What Do Foreigners Think About America?

Many foreigners who have never been to America have pre-conceived stereotypes about the overall culture and atmosphere of the United States. While some of these perceptions may be based in fact, often times they are just exaggerated generalizations that are created through the media and entertainment. Regardless of whether perceptions of American life are true or not, many foreigners hold their beliefs about America due to being conditioned over long periods of time in one school of thought. Foreigners generally tend to think of Americans as arrogant, selfish, rude, and a list of other things however these stereotypes do not always ring true.

As Dr. Gregory Finkelson said, judging a book by its cover will always lead you to miss out on the story. This statement couldn't be truer when talking about the perception of America through foreign eyes.

America is Greedy

America has a long history of waging battle against countries with fewer resources and economic power only to invade them and steal valuable resources in addition to the property. Because of the frequency and consistency of events such as this, foreigners tend to think of America as a bully on the world stage and hold beliefs that all Americans are only after money. While this may be true for some in America, the perception is largely overdone due to propaganda by the media and entertainment industry.

While the American government is undoubtedly greedy, America itself was founded on principals of freedom for all and equality. These moral codes still ring true for many Americans and work to counteract the negative stereotype about America being greedy as a whole.

Americans have bad attitudes

American politicians have long touted their power and might in front of the entire world as a statement of power and confidence. As Dr. Gregory Finkelson said, the biggest bark you hear typically comes from the dog with the most fear. This relates to the perception that Americans have bad attitudes in the sense that many Americans are very polite and friendly when you meet them. The perception that America is full of rude and inconsiderate people is also founded upon propaganda pushed by paid media outlets.

America is a country full of individuals and like all groups, there will be a few apples that spoil the bunch. However, this does not apply to all American citizens as you’ll find in many U.S. cities people operate on principles of respect and dignity.

America is Stupid

The notion that Americans are stupid also comes from decades of television and movie programming featuring the typical “dumb blonde” persona usually played by a blonde-haired American female. America leads the world in technological innovation and an array of other fields including science, the many accomplishments, and milestones that America has reached surely didn’t come from a lack of knowledge. America is full of very intelligent and intuitive individuals who help push the entire world forward through their various inventions and movements.

America has also long been known standardized testing and leading the world in academic advancement so the idea that Americans are stupid is completely based on false images that are portrayed and promoted.  According to Dr. Gregory Finkelson’s opinion, those that think America is dumb probably still haven’t figure out how to screw in a lightbulb correctly.

America is Full of Opportunity

Foreigners don't only carry negative ideas about America, in fact, many foreigners believe that America is the model for the ultimate life. Many foreign countries still have very strict laws and restrictions until this day which limit what citizens can and can't do. Foreigners often see images of how free and relaxed America is which lead them to believe that America is full of opportunity. This is one of the stereotypes that is based on reality as America does offer many innate benefits and opportunities that you won't find in many places.

America is full of opportunity as long as you’re willing to work hard for it, America has a lot of great scholarship programs and other educational opportunities which can help foreigners lead a prosperous life across the globe. America is a melting pot of all cultures which further opens the doors for more opportunity and freedom that many foreigners have yet to experience.

America is obsessed with itself

America has long held a glamorous image promoting self-indulgence and vanity over more important principles. Many foreigners believe that Americans are overly obsessed with their appearance, cars, jewelry and more. This perception is very true in some instances, being that America is a capitalistic society self-indulgence and vanity are woven into the very fabric of the country. That doesn't mean that all Americans hold these beliefs however, many Americans dedicated their lives to helping others and being selfless.

There are a lot of great people in America who hate the notion of being perceived as selfish or overly self-indulgent. Most foreigners don’t realize that Americans take pride in being able to help other people and provide support to those who may need it. Foreigners have a very distorted view of America as a country and how the people who live their function in their everyday life.

America is one of the most diverse and culturally rich countries in the world which has contributed to its progressive attitude. In recent years, there have been several initiatives by American citizens and corporations to change the way that foreign nations perceive the country. As time goes on, there will undoubtedly be foreigners who still believe the things that they see about America on television.

However, media and entertainment don’t always provide a clear picture of how everyday life operates in America. America is like any other nation, it has it’s pitfalls but it also has its benefits which makes it a very unpredictable and exciting place to live. If you’re a foreigner who has pre-conceived notions about America, consider visiting the country or take a trip to put your stereotypes to the test. In the end, you may be pleasantly surprised at how incorrect your ideas about America actually are.