Whether you are American or have observed Americans, you may have noticed that many seem entitled. In a foreign country, they stick out like a sore thumb.
Why are Americans so entitled? What is it about them or their country that makes them behave in this way? Are all Americans entitled, or is it just a few that fall under this category?
Why Are Americans So Entitled?
1. A Sense of Freedom
Americans live in a country with a sense of freedom, no matter where they go. When visiting other countries, this sense of patriotism can often feel like a case of entitlement.
Unfortunately, many Americans forget that a sense of freedom that passes in America doesn’t work everywhere else. This attitude comes off as entitled in other locations around the world.
A sense of freedom is different in other locations. Freedom in Italy is different from freedom in Spain, and so on. Americans stand out like a sore thumb after being preached about freedom.
2. Wealth
Although there are many poor areas in the United States, it is still a country of wealth. As with many wealthy countries, the richer someone is, the more entitled they tend to be.
Most people who can afford trips to other locations have a lot of wealth. The wealthier a person is, the more pulled away from the world they tend to be.
Of course, there is a difference between those who have always been around money and those who worked for what they earned. Those who worked for it are often less entitled.
Still, traveling Americans are disproportionately those who grew up wealthy. They give an impression of Americans that doesn’t apply to everyone in the country.
3. Unlimited Resources
Unlike third-world countries, it feels like there are unlimited resources. Americans have access to almost anything they want, all at the click of a button.
If an American needs water, they can go to their fridge and push a cup to a button. If they want a snack, they can run to the store and pick one of the hundreds of chip brands.
When traveling to other places, Americans seem entitled because they are used to having access to everything they want at all times. Less than that is a drastic shift in their lives.
4. Hospitality Culture
Unlike other countries, Americans grew up in a culture that focused on hospitality. They may expect behaviors from baristas or grocery store clerks that aren’t commonplace elsewhere.
If you were to go into a grocery store having been used to polite behavior, wouldn’t it be jarring to experience something else? Rudeness comes from being used to politeness.
Hospitality culture is something both good and bad in the United States. Unfortunately, expecting it in other countries can lead to Americans being entitled to others.
5. They Always Seek Joy
A common idea that permeates the United States is the idea of seeking one’s joy always. This ideology leads many Americans to prioritize themselves first.
If something makes a person happy, like standing on an illegal monument, they will do it. It’s a me-first way of thinking that benefits the individual but not those around them.
Although this concept has proven healthy for a person’s mental health, it can lead to entitled behaviors. Many Americans don’t realize the harm their push for joy is causing.
6. Social Media Priorities
We live in a modern world, and social media pictures come above all else. Many Americans seek that perfect picture, even if it means trampling on a historic site.
Social media priorities lead to staring at a phone and not a lot of enjoying the world around. It leads citizens to assume that young and old Americans are rude.
Being on a phone is bad for your posture, mental health, and ability to operate. It’s also a reason many other countries assume Americans are entitled. Social media comes first.
7. They Expect Everything
Americans come from a country of wealth, and thus they expect a lot. If someone from the United States is on vacation, they may have certain expectations for their visit.
As mentioned before, everything is available all the time to Americans. In another country, it may be trickier to obtain items you’re used to having access to whenever it’s needed.
This lack of everything can cause a sense of entitlement to exude from Americans. Why do they need this item? They’re used to a culture with everything in the world.
8. Lack of Religious Morals
Once upon a time, Christianity was the religion of the United States. Now, it’s a mix of cultures. While that’s not bad, it has led to a lack of generalized values. There is no standard.
Religious morals teach critical values. Many talk about respecting one another and putting income as minor importance in life. No religious morals mean no value system.
The fewer values a group of people has, the more entitled they may come off. Many Americans grow up differently than those in a culture with religion as a base point.
9. Fewer Cultural Values
Like religion, culture in the United States is a mix of people. This combination of people has led to confusion for some on what the USA prioritizes in its culture.
Cultural values help people understand what they should seek in life. It helps kids avoid entitlement and grow into strong men and women who know what their purpose is in life.
The lack of these values means many kids grow up to be entitled adults with no place in life. They don’t have a culture they can lean on to guide them in the right direction.
10. Some Are Worse Than Others
As with all places, some Americans are worse than others. Typically, someone who grew up wealthy will be more entitled than someone who worked to be where they are now.
The Americans you see in other places are not representative of the entire country. As of 2022, there are about 332.8 million people in the United States. That’s more than most nations.
If the first American you meet seems entitled, ensure you remember that that individual is not representative of everybody. Some Americans are more entitled than others are.
11. Lack of Parenting Skills
There are many parents today that lack the ability to properly discipline their children and teach them how to be functional members of society. The result is extreme entitlement.
Many parents seek to be best friends with their kids. This works when they’re little, but it can lead to a severe sense of entitlement once the child hits adulthood. It can be frustrating.
Many bad parents are those who throw money at their kids, and you’ll see those kids wandering around on vacation. Their entitlement is the result of poor parenting skills in childhood.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on why Americans work so much, why Americans are so rude, and why the French hate Americans.
Conclusion
Many Americans, especially when visiting other countries, seem entitled. There are reasons for this state, from a lack of generalized cultural values to poor parenting skills.
Although it might be easy to generalize, it’s critical to remember that not all Americans are identical. Everyone has a different story in the United States of America.