One of my graduate classmates, Kendrick, mentioned that in psychology, Asian cultures are often described as more “introverted,” while Western cultures tend to be more “outward.” That observation stayed with me for a long time.
Many people come to the U.S. from Asia because they feel constrained or limited in their original environments. What follows is often frustration directed at surroundings or other people. Beneath that frustration, however, there is usually an unspoken expectation: I want to be treated well.
In the U.S., that expectation does not automatically translate into reality. The default logic here is that problems are one’s own responsibility, and needs must be stated clearly. People rarely infer what has not been said, and emotional care is not assumed by default. This is not necessarily a lack of empathy, but rather a cultural system built around self-accountability.
Over time, I realized that simply waiting to be understood or hoping that adaptation alone would bring comfort often leads to ongoing disappointment. Change tends to happen only when one begins to express needs more directly, influence their surroundings, and accept the cost of making those needs visible.
In this context, “introverted” and “outward” describe less a personality trait than a way of acting. The focus shifts from whether others are considerate enough to whether I have made my expectations clear.
This shift is not a rejection of one culture in favor of another. It is a form of cross-cultural growth. When we learn to adjust our strategies across different contexts, letting go of what others should do and paying more attention to what we can do, we move closer to a sense of internal freedom.