John: Well, I caught Professor Brown’s lecture on American individualism.
Susan: Oh, how did you find it?
John: Enlightening. Americans glorify individualism. They believe individual interests rank above everything else.
Susan: Sounds intersting. It’s a sharp contrast to the oriental collectivism Professor Wang talked about last semester.
John: But you should know that the individualism in the United States is not necesssarily an equivalent for selfishness.
Susan: Then what does it mean in the States?
John: They believe all values, rights, and duties originate in individuals, so they emphasize individual initiative and independence.
Susan: There could be something in that. Of course in oriental countries the interests of the group are more important than anything else.
John: I So, it’s all the more necessary for foreigners to understand American culture, or they can’t hope to understand the importance of privacy in the West..
Susan: Maybe that’s the reason nuclear families outnumber extended families in the United States.
John: Right on! You’re catching on fast!
Susan: Now let me ask you a question.
John: Shoot. Go ahead.
Susan: Why do Americans cherish individualism more than oriental people?
John: I don’t know. Anyway, Professor Brown didn’t say.
Susan: One reason might be that American children stop sleeping with their parents at an early age. They learn independence early, so it’s deeply rooted.
John: Wow, that’s an intelligent guess!
