Section outline

  • Universal Generalizations
    ::普遍化

    A nation’s history, political and economic systems contribute to the nation’s value system.
    ::一个国家的历史、政治和经济制度有助于国家的价值体系。

    A society’s values change over time and new values emerge.
    ::一个社会的价值观随时间而变化,新的价值观出现。


    Objectives
    ::目标目标目标和目标目标目标目标目标

    Analyze the basic values that form the foundation of American culture.
    ::分析构成美国文化基础的基本价值观。

    Describe and explain new values that have developed in the United States since the 1970’s.
    ::描述并解释美国自1970年代以来发展的新价值。

     

    Guiding Questions
    ::问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问 问

    What are the basic values that form the foundation of American culture?
    ::构成美国文化基础的基本价值观是什么?

    What new values have developed in the U.S.  since the 1970’s?
    ::20世纪70年代以来,美国发展了哪些新的价值观?

    How does a country’s history play a role in the values it develops?
    ::一个国家的历史如何在它所发展的价值观中发挥作用?

    Why might a country’s values change over time?
    ::为什么一个国家的价值观会随时间而变化?


    Core American Values Professor Henry Schissler
    ::美国核心价值观教授 Henry Schissler

    Core American Values
    ::核心美国核心价值

    The United States, a pluralistic society, is made up of many different groups. They represent different political and social ideologies, religions and racial-ethnic groups, as well as countless thousands of interest groups that center around such divergent activities as collecting Barbie dolls and hunting quail.
    ::美国是一个多元化的社会,由许多不同的群体组成。 它们代表不同的政治和社会意识形态、宗教和种族-种族群体,以及无数以收集芭比娃娃和狩猎奎尔等不同活动为中心的利益集团。

    But we do share core values (macro-level non-material culture). These values are generally assumed to be “the American way” and are taught to school children as morality and signs of good character. We are all socialized to believe in them through media presentations, political speeches, and in the workplace. Sociologist Robin Williams (no, not him) first identified these values in 1965.
    ::但是,我们确实有着共同的核心价值观(宏观非物质文化 ) 。 这些价值观通常被假定为“美国的方式 ” , 并且作为道德和良好品格的标志教给学校儿童。 我们都通过媒体演讲、政治演讲和工作场所来相信这些价值观。 1965年,社会学家罗宾·威廉斯(Robin Williams ) ( no, not him)首先确定了这些价值观。

    1. Individualism (“Consistent Persistence”) Americans have traditionally prized success that comes from individual effort and initiative. They cherish the ideal that an individual can rise from the bottom of society to its very top. If someone fails to “get ahead,” Americans generally find fault with that individual, rather than with the social system for placing roadblocks in his or her path.
    ::1. 个人主义( " 坚持坚持主义 " )美国人历来珍视来自个人努力和倡议的成功,他们珍视个人能够从社会底层升至社会顶端的理想。 如果有人不 " 向前看 " ,美国人一般会发现与个人有过错,而不是社会制度在他或她的道路上设置路障。

    2. Achievement and Success (“Success Emphasis”) Americans place a high value on personal achievement, especially outdoing others. This value includes getting ahead at work and school, and attaining wealth, power, and prestige.
    ::2. 成就和成功(“成功重点”)美国人高度评价个人成就,特别是超越他人的成就,这种价值包括在工作和学校中向前迈进,以及获得财富、权力和声望。

    3. Activity and Work (“Work for Work’s Sake”) Americans expect people to work hard and to be busily engaged in some activity even when not at work.
    ::3. 活动与工作( " 工作为工作 " )美国人期望人们努力工作,即使在不工作的情况下也忙于从事某些活动。

    4. Efficiency and Practicality Americans award high marks for getting things done efficiently. Even in everyday life, Americans consider it important to do things fast, and they constantly seek ways to increase efficiency.
    ::4. 效率和实用性美国人对高效率地完成事情给予很高的评分,即使在日常生活中,美国人也认为必须迅速完成事情,并不断寻求提高效率的方法。

    5. Science and Technology Americans have a passion for applied science, for using science to control nature – to tame rivers and harness wind – and to develop new technology, from motorized scooters to talking computers.
    ::5. 美籍科技人士热衷应用科学、利用科学控制自然 — — 驯服河流和风力 — — 以及开发新技术,从机动摩托车到有声电脑。

    6. Progress Americans expect rapid technological change. They believe that they should constantly build “more and better” gadgets that will help them move toward that vague goal called “progress.”
    ::6. 进步的美国人期望迅速的技术变革,他们认为他们应该不断建立 " 更多更好的 " 工具,帮助他们迈向被称为 " 进步 " 的模糊目标。

