on U.S. history in Chapter 5, the emphasis on individualism arose from the early
settlers’desire to escape the repressive conditions that then characterized European
society. Regardless of the context, whether societal, ethical, or sexual, among U.S.
Americans, the individual occupies the pivotal position. This notion is so strong
that some U.S. Americans see a person who fails to demonstrate individuality as
being out of step with society. Irrespective of being conveyed by literature, art, or
U.S. history, the message is the same—individual achievement, sovereignty, and
freedom are the virtues most glorified and canonized.
Despite today’s stress on personal freedom and individual rights, U.S. citizens also
have a very distinct group orientation. Chapter 5 reported that one scholar had char-
acterized the United States as a culture of voluntarism, where people participate in
groups of their own choosing.^24 Gannon and Pillai bring this point out:“Americans
are also group-oriented and being part of a group or network and identifying with it is
essential for success in almost all instances. Within the group structure specialization
is exalted and everyone is expected to add value to the final product or service
because of it.”^25 But we add that among the group members, there is no sense of
mutual obligation beyond the task at hand.
This concept is readily illustrated by using sports as a metaphor. Baseball has
designated hitters, pinch hitters, and relief pitchers. Football has placekickers, spe-
cialty teams, punt returners, and other specialists. In each case, a person’s specialty
is used to benefit the entire team (group)while concurrently providing a degree of
individual identity. But the team members may or may not have any contact with
each other off the field.Self-Help
The importance U.S. Americans place on self-help and personal achievement is an out-
growth of the values of independence, equality, and individuality, which are exempli-
fied in commonly heard expressions such as“be self-reliant,”“stand on your own two
feet,”or“don’t depend on others.”In the United States, your family name or the school
attended will normally only help you to get an initial introduction or interview. Any
subsequent gain must be earned through personal merit. Theoretically, the concept of
equality underlying U.S. societal structure provides everyone the same opportunity for
material and social improvement. One just has to work for it. The opportunity to go
from rags to riches remains a fundamental American belief and can be seen in the polit-
ical careers of Presidents Clinton and Obama. Both started from humble beginnings
and went on ultimately to sit in the Oval Office. The nineteenth-century English
poet William Henley succinctly captured this U.S. value of self-mastery when he
wrote,“I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”
The value of personal self-reliance and individual responsibility in the United
States underlies the call for smaller governmentbysomeconservativegroups.
Their attitude is that there should be less governmental intrusion into people’s
lives, and that includes reducing many ofthe government-funded social support
programs. In other words, these groups think that many of the aid programs erode
the individual’s self-reliance, a trait that helped found the nation.Competition and Free Enterprise
A positive attitude toward competition is an integral part of life in the United
States and begins during childhood. Whether it is through games or being210 CHAPTER 6•Cultural Values: Road Maps for Behavior
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