Why is individualism so strong in the US and Canada?

[Urban Ranger]

Why is that?

A lot of US and Canadian people want to move out of their parents' house as soon as they can. I don't think that's the case with the UK and the continental European countries, and definitely quite alien to Asian cultures.

I understand in some cases that some people don't see eye-to-eye with their parents, but that's not the majority of the cases.

Quite a curious mentality.

[SlowwHand]

No. Just not a bunch of mama's boys.

[Dinner]

The real question is why are you folks so clingie?

[Dinner]

BTW it's hard to get laid when you're over a certain age and you still live at mommy's house. Life is better when you are the master of your own house; more expensive, but better.

[HershOstropoler]

"A lot of US and Canadian people want to move out of their parents' house as soon as they can. I don't think that's the case with the UK and the continental European countries"

That may have more to do with housing affordability and the relationship with the parents, don't you think?

[Gangerolf]

they have more space. continental europe and parts of asia are overpopulated hellholes so moving out is more expensive

[DaShi]

It's cultural-like.

[Spec]

Hmmmmmm, I sense trolling.

Anyway, I moved out so I could go live in montreal where the night life is great. My parents can't or could'nt understand that I wanted to go out almost every night and go to sleep at 3 or 4 in the morning only to get up and go to work in the morning and then to night school after.
To them that`s unthinkable but to me, that was a normal life. So arguing about it is not worth it, i just left. Plus getting out on your own makes you grow in every sense of the way. And I get along a lot better whit my parents now that I dont live there anymore. It's been 7 years now.
It builds caracter and you get a lot less "parent dependant". I'm glad I did, and that's what made me what I am today.


Spec.

[GePap]

Very good question: after all, in almost every other society "family" means extended family. This thing I see with so many Americans, that they only see their cousins and uncle's at familiy reunions every so often simply does not exist elsewhere.

One simplistic pop answer: The US ,Canada, and Asutralia (the same thign happens there, no) were big and relatively empty, once all the prior inhabitants were killed off by one thing or another (htough they were never that common). So, lots of land to fill, not enough people. It is then in sociaties interest to kick people out and force them to fill in the empty spots. In most other states, which had been pretty full for a logn time this no longer makes sense. perhaps in 200 years the Us and Canada, Australia will be more "normal".

[Drake Tungsten]

I agree with DaShi on it being cultural. All the Anglophone nations share an emphasis on individuality.

[Spec]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
I agree with DaShi on it being cultural. All the Anglophone nations share an emphasis on individuality.

Ummmmm, I`m french and it's the same here. It has nothing to do with being anglophone. What about Britain then?
You DID know that Canada is french AND english...right?

[Drake Tungsten]

You DID know that Canada is french AND english...right?

Canada is English? I thought it was all French trappers and Eskimos...

[MRT144]

its because the west hates their parents when they live with them and the love them more when they dont.

[GePap]

Jamaica does not share that culture..and they are Anglophone. Same can be said for all the West Indies. Maybe you can claim it a Saxon trait, though the original Saxons were as individualistic as a tribal people can be....

[Felch]

I'm going with the, "we're not clingy momma's boys" answer.