Cultural Descriptors

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Partial List of Cultural Characteristics and Descriptors

How will YOU live and work tomorrow?

General lifestyle characteristics

Self-actualization opportunities; lives of fulfillment?	OR	Lives of maintenance?
Introspection?	OR	Stimulation and diversion?
Fast-paced life?	OR	Tranquility?
Work-centric?	OR	Balance among work, family, leisure?
Complex society?	OR	Simple lifestyles?
Non-material or inner happiness?	OR	Economy based on permanent discontent (creation and satisfaction of wants and needs)?

Family, Community, and Identity

Sense of community?	OR	Large, impersonal society?
Nuclear family?	OR	Extended or other family structure?
Group-based identity (family, ethnicity, religion, nation, socioeconomic class, profession, political party, etc.)?	OR	Individual-based identity; self-reliance; individual independence; loose ties
Patriarchal?	OR	Matriarchal?
Preponderance of inner-directed people?	OR	Preponderance of other-directed people?
Transient friendships and business relationships?	OR	Commitment to long-term relationships?

Outlooks and mindsets

Reductionistic thinking?	OR	Holistic thinking?
Long-term thinking and planning horizon?	OR	"Quarterly earnings statement" mindset?
"Right-brain" culture (intuitive, creative)?	OR	"Left-brain" culture (analytical, deductive)?
Youth-oriented?	OR	Age-oriented (respect for ancestors and elders)?
Long-term commitment, thrift, perseverance, and sacrifice?	OR	Instant gratification?
Risk-aversion?	OR	Risk-taking and adventure?
Co-existence with nature?	OR	Disconnection from and/or dominion over nature?
Outlook of self-determination?	OR	Fatalistic outlook?
Competitive? Control, power, and achievement focused?	OR	Cooperative?
Conformist pressures?	OR	Diversity tolerant?
Rule-oriented?	OR	More acceptance of diversity and uncertainty?
Counterpoint-based identity ("us-them")?	OR	Other basis for identity?
Education and learning as a means to an end?	OR	Education and learning valued in themselves?
Traditions respected (which ones)?	OR	Traditions discarded (which ones)?
Same structuring institutions – family, workplace, religions, patriotism, educational institutions, etc.?	OR	New structuring institutions?