IndividualismAmericans are raised from childhood to see themselves as distinct, separate individuals who create their own destinies and are responsible for their own lives. As such, they consider themselves accountable for their decisions. They view themselves as independent and self-reliant, and for this reason can appear self-centred to those from less individualistic cultures. Americans are often surprised to realize that people from other cultures are more group-oriented.

Americans make heroes of those who stand out from the crowd and excel at something. They admire those who overcome adversity to become a success. Many people see rags-to-riches as a possible and worthy life goal.

They often appear to outsiders as if they are not family-oriented, especially in their attitudes toward aging relatives who are not necessarily cared for in the home. Many times, an elderly relative sees living in a senior residence as an assertion of independence, and a refusal to “burden” the family.

InformalityBecause of this emphasis on individualism, Americans are informal. They use first names in short order, and even waiters often introduce themselves by their first name. It’s common for a host to say “make yourself at home” at their domicile, which they mean. Clothes, speech and behaviour tend to be informal as well.

Americans are outwardly friendly, saying “hi” and ”hello” often to demonstrate egalitarianism. Outsiders may interpret this as implying deeper friendship than it really does. When departing from a group, Americans may give a broad, general wave rather than addressing everyone individually.

Regional Cultural DifferencesWhile regional differences may be less pronounced now that Americans are more geographically mobile than in the past, broad characterizations can be made:

• Southerners are renowned for their hospitality. They’re polite and warm, appreciate a slower pace of life and may be more relationship-focused than Americans from other regions.
• Texans exude confidence, are proud that their state was once its own country, and often have “larger-than-life” personalities and value size in general.
• West Coast Americans tend to be even more casual, are environmentally concerned and may appear to be less business-focused. They are equally focused on business, but the informal nature of the region creates this deceptively casual appearance.
• People from the Northeastern, urban centres tend to be fast, efficient and more formal than other areas. They may be what others envision as the typical American.
• Midwesterners are considered to be the most down-to-earth Americans since they are geographically separate from the extremes of the coasts. The area is called The Heartland in recognition of its ability to combine the slower pace associated with agricultural areas with the business savvy of urban areas.

The Impact of 9/11The events of September 11, 2001 were the worst terrorist attacks on American soil. "9/11", as it’s commonly referred to, has had a profound influence on the culture. It marked an end to the idea of America as invincible to attack and brought global politics to the forefront. It ended the sense of America as a safe harbour and “land of plenty”. Americans feared additional attacks after 9/11, and such concerns fuelled, at least in part, the war in Iraq.

New laws sought to prevent future attacks, and many of them have been controversial, especially those regarding foreigners. Some see the laws as violating freedom and privacy, while others see them as vital to protecting national safety. Immigration laws have tightened. Many applying for visas have to endure more thorough background investigations. Americans need passports now to re-enter their own country from their border neighbours of Canada and Mexico.