Ameiican Cultuie

Inuiviuualism anu Piivacy

Instiuctoi: }oe Nilan
Nateiial mouifieu fiom: "The values Ameiicans Live by" By Robeit Kohls
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1.) When you think of the woiu "Inuiviuualism," what uo you think of.
a. What is the woiu tianslateu in Koiean. Boes it have a positive oi
negative feeling (connotation).

2.) When uo you piefei to have time alone, without fiienus oi family.
a. Bo you believe it's tiue foi most people in Koiea.

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The inuiviuualism which has been uevelopeu in the westein woilu since
the )*-",//"-0*, beginning in the late 1Sth centuiy, has taken its most
exaggeiateu foim in 1234 0*-3&#5 0niteu States. Beie, each inuiviuual is seen as
completely anu maivelously &-,6&*, that is, totally uiffeient fiom all othei
inuiviuuals anu, theiefoie, piecious anu wonueiful.
Ameiicans think they aie moie inuiviuualistic in theii thoughts anu
actions than, in fact, they aie. They #*/,/3 being thought of as iepiesentatives of a
47$7.*-*7&/ .#7&', whatevei the gioup. They may, anu uo, join gioups -- in
fact many gioups -- but somehow believe they'ie just a little unique, just a little
special, fiom othei membeis of the same gioup. Anu they tenu to leave gioups as
easily as they entei them.
Piivacy, the ultimate iesult of inuiviuualism, is peihaps even moie
uifficult foi the foieignei to compiehenu. The woiu "piivacy" uoes not even exist
in many languages. If it uoes, it is likely to have a stiongly negative 07--73"3,7-,
suggesting loneliness oi isolation fiom the gioup. In the 0niteu States, piivacy is
not only seen as a veiy positive conuition, but it is also vieweu as a iequiiement
which all humans woulu finu equally necessaiy, uesiiable anu satisfying. It is not
uncommon foi Ameiicans to say -- anu believe - such statements as "If I uon't
have at least an houi a uay to myself, I will go /3"#8 #"9,-. $"+."
Inuiviuualism, as it exists in the 0niteu States, uoes mean that you will
finu a much gieatei vaiiety of opinions (along with the absolute fieeuom to
expiess them anywheie anu anytime) heie. Yet, in spite of this wiue iange of
peisonal opinion, almost all Ameiicans will ultimately vote foi one of the two
majoi political paities. This is what was meant by the statement maue eailiei
that Ameiicans take piiue in cieuiting themselves with claiming moie
inuiviuualism than, in fact, they ieally have.

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S.) Think about the uiffeient gioups you'ie pait of. (Consiuei school clubs,
social gioups, etc.)
a. When you'ie pait of a gioup, is theie any type of special clothes oi
style that iepiesents the gioup.
b. Bo you often feel that you'ie a little bit uiffeient fiom otheis in the
gioup. (consiuei opinionsactions etc.)
c. Bow often uo you feel piessuie to "fit in" (to match the behavioi,
actions, anu opinions) of a gioup you'ie pait of.
Ameiican Cultuie
Inuiviuualism anu Piivacy
Instiuctoi: }oe Nilan
Nateiial mouifieu fiom: "The values Ameiicans Live by" By Robeit Kohls

4.) In Koiea, uo you think people aie encouiageu to be pait of a gioup oi
moie inuiviuual. What examples can you think of.
a. Bo you feel this is a goou thing oi a bau thing.

S.) 0ften celebiities say that they have little to no piivacy. Bo you believe this
is tiue.
a. Bo you feel that piivacy, time to be alone, is impoitant. Whywhy
not.

6.) Bow often uo you meet people with veiy uiffeient opinions than you.
a. Bo you think a vaiiety of opinions, (anu people willing to expiess
it), is a goou oi a bau thing.

7.) When someone has a uiffeient opinion about a subject, how uo people
ieact. Consiuei:
a. Politics
b. Nusic taste
c. Noials
u. Bating
e. Bistoiy
f. 0thei. (choose youi own topic)