Based on Trompenaar's dimensions of culture: Internal Direction Versus Outer Direction (How People Relate to Their Environment) http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/seven-dimensions.htm Americans are vocal about their opinions and believe they can change their environment. On the other hand, Japanese tend to avoid conflicts and remain silent to maintain harmony with other people. Foreigners often find it irritating because we do not understand if their silence means consent, still thinking, or rejected. As for Singaporeans, we are a mix of both due to our traditional values but westernised education. Previous cultural dimensions: Collectivist and Individualist Neutral and Emotional Universalist and Particularist Specific and Diffuse Achievement and Ascription Sequential Time vs Synchronous Time