'Tiger Mom': Data Prove That The Longer You're In America, The Worse You Perform

[FarCenter]

The main thesis of their book is likely to elicit some groans: The most successful cultural groups in America, they write, tend to possess three qualities: an attitude of superiority, a concurrent sense of insecurity, and impulse control. Some groups got 'em, others don't, they argue.

But there was another, more plausible assertion that jumped out to us: Being in America a long time seems to correlate with declining performance.

They write:

"Most fundamentally, groups rise and fall over time. The fortunes of WASP elites have been declining for decades. In 1960, second-generation Greek-Americans reportedly had the second-highest income of any census-tracked group.

"Group success in America often tends to dissipate after two generations. Thus while Asian-American kids overall had SAT scores 143 points above average in 2012 — including a 63-point edge over whites — a 2005 study of over 20,000 adolescents found that third-generation Asian-American students performed no better academically than white students."

This stat shows success in America is not about blood:

"The fact that groups rise and fall this way punctures the whole idea of “model minorities” or that groups succeed because of innate, biological differences. Rather, there are cultural forces at work."

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/tiger-mom-nytimescom-essay-2014-1

[La Lioness Priyanka]

1. ugh. these cultural attributions to success is such Bullshit. it ignores much of the

structural reasons one group succeeds over another.

[FarCenter]

2. What was the structural reason for Greek-American success?

[La Lioness Priyanka]

6. what was the cultural reasons? if these cultures are so superior, than why

are their countries of origin such huge messes?

greeks/indians/chinese do not experience inter-generational racial oppression the way blacks/hispanics do. They self-select into America, in a way that usually only the middle class can afford to immigrate here. Which means they come with a level of education, and their children are children of educated parents. If any of these countries were adjoining America, in a way that only their very poor came here, we would not see this success pattern.

there are a shit ton of other reasons they succeed, none of which have to do with cultural superiority.

[FarCenter]

7. If they are self-selected advantaged groups, then why don't the advantages persist?

Why aren't third generation Asians more successful than average?

West Indians are also an above-average group.

[mainer]

8. Because after three generations, you believe 'em when they say "you're terrific"

The article's really fascinating in that it equates high self-regard and overconfidence with lack of achievement.

It mentions that high-achieving Asian American students suffer from a lack of confidence, and therefore work hard for their grades. Americans with far worse grades have a paradoxically healthy sense of self-esteem ("yay, we're the best!&quot and don't feel the need to put in much effort.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

9. because the following generations are not self-selected.

the following generations are average, because they don't necessarily have the motivation/education required to move to another land to better their lives.

[mainer]

3. America! Making you dumber with every generation!

I wonder how much of it has to do with our stupid obsessions with sports and celebrities.

[FarCenter]

5. Watching the Grammy Awards, are we?

[joeglow3]

11. Come on, not the shit we like

Just the shit we don't like (like FOOTBALL).

[LiberalEsto]

4. Proof that America is being dumbed down

with stuff like Faux Snooze and the various attacks on public education.

They want us all to become stoopid.

[JCMach1]

10. sometimes give us your tired/poor = give us your ambitious/driven

That's all... forget the other cultural BS...

That ambitious/driven thing (of course) goes away over time and gives way to fat and relatively happy...