Materialism.
Americans are materialistic. It means that they collect more
“things” than most people. It also means they value getting,
keeping and protecting their material objects. Sometimes these things
are more important than their relationships with people.
The modern American typically owns:
one or more colour television sets
a DVD or video tape player
stereo system
a clothes washer and dryer
a refrigerator, a stove and a dishwasher
one or more cars
a computer
a mobile phone
Americans value newness. They often sell or throw away the
things they own and replace them with newer ones. A car may be kept
for only two or three years. A house may be kept for five or six
before trading them for another one.
