Value Orientation Approach to Studying Culture

Read pages 49-50 in the Study Guide, Introduction and The Values Orientation Approach. Study the chart below.

Three Value Orientations

TIME

ACTIVITY

HUMAN INTERACTION

Source: Based on Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck (1961) as summarized by Damen, L. (1987). Culture learning: The fifth dimension in the language classroom. Reading, MA; Addison-Wesley, p. 194.

The Values Orientation chart represents one approach to studying culture.  Each of the three value orientations defined below can be used to describe cultures.  Each of the lines on the chart represents a continuum and the trend (or tendency) of any particular culture can be placed along it.

Time:  The relative value placed on the past, present, or future.  Americans are generally future oriented, they believe in change, progress, planning, and generally discount the value of history and the past.  Combined with the value of work and activity (the next continuum), Americans generally believe that it is possible to improve on the present. 

Activity:  "Doing" cultures (including the U.S.) tend to define individuals in terms of the work that they do and their external achievements as opposed to  "Being" cultures  which value private expression and experience, and spiritual goals. Americans often see "Being" cultures as fatalistic. "Being" cultures may see Americans as endlessly striving for empty goals.

Human Interaction:  The relative value placed on the individual or the group (family, clan, community).  Americans tend to be highly individualistic, perhaps working with others to accomplish particular goals, but being free to change themselves; the "rights of the individual" are strongly protected under the Constitution.  Individuals in group-oriented cultures assume responsibilities, constraints, and influences of the group.  They see themselves as permanent members of particular groups. They may see person-to-person competition as destructive or anti-social. 

Note that the U.S. takes quite extreme positions on each of these continuums (future, doing, individual). 

 

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