Differences Between Russian and American Cultures

Russia Americans

Individualist: Higher value placed Collectivist: Higher value placed on on self-reliance. Self-promotion is Conception Of the group cooperation and individual more accepted. High value placed on Self modesty. freedom from externally imposed constraints. Social Relationships Formal, hierarchical. People most Informal, egalitarian. People most comfortable in the presence of a comfortable with their social equals; hierarchy in which they know their importance of social rankings position and the customs/rules for minimized. behavior in the situation. Small numbers of close, lifelong friends who feel deeply obligated to give each other whatever help might seem required. Relationships with other people involve reciprocal obligations. Large collection of friends and acquaintances which changes over time and involves only limited mutual obligations. People avoid interdependent relationships and situations that might entail long-term obligations.

Friendship

Obligation Task vs. Relationship Orientation Harmony vs. Truth Role of laws, rules, and regulations Time Consciousness

Relationship-oriented: Maintaining Task-oriented. Relationships are a harmonious relationship has less important than getting the work priority over accomplishing tasks. done. Willing to confront directly, Avoid direct confrontation, open criticize, discuss controversial criticism, and controversial topics. topics, press personal opinions about Concern maintaining harmony and what they consider "the truth. Little with face. concern with face. Written rules presumably apply to More faith in personal relationships everyone and are assumed to than in written rules and procedures produce fair, reasonable procedures for structuring interactions. and decisions. Relatively more attention to the past and to the longer-term future. Less interested in the past; eye on near-term future.

Traditionally, a person's status in the People's status is based mainly on society was based importantly on Ascribed vs. their own achievements, including inherited characteristics such as age, Achieved Status education obtained and level of gender, and family. This is success realized in their line of work. changing.