Below is a differentiation table I devised, between the CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS of USA and India.
CULTURAL VALUES
| FAMILY | INDIAN VALUES Clan - A quasi system of fraternalism; and prestige a dependency on individual responsibility the nearest to the clan; a greater pressure exists in the nuclear clan than anything comparable in the dominant society; a relationship gives security and identity. | NON-INDIAN VALUES Nuclear family - Secruity and prestige found within the confines of the nearest relatives and especially in the nuclear family. (Can it be argued that there is even less and less of the nuclear family? Boy Scouts, Brownies, Golf Clubs, Bridge Clubs?) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRANSMISSION OF CULTURE | By word of mouth | By writing books. | |
| PEACE | Harmony - Cosmic harmony is sought; individual is concerned personally with the entire cosmos. | Personal peace - a personal harmony is sought within the individual person. | |
| HEALTH | The body and soul are one; health is synonymous with the harmony of body and soul with nature. | A scientific viewpoint is taken to the restoration of bodily health. | |
| TIME | Natural time regulates their activities with a NOW orientation. | Clock time regulates with a FUTURE orientation | |
| WILL POWER | Fatalism; man cannot alter events and he must constantly attempt to restore all things to their original harmony. | Self-determination - The world can be altered by man's will. He tries to create God. | |
| OWNERSHIP | Clan system dictates ownership, which is carried on through mother. (In some cases through father.) | Legal ownership - passed by law. | |
| PROPERTY | Communal - Using only what is needed and sharing with others. | Private property - Surplus is accumulated; goods belong to one person. | |
| SECURITY | Security is found within the family and clan. WHO AM I? | Security is found in success. WHAT HAVE I DONE? | |
| AGE | Respect for the wisdom and experience of age. | Medicare is indicative of a non-Indian value. | |
| WORK | Work when necessary | Work for itself | |
| STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY | Non-competitive; non-comparative (could stem from the wish to preserve harmony) | Competitive - Basis for GET AHEAD | |
| TABOOS | Explain evil by spirit | Explain evil by science | |
| UNNATURAL HAPPENINGS | Witchcraft - A power to harm others. Witches are often viewed in the light of a scapegoat for all ills and unnatural happenings. Some are respected for their power to inflict evil; ambivalence of emo- tional response to them. SAME FOR GOOD. | Rational approach to explanation of unnatural happenings - even explain GOOD this way. Do not go to the Primary Cause. | |
| ADAPTABILITY | Reason why is sought; the practicality is examined. Value is sought in the NOW. | Progress is the goal; pure research. | |
| RELIGION | Myth and example by synthesis | Dogma and instruction by analysis |
Comparison Of Values |
INDIAN VALUES Leaders are the servants Cooperation Group Emphasis Passive Informal Courtesy Patient Sharing Time - Constant Respect for Age Harmony with Nature Religion = Way of Life . . . Sacramental, Symbolic Non-verbal Extended Family Tradition No Eye-to-eye Contact Holistic Problem Solving . . . Vision of Total Happiness = Spiritual Harmony | NON-INDIAN VALUES Leaders are the masters Competition Individual Emphasis Assertive Formal Politeness Impatient Saving Time - Fleeting Respect for Youth Conquest over Nature Religion = Segment of Life . . . Intellectual, Gnostic Verbal Nuclear Family Novelty Eye-to-eye Contact Analytical Problem Solving . . . Piece by Piece Happiness = Wealth Accumulation |
