Americans try to minimize or deny the interdependence upon which all human societies are based. For example, most Americans seek a private car, self-service stores, and do-it-yourself skills of almost every kind. American children are trained to be independent very early. Moreover, neither the parents nor the young expect that children, as adults, will necessarily be associated with the household of their birth or locality. Despite any merit it may have, this value deprives human beings of a feeling of love, warmth, and security derived from interdependence among members of a family or community. This explains while in their old age, Americans usually do not receive love, care, and attention they need.
Asian families as a social unit are very close. Typically, grandparents, parents, children, and cousins compose a joint family. In this tightly knitted family, a sense of belonging predominates; members care and love one another. While old members have the emotional security of being loved, needed, and useful, younger members are closely supervised. When this climate prevails in a family, social problems resulting from neglect, rejection, and frustration are less likely to occur.