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INDIVIDUALS VERSUS COLLECTIVISTS: DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDE BETWEEN RUSSIANS AND AMERICANS
According to Lynn Visson's "Wedded Strangers" :
“Russians have a collective spirit. Americans are individuals. For
Americans, individualism has a positive connotation. For Russians, it
has a negative connotation.”
“Russians are raised to expect a life with difficulties. Americans are
raised to expect the best. Americans think a smile and a sense of humor
are the best things you can have. They will carry you farther and they
don’t cost anything.”
“Russians are collectivists. They see life as a web of personal
relationships. Americans are taught to rely on themselves. Americans
are optimists. Russians are pessimists.”
“Russians believe the world is a fairly rotten place populated by
fairly rotten people who are out to cheat you. Only by having people
you can count on can you survive.”
“Russians live with their parents typically. They rely on their parents
for help with household chores, childcare, and financial assistance.
The situation makes for close family ties, but also leads to parents
having a major say in decisions.”
“It creates financial and emotional dependence. Americans value that
their children grow up to be independent. Russian parents support their
children as long as possible and the children become their mainstay in
old age.”
by John Kunkle
John has been married to a Russian women for over five years. He has travelled the path from finding her, to traveling to Russia, to bring his wife to America, and adjusting to married life. He will show you step by step how to do this yourself.
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