    7. Material Comfort Americans expect a high level of material comfort. This comfort includes not only good nutrition, medical care, and housing, but also late-model cars and recreational playthings – from boats o computer games.
    ::7. 美国人所期望的物质舒适程度很高,这种舒适不仅包括良好的营养、医疗和住房,而且还包括老式汽车和娱乐玩物 — — 来自游艇的电脑游戏。

    8. Humanitarianism Americans emphasize helpfulness, personal kindness, aid in mass disasters, and organized philanthropy.
    ::8. 美国人的人道主义主义强调帮助、个人友善、大规模灾害援助和有组织的慈善。

    9. Freedom This core value pervades U.S. life. It underscored the American Revolution, and Americans pride themselves on their personal freedom.
    ::9. 自由这一核心价值贯穿美国的生活,突出了美国革命,美国人为自己的个人自由感到自豪。

    10. Democracy By this term, Americans refer to majority rule, to the right of everyone to express an opinion, and to representative government.
    ::10. 从这个意义上说,民主是指多数人统治、每个人表达意见的权利和代议制政府。

    11. Equality It is impossible to understand Americans without being aware of the central role that the value of equality plays in their lives. Equality of opportunity has significantly influenced U.S. history and continues to mark relations between groups that make up U.S. society.
    ::11. 不认识到平等的价值在其生活中所起的核心作用,就不可能理解美国人,机会平等对美国历史产生了重大影响,并继续标志着构成美国社会的各个群体之间的关系。

    12. Racism and Group Superiority Although it contradicts freedom, democracy, and equality, Americans value some groups more than others and have done so throughout their history. The slaughter of Native Americans and the enslaving of Africans are the most notorious examples.
    ::12. 种族主义和集团高权凌驾于自由、民主和平等之上,但美国人比其他美国人更重视某些群体,而且在整个历史上都如此,屠杀美洲原住民和奴役非洲人是最臭名昭著的例子。

    In 1975, Sociologist James Henslin updated Williams’ analysis be adding three values.
    ::1975年,社会学家James Henslin更新了Williams的分析,增加了三个值。

    1. Education Americans are expected to go as far in school as their abilities and finances allow. Over the years, the definition of an “adequate” education has changed, and today a college education is considered an appropriate goal for most Americans. Those who have an opportunity for higher education and do not take it are sometimes viewed as doing something “wrong” – not merely as making a bad choice, but as somehow being involved in an immoral act.
    ::多年来, " 充分 " 教育的定义发生了变化,如今,对大多数美国人来说,大学教育被认为是一个适当的目标。 那些有机会接受高等教育而没有接受高等教育的人有时被视为做了一些 " 错误 " 的事情 — — 不仅仅是做出错误的选择,而且不知何故参与了不道德的行为。

    2. Religiosity There is a feeling that “every true American ought to be religious.” This does not mean that everyone is expected to join a church, synagogue, or mosque, but that everyone ought to acknowledge a belief in a Supreme Being and follow some set of matching precepts. This value is so pervasive that Americans stamp “In God We Trust” on their money and declare in their national pledge of allegiance that they are “one nation under God.”
    ::有一种感觉是,“每个真正的美国人都应该是宗教的。” 这并不意味着每个人都应该加入教堂、犹太会堂或清真寺,而是每个人都应该承认对一个至高无上者的信仰,并遵循一套匹配的戒律,这种价值非常普遍,以至于美国人在自己的钱上贴上“我们信任上帝”的印记,并在他们的民族誓言中宣布,他们是“上帝统治下的一个国家 ” 。

    3. Romantic Love Americans feel that the only proper basis for marriage is romantic love. Songs, literature, mass media, and “folk beliefs” all stress this value. They especially love the theme that “love conquers all.” 
    ::3. 浪漫的美国人认为婚姻的唯一适当基础是浪漫的爱情,歌唱、文学、大众媒体和 " 大众信仰 " 都强调这一价值,他们特别喜欢 " 爱征服所有人 " 的主题。

    13 Commonly Held American Values
    ::13 共同持有的美国价值

    By L. Robert Kohls
    ::由L. Robert Kohls著

    1. Personal control over the environment - Americans do not generally believe in the power of fate; they see this as superstitious and reflective of an unwillingness to take initiative. Life’s problems tend to be viewed as coming from one’s laziness or unwillingness to take responsibility, rather than from bad luck.
    ::1. 个人对环境的控制 -- -- 美国人一般不相信命运的力量;他们认为这是迷信,反映了不愿意主动;生活问题往往被视为来自懒惰或不愿承担责任,而不是来自厄运。

