What's An American - What Americans Are Like

What Clearly Defines Americans? An American is anyone born in the country or one who chooses to make America their home by becoming an American citizen.

One of the most important things to understand about Americans is the devotion to unique individualism and the freedom to openly express it.

This makes for a difficult stereo type as no one stereotypical description applies.

From the time of their birth each American is taught to see themselves as individuals with a unique self-destiny special only to them.

Americans are encouraged to follow their special path, find the love of their life, or soul mate (if you will) and flat out live on their own terms.

• The majority of Americans (76%) identify themselves as Christians,with the largest group being Protestant and Catholic denominations, accounting for 51% and 25% of the American population.
• Non-Christian religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism), combined make up about 3.9% to 5.5% of the adult religious population.
• Another 15% of this adult population identifies themselves as having no religious belief or affiliation.
• When asked, about 5.2% said they had no preference with many exercising their right to decline reply.
• According to the American Religious Identification Survey, religious beliefs vary considerably across the country.

The freedoms Americans enjoy allow them to freely change their religious choices and or practice none. This makes for a constant shift in the actual stats on religion.

Relationships in America

The partnership being a source of pleasure and freedom they may choose at will.

There are no stipulations on relationship status in America everyone is free to be either single, married, divorced, living together etc.

It is common practice for Americans to marry and divorce repeatedly. It is not considered a failure to do so yet a learning process.

The ongoing pursuit of happiness is always the foremost on the agenda of an America.

Religion typically does not interfere with relationships.

Self-reliance being hallmark to the success and ability to provide for oneself.

This creates a highly competitive nature, in American society, work and the family.

It’s been said Americans are obsessed with having more and keeping up with one another. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as “Keeping up with the Jones’s”

It can be said that Americans are highly competitive with many being materialistic comparing what they have with the norm.

Americans expect and understand the need for routine private, quiet, down, or alone time, as it is commonly referred.

This is a vital time in which Americans restore their energy, creative and productive stamina. Americans often become stressed if not afforded their private time.

Personal space is also an unspoken right of all Americans meaning the space around a person’s body of at least one foot. Anytime one’s personal space is interrupted by another it is seen as invasive making others uncomfortable.

Americans value their privacy in terms of their material possessions as well. They expect anyone to ask permission before using or borrowing their belongings as this is proper etiquette. One’s private possessions are not expected to be openly shared.

Over achieving leads to the stress of rushing around from one thing to the next with a sense of needless urgency and lack of relaxation. This source creates the need for privacy and down time on a regular basis.

Punctuality is considered to be a highly regarded trait of Americans. Americans see those who are routinely late as being rude and of poor character lacking ambition.

Americans expect themselves and others to be on time arriving to the scheduled work or event early to insure their prompt arrival.  Those arriving early are regarded as well organized and reliable.

It’s common for Americans to express their thoughts, feelings and opinions.

Collective thinking is considered a vital process of society in family, friendship and professionally.

There are guidelines as to the topics and depth to which Americans engage in them depending on the sensitivity. This is called being politically correct.

Americans are taught to balance their emotions keeping them in check with an open line expressing their thoughts and feelings within limits.

American families do not tend to live together with the children typically leaving home during or after college to make their mark in the world. The empty nest syndrome occurs when parents are left alone once their children come of age leaving the family home at the age of 18 or 21.

American children can work earning their own money anytime they are ready with parental consent. It is seen as ambitious to do so and highly regarded as an indicator of future success.

Americans may not treat international visitors of high social positions any differently than they would other Americans.

While the American wardrobe is as diverse as the people denim is the longstanding favorite and a vital part of every wardrobe. It is acceptable to wear jeans with anything. Jeans may be dressed up or down and worn to most any occasion.

Due to the popularity of blue jeans I mention this garment only as it is an iconic American article of clothing. Many in other countries seek the highly prized Levi's brand of jeans. Levi's is historically an American favorite line of denim jeans. 

Women interact freely with the opposite sex in both work and social situations easily taking the lead.

Women dress freely in America.

In American women ask men out and easily take on the lead role in relationships.

The American Reputation

While Americans may seem fickle and or lacking in several regards per the standards of non-Americans this is a result of the many freedoms they enjoy summing up the American lack of stringent or uptight  characteristics, all the things that spell freedom.

In truth Americans are free to think creatively with the freedom to implement change in their lives at any given time.