I came across this listing of Thai social values in an interesting master's thesis. I could easily recognize many of the differences in values and project what that could do within a Thai/falang spouse/family relationship, but some of them I did not see as clearly.

SUMMARY OF 25 THAI SOCIAL VALUES
1. Respect Buddhism
2. Lift up money as supremely important
3. Lift up power
4. Lift up those with status/respect those with seniority
5. Lift up those who are educated
6. Don

[quote="gulfcoastUSA"]I came across this listing of Thai social values in an interesting master's thesis. I could easily recognize many of the differences in values and project what that could do within a Thai/falang spouse/family relationship, but some of them I did not see as clearly.

SUMMARY OF 25 THAI SOCIAL VALUES
1. Respect Buddhism SOME/NONE/NO
2. Lift up money as supremely important YES/SOME/NO
3. Lift up power ?
4. Lift up those with status/respect those with senioritySOME/NONE/NO
5. Lift up those who are educated NO/NO/NO
6. Don

Wow, Yorkman, you delved into it! I just thought some of the points would provoke some interesting discussion.

For example, my observation on #25 has been similar to the Western question of "forgive versus forget," and I don't think the Thai approach is that different. We may forgive on the surface, but we don't forget, and it will affect the relationship down the road.

While we can, I hope, agree, that the list of Thai Social Values is a generalisation, and not necessarily applicable to all individuals, a list of British Social Values, which I do not think differ greatly from most other 'Western' countries, would I think to a greater or lesser degree include at least half of those values too.

It is certainly an interesting list for discussion, but there is probably enough difference between individuals in Thailand, and individuals from Western countries, to make it rather difficult to draw any conclusions.

For instance, with my TW I only really see about half the list as being applicable. It's still does'nt match up with my values necessarily, but surely thats part of the give and take necessary in any relationship.

The last part of your 3 questions was the most interesting I thought. "Which do you find yourself adopting as opposed to Western values?". Actually I have adopted almost none, but I have accepted that those are her values. I have tried to predict how she might think in certain situations, and then taken steps to ensure that does not result in personal issues. And she does the same.

It's interesting really how many people blame 'cultural' issues for their problems, rather than recognising that people really are the same the world over IMHO, providing that their formative upbringing, over which they have no control, is treated with respect.