Are the majority of Americans ethnocentric and possible egocentric when it comes to world affairs?

Question

From my dealings with Americans it seems many have a lack of understanding of other cultures, and in many cases I have observed as a traveller, lack of respect for lifestyles different than their own.

While in US I discovered an appaling lack of knowledge of places outside USA. It was like there was no other place in the universe. Maybe the school system is to blame.
Do they teach about other countries and other cultures in the school system?

Answer 1

Speaking as an US citizen, I'm afraid this is true. In general, people in the US do have a lack of understanding of other cultures, a lack of respect for lifestyles other than their own, and an appalling lack of knowledge of places outside the US. (Of course this is a generalization that doesn't apply to everyone.) The reasons for this "lack" are probably many, and it's an interesting question to think about. Two causes come to my mind: US media, especially US news, is unforgivably US-centered (the first thing on the news after any international disaster is "What if it happened here?"); and not enough people travel outside the US and get a glimpse of the rest of the world, or have international friends who can give them a fresh perspective. I don't think the school system is to blame; I think the school system is doing a much better job on this subject today than it did when I was in school.

Answer 2

I grew up in the US and moved to Europe 25 yrs ago. Yes, it's true, to the majority of Americans, even the well-educated and travelled, the US is the centre of the known universe, and the rest of the world isn't real. Oh, they know it is at some cerebral level, but for some reason, it's like it just isn't really out there.
I've often pondered the reason for this and I think that it's because it's such a large country, and also the programming that goes on in the media etc. I remember being taught about Columbus for the first time when I was 6, and I came away with the impression that Chris Columbus had somehow discovered America *for us to live in*....even at that young age I knew that wasn't right.
I guess that's why I live in Europe now...

Answer 3

I've lived all over the world, and I find that Americans are generally well-meaning, but naive. I attribute this to the sheer vastness of the United States and geographical isolation. The people who live in South Texas, Southern California and Miami (closer to the Mexican/Cuban areas) I find to be more aware and more bilingual.

Having been around Europe, it's interesting to note that most European countries are the same size as U.S. states, or smaller. So while they are more in-tune with the cultures of neighboring countries (Germans who speak French, etc.) their knowledge of Asian cultures is less than the U.S. Racism and bigotry is alive and well in Europe, Japan, etc. It's just a different perspective.

The funniest thing was my time in Canada. At the time, due to a military assignment, I had Texas plates on the truck I was driving. The Canadians were the nicest people, but everything they knew about Texas came from watching Dallas or old Westerns. They were just convinced I owned a horse, an oil well, and carried a pistol.

I find - people are people.

Answer 4

it's not ethnocentric when you truly are the greatest country ;^) part of it is that we are alone over here across the ocean. Europeans can take road trips to france or something and intermingle more freely. Canadas not even a different country, it's like our attic and nobody really wants to go to mexico. that's deffinitely the basement. where we put all the used factory equipment we don't use anymore.

Our knowledge of other countries is restricted to historical events and usually only those that relate to the US, England or our ancestory. You get a little culture in your HS language course but not much.

Answer 5

It's not just Americans.... lots of British people are very ignorant too, and talking about lack of respect for other cultures....just look how British tourists behave on holiday in Spain and Greece! I think it probably does start with schooling, too much emphasis on history and not enough on current affairs.
On the whole, while I've found many Americans don't know much about other countries, at least they seem interested enough to learn.

Answer 6

Well, I was taught about other cultures, but for any in-depth knowledge I had to learn about them myself. I'm glad I did, because I've met so many great people from all over. My mother made sure I learned about all sorts of things. Sometimes I wonder if it isn't done that way just to keep people uneducated and poor, and thereby increasing our amount of people in the military (which is comprised of mostly poor people.)
The problem with calling it ethnocentrism is that "American" isn't an ethnicity here, rather just an issue of citizenship. I don't consider American my nationality, for example, rather Cherokee. That's an error most people outside the US make. Here, your people of origin comprise your nationality, not your country of birth.

Answer 7

American schools starve their students of current affairs around the world and their knowledge of countries outside of USA is very limited and that's because the country is vast and i would suppose enough happens everyday to fill the news of their own country , but i take exception to your statement of lack of respect for lifestyles they go out of their way when your in their country to accommodate you and will even copy things you might do which they are not familiar with to make you feel comfortable i have never heard abuse of anyones lifestyle

Answer 8

They teach us about other peoples, but most of us simply don't care.
Our world is THE world, and that's all that matters in our opinion. Our culture has developed into one of as you said ethnocentrism and ego-centrism, and we do have a narrow worldview.
Sorry for that.

Answer 9

Poor education and too many guns.

Answer 10

Why do you care? Really?
Sounds like to me, you're trying to keep that old, let's-bash-America-tabloid mindset going.
Well done!