Article Summary
Janet Sanchez
Professor Cichelli
Sociology 100
March 8, 2015
Article Summary
In the article "Understanding American Worldview," the author J. LaVelle Ingram explains the cross cultural differences between Americans and immigrants. It also informs immigrants the atypical worldview of the American country they are adopting. Hence, these set of worldviews are categorized in five dimensions. In America, the first identified dimensions of worldview is that time focuses on the future instead of the past. Living for-the-moment and living according to the past are both perceived as inappropriate by American standards. Americans live in the future and find it crucial save money for their retirement or for their children’s education. On the other hand, some immigrants are more present oriented so they will spend money on only the most essential things they need at that moment. The concept that humans should be able to master nature is another aspect of the worldview. This worldview suggests that we should be able to defeat diseases at all costs, thus American families will take any surgical procedures necessary in order to cure their family member from a disease. However, some immigrants view this idea much more differently. They will consider the disease a reflection of some imbalance in living so changing their way of life would be more effective or that such disease is part of their destiny. We Americans would have trouble understanding such decisions. In the American perspective, the third identified dimension of worldview is that human nature is said to be good or mixed. The author declares that personal freedom is core value as it suggests that the society as a whole will function if you count on the individuals to live up to their best selves. The fewer constraints enforced on people the better. Some cultures, on the other had view human nature as pessimistic and selfish thus, it is considered bad. In this case, in order for people to stay on the right path they
Professor Cichelli
Sociology 100
March 8, 2015
Article Summary
In the article "Understanding American Worldview," the author J. LaVelle Ingram explains the cross cultural differences between Americans and immigrants. It also informs immigrants the atypical worldview of the American country they are adopting. Hence, these set of worldviews are categorized in five dimensions. In America, the first identified dimensions of worldview is that time focuses on the future instead of the past. Living for-the-moment and living according to the past are both perceived as inappropriate by American standards. Americans live in the future and find it crucial save money for their retirement or for their children’s education. On the other hand, some immigrants are more present oriented so they will spend money on only the most essential things they need at that moment. The concept that humans should be able to master nature is another aspect of the worldview. This worldview suggests that we should be able to defeat diseases at all costs, thus American families will take any surgical procedures necessary in order to cure their family member from a disease. However, some immigrants view this idea much more differently. They will consider the disease a reflection of some imbalance in living so changing their way of life would be more effective or that such disease is part of their destiny. We Americans would have trouble understanding such decisions. In the American perspective, the third identified dimension of worldview is that human nature is said to be good or mixed. The author declares that personal freedom is core value as it suggests that the society as a whole will function if you count on the individuals to live up to their best selves. The fewer constraints enforced on people the better. Some cultures, on the other had view human nature as pessimistic and selfish thus, it is considered bad. In this case, in order for people to stay on the right path they