淺析中美消費(fèi)觀念的差異

1、On the Difference of Sino-American Consumption Concepts Abstract In recent years, with the influence of western consumption options to China, especially American consumption, most Chinese people almost agree with the saying that “high incomes, high consume level, and high quality of life”. Some

2、 advertisements always show us that pursuing goods is the symbol of perfect life. Some propaganda makes the consumer forget the true significance of consumption, which is to fulfill personal need. But they deliberately pursue personal status, position and taste. It not only exists in the range of th

3、e high-income people, but in the young generation, who has low income, but also is ready for high consumption in the future. Considering this question, we should not neglect the background knowledge of these two countries. Chinese family ethics are based on human relations, they take emotion for the

4、 law to deal with family relationships. Chinese people ties to each other with blood as basic coordinates of blood. For American families, individual is the foundation, and individual is the supreme value, and it does not rely on others to exist, independent of the family relationship. Speaking of t

5、he reality, both the economic systems in the two countries are also different, so the mature degree of expense credit is also different. Therefore, the styles of consumption in US are probably not suitable for the Chinese people. Undoubtedly, America has its own advantages in some aspects; so we sho

6、uld consciously draw on the experience of America, not blindly follow the American.Key Words historical development; family education; tourism consumption; high consumption; social security system淺析中美消費(fèi)觀念的差異 【摘 要】近年來(lái)，受以美國(guó)為代表的西方消費(fèi)主義的生活方式的影響，我國(guó)居民不論收入水平的高低對(duì)“收入越高，消費(fèi)的商品越多，則生活越富裕，并且生活質(zhì)量越高”有著普遍的認(rèn)同。大家開(kāi)

7、始盲目的去追求高消費(fèi)，那到底我們是否應(yīng)該毫無(wú)保留的擯棄我們的傳統(tǒng)美德，一味的去追求美國(guó)等西方國(guó)家的高消費(fèi)呢？這是值得我們思考的。考慮這個(gè)問(wèn)題。我們不得不離開(kāi)它的背景知識(shí)去看。就中國(guó)而言，偏遠(yuǎn)的地理位置，相對(duì)封閉的環(huán)境，以及氣候適宜的農(nóng)耕區(qū)域，造成了中國(guó)人求穩(wěn)的心理和好靜的性格，靠天吃飯，一旦天氣有什么變化就會(huì)影響生活，所以就不得不留點(diǎn)以備不時(shí)之需。反觀美國(guó)，一個(gè)移民國(guó)家，人民多少具有開(kāi)拓冒險(xiǎn)精神，不會(huì)固守，而且它是一個(gè)新興的工業(yè)國(guó)家，幾乎沒(méi)經(jīng)過(guò)傳統(tǒng)農(nóng)業(yè)的時(shí)期，因此它沒(méi)有那種存錢(qián)的觀念。其次，雙方的家庭道德教育也有所不同也造成觀念上的不一致。中國(guó)的家庭道德教育，以人倫為基礎(chǔ)，以情感和情理為法則處

8、理家庭人際關(guān)系。而美國(guó)則推崇以個(gè)人為中心，以理性的基本原則對(duì)待家庭成員和家庭事務(wù)。就現(xiàn)實(shí)而言，兩國(guó)的經(jīng)濟(jì)體制也不同，中國(guó)未必適合美國(guó)的那種消費(fèi)方式。當(dāng)然，不可否認(rèn)，在某些方面美國(guó)是有它的優(yōu)勢(shì)的，因此我們不能盲目的跟從，而是有意識(shí)的借鑒。 【關(guān)鍵詞】 歷史發(fā)展; 家庭道德教育;  旅游消費(fèi)；高物質(zhì)消費(fèi); 社會(huì)保障體系1. IntroductionIn recent years, with the influence of western consumption, especially American consumption, Chinese inhabitants almost ag

