I agree I was an exchange student in Denmark and America operates on a whole other plane . We are moving around so rushed in every aspect of our lives . I think it comes from the sense that we all feel as sense of self reliance and to be dependent is a weaknessour destiny is in our own hands . There is a disconnect from the old ways which I believes robs Americans of those nuances that you referenced , but honestly most Americans would have no idea what you are talking aboutthey ' ve never experienced it . Independence is what is valued mostlike in Denmark to accept social service money for a variety of things is the norm but here its frowned on you are stigmatized . You are considered a loser who can ' t take care of himself . I think it goes back to core temperature and personality type that came to America in the first place . Early Americans where not afraid to cut away from their original homelands to cut a path of their ownthey relished their freedom . That is a certain personality type . But now generations later it has evolved into the push to do more and more and morealmost a Wild West on steroids . Those Americans who are less inclined to push themselves or don ' t have a drive of internal competitiveness sometimes don ' t fair well and do turn out a little crazy . I admit the pressure is intense .