American individualism - Essay Example

Teacher American individualism American society is known to be highly individualistic. Unlike in other societies (especially amongAsians and Middle Easterners) where the greater community plays a larger role in the component of their value system, American value system put a premium on themselves and thus are individualistic. Individualism became part of American culture as it is taught at home when children are still growing up. It is reinforced as a positive value by American society thereby cementing it as part of American culture.

And the continuous practice of individualism in every sphere of American life only make individualism to be the core of American value system. Individualism becomes part of American culture as it is nurtured in the homes a children grew up. As a child, American children are taught to become independent, both emotionally and economically by their family. This kind of upbringing is observable on how American raise their children. For example, when an American child falls down, the child is encouraged to stand up by himself or herself as a way of teaching individualism.

American children are also given their own rooms where they could do anything with it which nurtures individualism beginning at childhood. Individualism is also reinforced by society as the child grows up to become adult. Growing up, an American is often praised for doing things by himself or herself. Material success associated with the achievement of an individual is also glorified in American society. For example, individual success is featured in almost all of its media with all its material attachments making individualism a desirable trait because it is financially rewarding.

American society also puts more credit on individual success than collective success. The long held American idealism of freedom which is present in America psyche also equates to individualism that further reinforces individualism. Individualism is continuously practiced in American’s everyday life that make it integral in its culture. Individualism permeates in every sphere of American life cementing it as a value among Americans. This is expressed in many ways in American society. For example, Americans respect individual effort more than collective effort compared to other cultures such as the Thai.

American importance towards privacy and of leaving people alone to do their own business is also a manifestation of how individualism permeates and expressed in American’s everyday life. In sum, American individualism becomes part of American culture as it is taught beginning in their childhood, where these children are later encouraged to be individualistic during their growing up years and then practice it when they become adults. Individualism is literally taught early in childhood with how American parents raise their children.

Then, the American society in general encourages individualism as they reinforce it with praise, glorification and material success. Collective effort is also not a priority among Americans making the value system of individualism thrive in American society. And one of the main reason why individualism characterizes the American character is because it is tied with the deeply held American notion of freedom. .