9、ree with one saying, “High income, high consumes level and high quality of life”. Some advertisement always shows us that pursuing merchandise is the symbol of perfect life. Some propaganda makes the consumer forget the true significance of consumption, which is used to fulfill personal need. But th

10、ey deliberately pursue personal status, position and taste. It not only exists in the range of the high-income people, but in the young generation, who have low income but also is ready for high consumption in the future.1 Why such situation appeared? We should not ignore the background knowledge of

11、 the two countries. After realizing these, we can get a conclusion that although there are many-advanced aspects in America, we also should not pursue blindly, because it cannot separate from the factual. In China, economy develop imbalance and the culture is different. What we should do is to enhan

12、ce the economy and improve the quality of peoples life. And for consumption, we should take moderate and reasonable consumption.There are mainly three parts in the paper: firstly, to review the background knowledge of the two countries, which including histories and ethics; secondly, to analyze the

13、education, entertainment, fashion and so on to show the different consumption levels; finally, to get a conclusion of the whole paper that is not to pursue the high consumption blindly. 2. Background knowledge2.1 HistoriesThere is no doubt that there are some historical reasons for the differen

14、t consumption.2.1.1 Geographic ElementsIt has vast territory in America. Most territory physiognomy is low and flat, it lies in the temperate zone where has enough rain. It supplies good resource condition for the development of American agriculture and has no limit to development.It also has abunda

15、nt water resource, which supplies reliable security for the development of American industry and resident usage.The mineral and energetic sources are also very rich, such as iron, copper, lead, zinc, mine, petroleum and natural gas etc. These sources are taking great grade in the world. Variety and

16、rich resources also supply great foundation to the American industry and supply great production for consumption.2For China, remote location, and the relatively closed environment are the significant characters of Chinese. Geographic environmental conditions in China just like this. In the West and

17、the North, there are plateau, mountains and desert, while in the East Central South, there is sea. These are natural barriers. Closed environment inevitably bring closure psychological and cultural anthropology. On the other hand, the psychological and the marine cultural developments do not play th

18、e important roles, which also related to the Huang - Huai basin. Huang - Huai basin natural conditions is good for farming, so the people began to get active on and formed a deep attachment to the land. Chinese people are lack of sufficient interest to the sea. Operations at sea are not only difficu

19、lt but also dangerous, far less security than agriculture. We assume that, in the low standard of living condition, the need of security should be quite strong. Since people have land for farming, so why do we seek danger? From the psychosocial, the farming life also help farmers to like simple life

20、style and calm rhythm of life, and the sea-based trade or looting life will be disturbed and fast rhythm. China's natural conditions: climate, topography, and other aspects are not good for agricultural production conditions, but in general far more favorable than negative factors. On the surviv

21、al of China's own conditions, agriculture is the best choice. Chinese people have a deep sense of the "food is the most important thing of peoples life”(民以食為天)" and "relying on the nature"（靠天吃飯）,which derived from the experience of agricultural life. Chinese food culture is a

22、 full life-around diet, which is a factor of fundamental aspect of people's life. This factor is constrained and arranged by the “nature”(天). Therefore, the farmers had to take into account the instable climate and mutations factors. The surplus grain will be stored up for the rainy day, and the

23、 Chinese community has always been a form of self-sufficiency.3 Therefore, Chinese people from the very young has been instilled such a concept to keep up. Since ancient times, Chinese society is also to appraise the economy, which is many Asians concept to money. To sum it up in one word that is &q

24、uot;deposit."2.1.2 Society developmentWe all know that America is an immigration country, where people have adventure spirit. Then we would have to turn to the historical development of the United States. Its origins can be traced back to the 1776. In 1776, the US gained independence from the B

25、ritish rule. After 200 years development, the United States has developed far beyond its previous in the aspects of economic, political and military power. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the United States has become the sole superpower in the world. In the American War of Independence

26、 in 1776, American declared independence from the British .In 1789 they formulated the U.S. Constitution; and then the United States has become a Federal Republic, which is the first modern democracy in the world. At the same time, the United States has many overseas territories. Subsequently the tw

27、o major events in U.S. history were the Civil War (1861 1865) and the Great Depression (1930s). BC aboriginal North America in 9000 to approximately 48,000 years ago during the period came to North America, and control of this area until the early 17-century European colonists arrived here. In the U

28、nited States during the period 1776 -1789 won a victory in the war of independence, and 13 states in North America by the United States of America established.  At the neoteric capitalist economy construction, commodity economy, which is full of vigor, excludes the natural economy prematurely.