    2. Change - Americans tend to see change as good, leading to development, improvement, and progress. More traditional cultures see change as destructive; they value stability and tradition.
    ::2. 变化 -- -- 美国人往往认为变化是好的,导致发展、改善和进步,更多的传统文化认为变化是破坏性的;他们重视稳定和传统。

    3. Time - Time is of utmost importance to Americans. Time is something to be on, kept, filled, saved, lost, wasted, and even killed. Americans tend to be more concerned with getting things done on time than they are with interpersonal relationships. Americans stop discussions abruptly in order to make appointments on time and to be productive.
    ::3. 时间 -- -- 时间对美国人来说至关重要,时间是需要持续、保存、填充、保存、丢失、浪费甚至杀害的东西。 美国人往往比人际关系更关心及时解决问题。 美国人突然停止讨论,以便及时预约并富有成效。

    4. Equality and fairness - Equality is so valued in American culture that it is seen as having a religious basis. At least in theory, Americans believe that all people are created equal and that everyone should have equal opportunities.
    ::4. 平等和公平 -- -- 美国文化如此珍视平等,认为平等具有宗教基础,至少从理论上讲,美国人认为人人平等,人人机会平等。

    5. Individualism and interdependence - Americans tend to view themselves as highly individualistic and resist being thought of as part of any homogenous group. Individualism leads to privacy, which most Americans highly value. It is interesting to note that the word for “privacy” does not even exist in many non- Western languages.
    ::5. 个人主义和相互依存——美国人往往把自己视为高度个人主义,并抵制被看作任何同质群体的一部分,个人主义导致隐私,而大多数美国人高度重视隐私,值得注意的是,许多非西方语言中甚至没有 " 隐私 " 一词。

    6. Self-help and initiative - Americans tend to take credit for accomplishments as individuals, and they tend to value the “self-made” man or woman.
    ::6. 自助和主动性 -- -- 美国人往往把成绩归功于个人,他们往往重视 " 自制 " 的男子或妇女。

    7. Competition - Americans tend to believe that competition brings out the best in people, and “free enterprise” is valued in many areas of life.
    ::7. 竞争 -- -- 美国人往往认为,竞争在人民中产生最佳效果, " 自由企业 " 在许多生活领域受到重视。

    8. Future orientation - Americans tend to value the future, devalue the past, and to an extent, are unaware of the present. Many Americans work so hard and think so much about their future that a perfectly happy present often goes unnoticed.
    ::8. 未来方向 -- -- 美国人往往重视未来,贬低过去,而且在某种程度上不了解现在,许多美国人如此努力地工作,思考自己的未来,以至于一个幸福的现在常常被忽视。

    9. Action/work orientation - Americans tend to see any action as superior to inaction. Americans tend to schedule an active life and schedule in time for relaxation. Often the first question people ask each other when meeting is, “What do you do?” meaning what is their profession.
    ::9. 行动/工作方向 -- -- 美国人往往认为任何行动优于无所作为;美国人往往安排积极的生活和时间安排,以便及时放松;人们通常首先问对方,见面时“你做什么?” 意味着他们的职业是什么。

    10. Informality - Americans are more informal than many other cultures. For example, many Americans call their bosses by their first names, dress is more casual attire, even at formal events, and even greetings are casual (e.g., “Hi” rather than, “Hello, how are you?”).
    ::10. 非正式性 -- -- 美国人比许多其他文化更非正式,例如,许多美国人用自己的名字称呼他们的老板,穿衣更随意,甚至在正式活动时也是如此,甚至问候也是随意的(例如, " Hi " ,而不是 " 你好,你好吗? " )。

    11. Directness, openness, and honesty - Americans tend to prefer the direct approach to delivering information, no matter how unpleasant. Americans tend to see honesty as most important, and anyone who uses an intermediary to deliver unpleasant information is seen as manipulative and untrustworthy.
    ::11. 直接、开放和诚实 — — 美国人倾向于直接传递信息,无论多么令人不快。 美国人往往认为诚实是最重要的,而任何利用中间人传递不愉快信息的人都被视为操纵性和不可信。

    12. Practicality and efficiency - The reputation of Americans is practical and efficient. They tend to value rational and objective decisions over emotional and subjective ones, and the pragmatic approach is the overwhelming philosophy.
    ::12. 实用性和效率 -- -- 美国人的声誉是实用和高效的,他们往往把理性和客观的决定看重于情感和主观的决定,而务实的做法是压倒一切的哲学。

