Table of Contents
Values
The Chinese Traditional Culture
- The Chinese people pay much attention to the traditional family roles according to which the father is the head of the family, and all the family members rely on the experience and wisdom of ancestors. That is why, the Chinese society can be discussed as based on the paternalistic pattern which determines the leading positions in the family and society (Bond, 2010, p. 220).
- The Chinese value collectivism and cooperation in the form of support for each other because the collective and family goals are prior in relation to the individual goals (Bond, 2010, p. 231).
- The Chinese people value the balanced relations with the environments and reflect them in the idea of Feng Shui (Bond, 2010, p. 222).
The American Chinese Culture
- The collectivistic approach is changed with the individualistic approach because of the focus on the individual’s needs and desires instead of focusing on the family’s needs (Mira, Martinez, & Cameselle, 2003, p. 119).
- American Chinese value independence and the role of individual in the society more than the personal role in the family because of the focus on individual achievements.
- Much attention is paid to the idea of personal success as a result of made efforts (Mira, Martinez, & Cameselle, 2003, p. 130).
Beliefs
The Chinese Traditional Culture
- Traditional Chinese beliefs are associated with three religious and philosophical movements followed by the Chinese people. Thus, the moral and religious beliefs of the Chinese people are determined by the principles of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism.
- The Chinese believe in different gods, natural powers, and in the idea of reincarnation significant to impact their moral behavior (Bond, 2010, p. 233).
- The moral beliefs are associated with the notion of retribution (bao) because the Chinese people believe in the role of their actions’ consequences (Bond, 2010, p. 234).
The American Chinese Culture
- The religious and philosophical visions of the American Chinese are presented as the combination of the points from Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Christianity; that is why many Chinese people believe in gods along with sharing the Christian visions (Mira, Martinez, & Cameselle, 2003, p. 128).
Behaviours
The Chinese Traditional Culture
- The Chinese people work hard to contribute to the collective needs and to complete their moral debt; and moreover, the Chinese’ working behaviours are based on the idea of cooperation (Bond, 2010, p. 41).
- The Chinese behave with references to the idea of shyness and sensitivity in order not to break the social balance. The Chinese are also focused on the idea of self-control associated with their philosophical and moral beliefs (Bond, 2010, p. 236).
- Much attention is paid to education because according to the Confucian tradition, all the people have the potential for the development (Bond, 2010, p. 218).
The American Chinese Culture
- Modern American Chinese are decisive in their behaviors because they are focused on completing the individual education and career goals. From this point, the Chinese people’s behaviors are self-centred and oriented to the personal development and achievements (Mira, Martinez, & Cameselle, 2003, p. 131).
- Modern American Chinese people are inclined to realize their potential in career in contrast to the traditional Chinese people’s focus on the family and children’s upbringing (Mira, Martinez, & Cameselle, 2003, p. 132).
References
Bond, M. H. (2010). The Oxford handbook of Chinese psychology. UK: Oxford University Press.
Mira, R., Martinez, J., & Cameselle, J. (2003). Culture, environmental action and sustainability. USA: Hogrefe & Huber.