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Table of Contents
Preface to the Second Edition...........................................xi
Acknowledgments...............................................xvii
Introduction.........................................................xix
On Understanding..................................................xx
How Much Generalizing Is Acceptable?........................xxii
On Asking “Why?”.............................................xxvi
How Americans See Themselves.............................xxvii
How Americans See Foreigners................................xxix
On Describing Americans......................................xxxi
Part I General Ideas about American Culture...........1
Chapter 1: American Values and Assumptions....................3
Individualism, Freedom, Competitiveness,
and Privacy......................................................5
Equality..........................................................14
Informality...........................................................................................16
The Future, Change, and Progress.......................................18
Goodness of Humanity..............................................................19
Time........................................................................................................22
Achievement, Action, Work, and Materialism...............24
Directness and Assertiveness..................................................27
Chapter 2: The Communicative Style of Americans.......33
Preferred Discussion Topics.....................................................34
Favorite Forms of Interaction..................................................37
Depth of Involvement Sought................................................40
Channels Preferred........................................................................42
Level of Meaning Emphasized...............................................53
Chapter 3: Ways of Reasoning....................................................55
The Context........................................................................................56
The Point..............................................................................................58
The Organization............................................................................60
The Evidence......................................................................................61
The Cause............................................................................................65
Chapter 4: Differences in Customs...........................................67
Part II Specific Aspects of American Life ....................75
Chapter 5: Politics................................................................................77
The Rule of Law...............................................................................80
The Ideal of Compromise..........................................................81
Politics Apart......................................................................................82
Chapter 6: Family Life........................................................................85
What Foreigners Notice..............................................................86
The Changing Family....................................................................88
Raising Children..............................................................................90
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors...........................................98
Chapter 7: Education.......................................................................101
Guiding Ideals................................................................................102
Social Forces Affecting American Education...............110
Issues Facing American Schools.........................................113
Advantages and Disadvantages..........................................115
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors.........................................117
Chapter 8: Religion............................................................................119
The General Context..................................................................120
Religion and Individual Americans...................................124
Exceptions........................................................................................125
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors........................................127
Chapter 9: The Media.....................................................................129
What Is American about the American Media?........130
Americans’ Views of Their Media......................................133
Misconceptions the Media Promote...............................136
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors........................................139
Chapter 10: Social Relationships...............................................141
Meeting New People.................................................................143
The American Concept of Friendship.............................145
Relationships Prescribed by Roles....................................148
Courtesy, Schedules, Gifts......................................................150
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors........................................153
Chapter 11: Racial and Ethnic Diversity...............................155
What Foreign Visitors See......................................................156
How Americans View Race and Ethnic Relations....162
Austin, Texas: A Case Study..................................................167
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors........................................169
Chapter 12: Male-Female Relationships.............................173
Influences on Male-Female Relationships....................174
Male-Female Relationships in Various Settings........179
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors........................................186
Chapter 13: Sports and Recreation........................................187
Sports..................................................................................................188
Recreation.........................................................................................191
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors........................................193
Chapter 14: Driving..........................................................................195
General Information..................................................................196
Traffic Laws......................................................................................197
Attitudes about Driving...........................................................198
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors........................................201
Chapter 15: Shopping.....................................................................203
Advertising.......................................................................................204
Pricing.................................................................................................206
Customer-Clerk Relationships.............................................206
Sales Tactics.....................................................................................208
Procedures for Returning and Exchanging..................209
Private Sales.....................................................................................210
Precautions for Shoppers from Abroad.........................210
Chapter 16: Personal Hygiene....................................................213
The Basics..........................................................................................214
Variations...........................................................................................217
Other Issues Concerning Hygiene.....................................218
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors.........................................219
Chapter 17: Getting Things Done in Organizations....221
Misconceptions............................................................................222
Characteristics of U.S. Organizations..............................224
Suggestions for Dealing with U.S. Organizations...226
Chapter 18: Behavior in Public Places..................................229
Rules for Behavior in Public Places...................................229
Communication Behaviors....................................................232
Suggestions for Foreign Visitors........................................234
Chapter 19: Studying.......................................................................235
Assumptions Underlying the Higher
Education System...................................................................236
Student-Student Relationships............................................237
Student-Professor Relationships.......................................239
Roommate Relationships........................................................241
Plagiarism.........................................................................................244
Suggestions for Foreign Students.....................................245
Chapter 20: Business......................................................................247
Doing Business in the United States...............................250
The Global Economy.................................................................257
Suggestions for Foreign Businesspeople
and Future Businesspeople..............................................258
Part III Coping with Cultural Differences .................259
Chapter 21: Some Helpful Ideas..............................................261
Expectations....................................................................................262
Personality Characteristics.....................................................262
Traits and Situations..................................................................264
Culture Shock and Stages of Adjustment.....................265
D-I-E....................................................................................................267
Chapter 22: Activities for Learning about
American Culture.........................................................................271
Ask Questions...............................................................................272
Learn and Practice Local English.......................................273
Take Field Trips..............................................................................275
Talk with Experienced Foreigners......................................280
Keep a Journal..............................................................................281
Learn the Names of Local and Institutional VIPs....281
Read, Reflect....................................................................................282
View Yourself as a Teacher....................................................284
Conclusion............................................................................................285
Bibliography.........................................................................................289
About the Author..............................................................................295