Value Orientation Theory and the United States

The concept of the value orientation theory was created by Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck in 1961 according to Jandt (2004). The value orientation theory is made up of five categories relating to human activities and their relation to them. According to Jandt (2004), these five categories are man-nature orientation, activity orientation, time orientation, human nature orientation, and relational. How are people from the United States characterized according to the five categories? 

The man-nature orientation category is based on a human being’s relation to nature, according to Jandt (2004). Jandt (2004), goes on to say, that those in the United States believe that they have dominion over nature. “[This belief] has made it possible for the United States to change the course of rivers, harvest forests for wood and paper, breed cattle for increased meat production and destroy disease-causing bacteria,” (Jandt, 2004, p.213). It would almost seem that people in the United States have fixation with controlling everything, including our environment, but, as Jandt (2004) says, “There is little doubt that this belief has contributed to the material wealth of the United States,” (p.213).