29、It breaks the self-sufficient pattern. Exploiting the world market and increasingly extending are all impact the nation guard and limitation. So we say that America is an emerging industrial country, without traditional agricultural period (while China is a large agricultural country), which is defi

30、nitely not on the minds of nature, and therefore they do not have the concept of depositing money. Naturally, they do not have deposits. The problem is that they dare to actively advance. They have the kind of courage.China, as a feudal society with closed natural economy has developed for about tho

31、usands years. Its self-sufficient producing style forces most Chinese to spend all their life on farming. Once someone lost his ability of self-development, even lost his land, his family cannot survive.2.2 EthicsOnce I saw a passage which was printed on “Chinese Youth Daily”, on Apirl.17th, 2006, h

32、as mentioned a person, Wang Jun. Now we come to see his changes. Once he was "the dinner party" positive organizer, and now starts by each kind pompous or the unthinkable excuse to refuse to participate the " corrupt" activity; whenever call him, no exception can hear a delightfu

33、l female voice: "You dial the number is conversing on the telephone." Not very long time, short information has limped to, "has any matter" each week going to soak and the fitness is cancelled, transfers each month to go to bank. To be natural, goes to pay off room loan, but is n

34、ot goes to soak or the fitness. "After purchased homes, my life changed completely. Most awfully, this kind of change is not one year or so, but will last 15 years!"The human who purchased homes called themselves as “the snails”. When they enjoy the new house they also get the heave pressu

35、re. The quality of life drop greatly: Does not dare to trade the work easily, does not dare the entertainment, the traveling, afraid the bank to raise the interest, worried falls ill, the unemployment, does not have time to enjoy the life well. Many people said that, buying house already was not the

36、 personal behavior, but for a family. A family is supplying the room. Some people use "6.1 patterns" to summarize the scene of entire family to supply the room: Six people, the youth husbands and wives, the groom's family parents, the bride's side parents invest together with many

37、years savings to buy an anteroom in the city."We raise the room, who raises the parents?" Regarding the future, Wang Jun appear some anxieties. 4The example makes me pay attention to the family ethics in China and America. 2.2.1 The family link - - cordiality to be supreme and the rational

38、ism.China's family moral education, takes human relations as a foundation, and emotions as principal to process family interpersonal relationship. Chinese family ethics are based on human relations, and they take emotion for the law to deal with family relationships. Chinese people ties to each

39、other with blood as basic coordinates. In dealing with family relations, the Chinese peoples genetic-based sentiments led to unusual attention. However, Chinese people have never follow a "reason" for the love, “A kind father and a filial son, a tender brother and a respecting brother, a g

40、entle husband and a tender wife”(父慈子孝，兄愛(ài)弟敬，夫和妻柔) standard has enabled the Chinese people's feelings to follow. Chinese families used to cultivate good habits and establish relationships of caring other people. It trains personality of each family member and at last units a family a whole. &

41、#160;     For American families, individual is the foundation, and individual is the supreme value, and it does not rely on others to exist, independent of the family relationship. They can make all kinds of sacrifices for the family, without requiring a lot of obedience and resp

42、ect. However, in addition to the enjoyment of freedom, equality, the independence of the individual in a family must also act in accordance with the fundamental rational principles.American family education esteem takes individuals as the center, by rational basic principal treatment family member a

