Basic American Values

Today on this Fourth of July, 2008, I am posting an article from 38 years ago, taken from Robin M. Williams, Jr., American Society: A Sociological Interpretation 3rd ed. (New York, Knopf, 1970). It offers an interesting comparison with the values we perceive today. To quote:

Basic American Values

Within this diverse American society of many different racial, ethnic, and religious groups with their distinctive set of values exists a common core of mainstream values. Sociologist Robin Williams, after decades of study, has identified fifteen value orientations, the foundation of our beliefs, behaviors, definitions of social goals and life expectations. Some are contradictory -- freedom, individualism, and external conformity; equality and group superiority; nationalism and freedom -- and thus spark divisions among people. Still widely held by powerful groups, these values continue to have enormous impact in shaping our society.

1. Achievement and Success. Competition oriented, our society places much value on gaining power, prestige and wealth.
2. Activity and work. We firmly believe in everyone working and we condemn as lazy those who do not work.
3. Moral orientation. We tend to moralize, seeing the world in absolutes of right and wrong.
4. Humanitarian mores. Through charitable and crisis aid we lean toward helping the less fortunate and the underdog.
5. Efficiency and practicality. We seek problem solutions through the quickest and least costly means.
6. Progress. We think technology can solve all problems and hold an optimistic future outlook.
7. Material Comfort. We share the American Dream of a high standard of living and owning many material goods.
8. Equality. We believe in this abstract ideal, relating to each other informally as equals.
9. Freedom. Individual freedom from domination of others is a highly cherished value.
10. External conformity. Despite our professed belief in individualism, we join, conform, or go along, suspicious of those who do not.
11. Science and rationality. We believe through science we can gain mastery over our environment and secure a better life-style.
12. Nationalism. We think the American way of life is the best, and distrust "un-American" behavior.
13. Democracy. We believe everyone has the right of political participation, that our government is highly democratic.
14. Individualism. We emphasize personal rights and responsibilities, giving the individual priority over the group.
15. Racism and Group-Superiority Themes. We place higher value on some racial, religious, or ethnic groups than others through our attitudes and actions.

I close with this question. What has changed in 38 years, if anything?

My topical post today at South by Southwest and The Reaction is about politics.

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