Introduction
Culture is an integral part of any society and is deeply rooted in people’s beliefs, values, and customs. It serves as a guide to decision-making, a source of identity, and a means of communication. Chinese and American cultures are two of the world’s oldest and most influential cultures. Both have had a profound impact on the development of the world, yet they differ greatly in many ways. This essay will compare and contrast Chinese and American cultures, looking at their values and customs.
Familial Priorities in Chinese and American Societies
One of the greatest disparities between Chinese and American societies is the weight given to familial relations. Chinese families are regarded as the foundation of their civilization, and filial piety is a revered cornerstone (Muthukrishna et al., 2020). In contrast, family is not prioritized in the U.S., and familial bonds are not as strong. Instead, American culture is focused on autonomy, self-sufficiency, and independence, sometimes even at the cost of forsaking family ties.
Cultural Values and Foundational Beliefs
Chinese and American cultures also differ in terms of values and beliefs. Chinese culture is largely based on Confucianism, which advocates for harmony, respect, and loyalty (Ju et al., 2019). American culture is based on Judeo-Christian values emphasizing individualism, justice, and personal responsibility (Angus & Jhally, 2022). While both cultures value education, Chinese culture greatly emphasizes hard work and discipline.
Communication Styles and Social Interaction
There are discrepancies between Chinese and American cultures regarding communicative and interactive practices. In China, communication is frequently subtle, and people prioritize harmony in their social engagements (Muthukrishna et al., 2020). Conversely, Americans usually communicate candidly and focus primarily on the task in question. This can lead to a lack of understanding between the two cultures. For instance, Chinese people may view American directness as impolite, and Americans may see Chinese indirectness as evasive. Different expressions and body language can further complicate the communication process.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Chinese and American cultures differ in many ways. Chinese culture is based on family, Confucian values, and indirect communication, while American culture values individualism, Judeo-Christian values, and direct communication. These differences, however, should not be seen as a source of conflict but rather as an opportunity to learn from each other and to appreciate the beauty of different cultures.
References
Angus, I., & Jhally, S. (2022). Cultural Politics in Contemporary America. Routledge.
Ju, Y., Pan, Z., Chaffee, S. H., & Chu, G. C. (2019). To see ourselves: Comparing traditional Chinese and American values. Taylor & Francis.
Muthukrishna, Bell, A. V., Henrich, J., Curtin, C. M., Gedranovich, A., McInerney, J., & Thue, B. (2020). Beyond western, educated, industrial, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) psychology: Measuring and mapping scales of cultural and psychological distance. Psychological Science, 31(6) 678–701. Web.