43、nd family matter. In American family, individual is the standard, and it has the highest value, whose existence does not rely on other people between independence and diplomatic relation. The family may make all sorts of sacrifices for them, but does not request very many obeying. But the independen

44、t individual not only to enjoy the freedom with the respect in the family, the equality, but also must defer to the rational basic principle behavior to work, while safeguards "all my things is in charge of myself ", also requests to obey to the other people responsible principle. The Amer

45、ican parents duty of fostering and educating the children, should do regard equally to the society and does not attempt the repayment; Children after 18 years old, leave home to rent a room to live alone, to study or to work, and nobody can accuse the parents to be unreasonable.Clearly, the common C

46、hinese family stresses on, "good relationship is the most important"(和為貴). American family stresses on personality, has strong colors rational.2.2.2 The family duty - - - "the benevolence" and "the fair"Chinese family education takes "the benevolence of the Confuci

47、anism " as the core; the basic of benevolence is loving people. This enormously affirmed and transferred family member's intrinsic noble motive. The corresponding relation of rights and duties are not important in China morality. We can say it express through the coordination between the du

48、ty and the duty. When we fulfill our obligation, we make other people enjoy the rights. This is a basic faith of Chinese family.Americans take fair as the moral principle; everything is according with fair. And this “fair" is rational, even indifferent. And it thought the fair is opposition and

49、 agreement of the duty and the right. American is clear about the relation of the right and the duty. They work to get the reward, which also includes love. If they ask other people for help they also have to pay some reward. For example, they have paid for using relative's telephone, and the ch

50、ildren demand the reward if they help their parents to wash car. American view of duty and right is not inconsistent with their intrinsic love. To pursue the right and the duty coexistent is the American family fair principle.So, there are some historical reasons, which cause the different consumpti

51、on of two countries. The countrys direction of development cannot separate from its history. American likes adventure, and they have strong independence and strong personality. And for China, the closed environment and closed connection of the family cause that when they think something, they have t

52、o consider many aspects. So the consumption also expresses some differences. And should we pursue the consumption of American? Before we make a decision, we can analysis some aspects. 3. Analysis3.1. EducationThe Chinese traditional culture influenced Chinese family education. The parents in Ch

53、ina are good at persuading. They attach important to child excessively. Even ignore their own benefit. They even accept the obligation of educating their children without any complaint. In each stage, they still protect them from hurt. In order to make the child better, they try their best to solve

54、the problems for children. And Chinese children, they respect the old generation and their experience. And they are also happy to accept the current experience of their parents.Today, Chinese parents all take more attention to education than former. But the guardian lacked for the experience of scie

55、nce education for children, their ideas of childrens education is wrong. The parents lose the family education direction. This phenomenon is universal. People hope that their sons will grow up to be successful person. This always cause children tired of study, and they even to give up the study. Sal

56、uting the problem of family education and contradictory has become a great issue.5American family and Chinese family all take moral education. Many guardians believe firmly that, the basic content of family education is not to teach children how much knowledge they should study, but to teach them ho

57、w to adapt the society, how to establish the relation with other people and how to treat people. Scholar James. Baldwin said: “The children ever are not good at listening to their elder's speech, but they always cannot forget to imitate the elder."In America, the children are cultivated the

58、 independence, confidence, explore spirit when they are young. The children have the right to choose what they want freely. Today, the children in US have more choice than their parents, but the complex situation makes it more difficult to have a decision. The parents may not make decision instead o

59、f giving free way to children. The parents only give confidence and free to children. It is the last goal of America family education that makes children to be a useful person.The American give more encouragement than protection to the children, and we often give the excessive protection to them. Am

60、erican encourages the children to make each kind of attempt, which can raise their ability, interest, and the most important is to set up confidence. We take excessive protection to them, which create dependence to the parents, which may cause the child to suspect or lose the self- value. American guides the children but not instills into. The American requests the children to be comprehensive, but we use study to replace all. Some speeches, which ha