    13. Materialism and acquisitiveness - Foreigners tend to consider Americans to be very materialistic. Americans tend to give high priority to obtaining, maintaining, and protecting material objects, and they value newness and innovation. 
    ::13. 实事求是和公平 -- -- 外国人往往认为美国人非常实事求是。 美国人往往把获取、维护和保护物质物品放在高度优先地位,他们重视新事物和创新。

    Cultures have values that are largely shared by their members. The values of a can often be identified by noting that which people receive, honor or respect.
    ::文化有其成员基本上共享的价值观,人们的价值观往往可以通过指出人们得到的、荣誉或尊重来辨别。

    Values are related to the norms of a culture, but they are more global and abstract than norms. Norms are rules for behavior in specific situations, while values identify what should be judged as either good or evil. Flying the national flag on a holiday is a norm, but it reflects the value of patriotism. Wearing dark clothing and appearing solemn are normative behaviors at a funeral; in certain cultures, they reflect the values of respect and support for friends and family.
    ::价值观与文化规范相关,但比规范更具全球性和抽象性。规范是特定情况下的行为规则,而价值观则确定什么是好或坏。 节日悬挂国旗是一种规范,但反映了爱国主义的价值。 穿黑衣和庄严露面是葬礼的规范行为;在某些文化中,它们反映了尊重和支持朋友和家庭的价值观。

    Different cultures reflect different values. American culture includes both conservative and liberal elements, such as scientific and religious competitiveness, political structures, risk taking and free expression, materialist and moral elements. Aside from certain consistent ideological principles (e.g. individualism, egalitarianism and faith in freedom and ), American culture's geographical scale and demographic diversity has spawned a variety of expressions. The flexibility of U.S. culture and its highly lead some researchers to categorize American culture as a mythic , while others recognize it as American exceptionalism.
    ::不同的文化反映了不同的价值观。 美国文化包括保守和自由元素,如科学和宗教竞争力、政治结构、冒险和自由表达、物质主义和道德元素。 除了某些一致的意识形态原则(如个人主义、平等主义和自由信仰以及 )外,美国文化的地理范围和人口多样性还催生了多种表现形式。 美国文化的灵活性及其高度的灵活性导致一些研究人员将美国文化归类为神话主义,而其他人则承认美国文化为例外主义。

    The Statue of Liberty

    The Statue of Liberty

    The Statue of Liberty symbolizes freedom, a fundamental American value.
    ::《自由女神像》象征着自由,这是美国的一项基本价值。

    Typical American values include achievement, success, equality, individualism, activity, work, education, efficiency, practicality, , progress, romance, monogamy, and technology, , materialism, and patriotism, humanitarianism, external , freedom, democracy and free enterprise. These values are embraced by most Americans and enshrined in American .
    ::美国典型的价值观包括成就、成功、平等、个性主义、活动、工作、教育、效率、实用性、进步、浪漫、一夫一妻制和技术、物质主义、爱国主义、人道主义、外部、自由、民主和自由企业。 这些价值观为大多数美国人所接受,并被美国所尊崇。

    Declaration of Independence

    Declaration of Independence
    Many fundamental American values are derived from the Declaration of Independence
    Since the late 1970's, the terms "traditional values" and"family values" have become synonymous in the U.S., and imply a congruence with mainstream Christianity . However, the term "family values" is arguably a modern politicized subset of traditional values, which is a larger concept, anthropologically speaking. Although It is also not necessarily a political idea, it has become associated with both the between and (as embodied by American politicians such as Ronald Reagan, Dan Quayle and George W. Bush), as well as the broader Christianity movement (as exemplified by Pat Robertson).

    Traditional values as "family values"?


    Traditional values as "family values"?

    Source: Boundless. “An Overview of U.S. Values.” Boundless Sociology . Boundless, 27 Jun. 2014. Retrieved 21 May. 2015 from
    ::资料来源:Boundless,“美国价值观概览”,Boundless Socilogy,Boundless,2014年6月27日,2014年6月27日。




    Edward Kain.  Innovative Techniques for Teaching Sociological Concepts.  American Sociological Association, Washington, DC, 1993.
    ::Edward Kain,《教学社会学概念的创新技术》,美国社会学协会,华盛顿特区,1993年。

    Rushworth Kidder .  Shared Values for a Troubled World. 
    ::Rushworth Kidder,一个麻烦世界的共同价值。

    Benjamin Franklin’s 13 virtues he considered important for America
    ::本杰明·富兰克林的13种美德,他认为对美国很重要