前的幸福，因為他們認為未來會帶來更大的幸福。由于美國人相信人類——而非命運——可以并且應該掌控環境，所以他們很擅長制定短期項目的計劃。

行動/工作至上

“別光在那兒站著！”是一句典型的讓人“做點兒什么”的美國式建議。這句話雖然通常用在緊急情況下，但從某種意義上，它道出了大多數美國人振奮的生活。在這種生活中，人們認為行動——任何行動——總是比不作為要好。美國人例行公事般地把一天的活動安排得滿滿的。任何休息放松都要有時間限制并且意在“調劑身心”，這樣一旦休整完畢，他們就能更加賣力地投入工作。正是這種“不能胡鬧”的生活態度造就出了一大批被稱為“工作狂”的人。

不拘小節

比起他們的西歐近親來，美國人更加不拘小節和隨意。比如，美國老板常會要求下屬直呼其名，而不太習慣被稱作“先生”或“女士”。美國人的著裝最能體現這種隨意性，有時甚至隨意得嚇人。比如，在任何一個美國大城市的交響音樂會，你都會看到現場有人穿著藍色的牛仔褲。美國人打招呼的方式也很隨意。較為正式的“你好嗎？”已經基本上被非正式的“嗨”所取代。不論是對好朋友，還是對上司，人們都會這么打招呼。

直接/坦率/誠實

在其他許多國家，人們在告訴別人不太好的消息時，會采用一種比較委婉，有時甚至是高度禮節性的說辭。美國人則更喜歡直言不諱。他們傾向于直截了當地提出反對意見，傾向于把所有不是最直接最坦白的表達方式視為“不誠實”、“不真誠”。在美國，任何通過中間人來傳話的人也會被視為“有控制欲”、“不值得信任”。

講求實際/效率

美國人素有注重實際、講求實用及追求效率的美譽。在做任何重大決定的時候，人們可能優先考慮的總是較為實際的問題。能賺到錢嗎？底線是什么？我從中能得到什么？這些都是美國人可能會問到的問題，他們不會問：它能帶來美的享受嗎？它會令人愉快嗎？它會讓人增長知識嗎？對“實用性”的喜好使美國人對某些職業尤為偏愛。在美國，管理學與經濟學比哲學和人類學要受歡迎得多，法律與醫學也比藝術更受重視。

Vocabulary

1.indisputably

[7IndIs5pju:tEblI] adv. 無可爭辯地；不容置疑地

2.disruptive [dIs5rQptIv] adj. 破壞性的；制造混亂的

3.interpersonal

[7IntE5pE:sEnEl] adj. 人與人之間的；個人之間的；人際(關系)的

4.desirable [dI5zaIErEbl] adj. 值得想望的；值得擁有的

5.homogeneous

[7hCmEu5dVi:nIEs] adj. 同類的；同性質的；相同特征的

6.stark-raving: 完全語無倫次地；stark [stB:k] adv. 完全，十足；raving [5reIvIN] adj. 狂野的，暴怒的

7.initiative [I5nIFIEtIv] n. 首創精神，進取心

8.take credit for (sth.): 為(某事)居功

9.equivalent

[I5kwIvElEnt] n. 意義相同的詞(或符號、表達法等)

10.bring out the best in sb./sth.: 把某人/某物的長處充分發揮出來

11.orientation

[7C:rIen5teIFEn] n. 確定方向，定方針

12.devalue [7di:5vAlju:] vt. 降低……的價值

13.recreate [5rekrIeIt] vi. 消遣，娛樂，游戲

14.no-nonsense

[5nEJ5nCnsEns] adj. 不許胡鬧的，嚴肅的；講求實際的

15.workaholic

[7wE:kE5hClIk] n. 工作狂

16.subtle [5sQtl] adj. 微妙的，隱晦的

17.ritualistic [7rItjuE5lIstIk] adj. 客套性的，禮節性的

18.intermediary

[7IntE5mi:dIErI] n. 調解人；中間人

19.manipulative

[mE5nIpjulEtIv] adj. 操作的；操縱的；控制的

20.aesthetically

[i:s5WetIkElI] adv. 美學地，審美地

21.anthropology

[7AnWrE5pClEdVI] n. 人類學