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Values That Define An
American
by Professor Alex Inkeles
1. National pride in America's virtue
and uniqueness.
This pride, almost our national religion, has "persisted
remarkably intact over the 150 years" since French
political thinker Alex de Tocqueville published Democracy in
America (1835 and 1840).
2. Self-reliance.
Benjamin Franklin extolled this kind of homely virtue (including
autonomy, independence, persistence and initiative) in
pre-Revolutionary days, and de Tocqueville cited individualism and
self-reliance as distinctive American traits in 1830.
3. Voluntarism.
Americans are joiners. They feel obligated to take part in
community action.
4. Trust.
Many others reported on the openness and friendliness of
Americans, their casualness and friendliness of Americans,
their casualness and spontaneity in chance encounters.
5. "Can-Do" Attitude.
A sense of being effective, of being able to improve the
physical and social world prevails.
6. Optimism.
Americans have confidence that striving toward a goal leads to
success.
7. Innovativeness.
Openness to new experiences and ideas is a hallmark of the
American character.
8. Adaptability.
The notion of welcoming and pursuing change is commonplace.
9. Anti-authoritarianism.
This is an almost innate birthright, carrying no psychic need to
submit to higher political authority.
10. Equality.
A sense that one's intrinsic worth is the same as anyone else's
is a basic American trait.
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