Question

In times of a global health crisis, such as what we are living through today, the importance of collective action of a country’s population increases. Those cultures, which value the collective behavior of their population, have fared far better during this pandemic i.e. South Korea, Vietnam.

However, Western-oriented cultures (U.S.) where the population values individualism, challenging authority, and autonomy in decision-making, has led the world in cases of COVID 19. In the U.S., there has been considerable resistance to stay at home and social distance measures.

What we have learned is that the collective behavioral norms of other cultures have benefited them in limiting the cases of COVID 19.

Do you think we (Americans) would be willing to adapt to other cultures’ norms (collective behavior less autonomy) to address the new normal resulting from COVID 19 and the possibility of a second wave of the disease? If not, do you think Americans are willing to accept the consequences (Higher cases and death rates) moving forward?

Answer 1

There are Americans who are willing to adapt to other cultures' norms and are more responsive and aware of societal needs and preferences. It is only some part of the population who are unwilling to take precautions and look at the bigger picture. Citizens would be willing to adapt to collective behavior to a greater extent but not to the extreme position where governments are able to track effectively the movement of citizens via cell-phone tracking.

They would address the new normal by giving up a moderate sense of their autonomy where some parts of not going out extensively and limiting travel could be adhered to. But they won't fall for extreme cases of collective behavior where governments are able to track each and every movement of their citizens in order to control the virus. As Americans are well educated and know what is good for the society in general.

Everyone won't try to break the rules as they are well aware that the more they follow the precautionary measures, the faster they will be able to recover as a country and get back to business as usual. Everyone won't risk the consequences of a second wave and will try to limit their movement as much as possible in order to stem the spread of the virus and bring the economy back on track in order to fast track growth in the long run and help avoid the consequences.