Study: Americans Don't Understand Others

[FlashVoyager]

Rugged American individualism could hinder our ability to understand other peoples' point of view, a new study suggests.
And in contrast, the researchers found that Chinese are more skilled at understanding other people's perspectives, possibly because they live in a more "collectivist" society.
"This cultural difference affects the way we communicate," said study co-author and cognitive psychologist Boaz Keysar of the University of Chicago.
Simple study
The study, though oversimplified compared to real life, was instructive. Keysar and his colleagues arranged two blocks on a table so participants could see both. However, a piece of cardboard obstructed the view of one block so a "director," sitting across from the participant, could only see one block.
When the director asked 20 American participants (none of Asian descent) to move a block, most were confused as to which block to move and did not take into account the director's perspective. Even though they could have deduced that, from the director's seat, only one block was on the table.
Most of the 20 Chinese participants, however, were not confused by the hidden block and knew exactly which block the director was referring to. While following directions was relatively simple for the Chinese, it took Americans twice as long to move a block.
"That strong, egocentric communication of Westerners was nonexistent when we looked at Chinese," Keysar said. "The Chinese were very much able to put themselves in the shoes of another when they were communicating."

Link Study: Americans Don\'t Understand Others | LiveScience

[Buccaneer]

The americans don't need to understand others. They are currently the center of the world. I think that reflects to their culture. When some other country will overcome them and take their place as the top dog then they'll just join the other former world powers bitching about the newcomers lack of culture and whatnot and start to value such 'progressive values'.

[Exeter]

"When marrying those from your own town was an active tradition, anyone who married a Sicilian was looked down upon. Even today, some do not consider Sicilians real Italians. The reason for this is because Sicily is and island at the bottom of the boot, but is not actually attached to Italy. The island lies between Italy and Africa, so most Sicilians are very dark skinned. This actually is a stereotype: all Italians are dark skinned with dark hair and eyes. Generally these Italians are from southern Italy, but Naples lies in the northern part of Italy, so my mother has blonde hair and blue eyes. Not all, but most northern Italians have lighter complexions, and many people say that we are not true Italians since we do not look like we are supposed to look. I look more Italian now, but I had platinum blonde hair when I was younger, so I did not look Italian then."
Traditional Prejudices

I thought Naples is in southern Italy. She must know something I don't. She must be an American. Many of them don't understand geography either. Very few Americans own a passport.

Don't get me wrong. I like Americans, although I think (because of how immigrants formed America) they got the idea everyone is a potential American. This is ignorance on their part and it can be very dangerous.

[Tabitha]

Hmmm...So the American's are too ruggededly individualistic to be told
which block to pick up, while the Chinese were happy to busy themselves
rushing to pick up the right block. I know which nation I would rather
be from: The States!

Americans at least have the strength of character
to throw the book at their Presidents (Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton)
while the Chinese were content to wave Mao's little red books like a
billion robots.

China, not for me, but I do look good in pjs.

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

When some other country will overcome them and take their place as the top dog then they'll just join the other former world powers bitching about the newcomers lack of culture and whatnot and start to value such 'progressive values'.

And on that day the donkeys will fly.

Originally Posted by Exeter

I thought Naples is in southern Italy. She must know something I don't. She must be an American. Many of them don't understand geography either. Very few Americans own a passport.

"Where is Maghreb? In Central Europe?"

--Northern Paladin, former TNP and Skadi American member--

Don't get me wrong. I like Americans

Oh.. and I used to love them too when I was a little child. My grandmother's maid used to take me to the Circo Americano everytime they were in town.

But ever since I grew up that I don't find clowns funny anymore.

[Monolith]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

And on that day the donkeys will fly.

Every empire had its rise and fall.




US of A will undoubtedly have the same fate.

[Marcus Marulus]

Originally Posted by Tabitha

Hmmm...So the American's are too ruggededly individualistic to be told
which block to pick up, while the Chinese were happy to busy themselves
rushing to pick up the right block. I know which nation I would rather
be from: The States!

Americans at least have the strength of character
to throw the book at their Presidents (Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton)
while the Chinese were content to wave Mao's little red books like a
billion robots.

China, not for me, but I do look good in pjs.

Well, you are entitled to your own opinion, but I personally think that it is a false dilemma (false opposites), choosing between extreme individualism and extreme collectivism, between, as you say, America and China.

[Marcus Marulus]

And it's not their ignorance of the rest of the world that matters that much, but their arrogance and firm conviction that they are "the greatest country in the world" that has ever existed, as well as their insistance that American way of life must be spread, and even imposed by arms if necessary, to the rest of the world.

The totalitarian conviction that the whole world, all people in all countries of the globe, want to become Americans is a cause of worry.

[Tabitha]

You make valid points, but I think we all know that after the Iraq debacle America will be retreating behind its walls and will think very carefully about stumbling into someone else's backyard to impose democracy. That said the current incumbent of the White House may yet have a crack at Iran before being kicked back to Texas.

Originally Posted by Plethon

And it's not their ignorance of the rest of the world that matters that much, but their arrogance and firm conviction that they are "the greatest country in the world" that has ever existed, as well as their insistance that American way of life must be spread, and even imposed by arms if necessary, to the rest of the world.

The totalitarian conviction that the whole world, all people in all countries of the globe, want to become Americans is a cause of worry.

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Tabitha

You make valid points, but I think we all know that after the Iraq debacle America will be retreating behind its walls and will think very carefully about stumbling into someone else's backyard to impose democracy.

So far things seem to point to America trying to drag Europe^* into their nightmarish world policies.

Plus the added trouble inside Europe itself, with the second part of their divide and rule strategy over Europe. The first part was at Yalta's Conference.

(^*) Cold War "Western Europe" plus the new occupied territories by US NATO in Eastern Europe.

That said the current incumbent of the White House may yet have a crack at Iran before being kicked back to Texas.

We'll see..

[Errigal]

Originally Posted by Tabitha

That said the current incumbent of the White House may yet have a crack at Iran before being kicked back to Texas.

The danger of that happening is increased by the American electoral system. Bush and Cheney already know they'll not be back for a third term, but even worse, after they do lose the election in November 2008, they have until January 2009 to leave office. President Bush the elder used that same time period to get the US entangled in Somalia. It was then up to Clinton to deal with the mess. The current Bush could do the same thing with Iran.

[OneEnglishNorman]

I disagree with the sentiments in this thread.

Europeans tend to be more supportive of internationalist institutions than Americans. Americans are instinctively more isolationist, though less so now than early in the 20th Century. That America make its voice heard so strongly at the UN, NATO, WTO, World Bank, is a by-product of America's economic success. This is true that America throws its weight around. And what drew America into the European sphere, was European powers pushing troops across each other's borders. Europe exhausted itself, and left a power void for others to fill.

Make no mistake, Europeans taken as a whole, are pushing the globalisation agenda just as much, if not more than Americans. The French, Spanish, Germans, English, and so on, have all attempted to be in the same dominant position. It is what politicians have tried to do, in all countries and at all times.