Typisch Nederlands... Ruth Benedict over het 'nationaal karakter' van Nederlanders

Samenvatting

Typically Dutch...Ruth Benedict on the 'National Character' of Netherlanders. The ethnological studies conducted by Ruth Fulton Benedict (unpublished, Vassar Coll Library, Poughkeepsie, NY) during WWII concerning the Dutch national character are contrasted with findings of modern Dutch researchers. Benedict explored the problematic concept of "national character" (volkskarakter) of a variety of peoples involved in WWII. She characterized the Dutch as morally righteous, individualistic, tolerant, freedom-loving, self-confident, proud, ironic, puritan, tidy, cautious, thrifty, conservative, domesticated, serious, and somewhat melancholy. She also noted the Dutch observance of social distance based on religious or regional background. The traits cited by Benedict are compared with the Dutch volkskarakter traits described by other researchers, 1930-1950. It is contended that national character and volkskarakter are inadequate as explanatory concepts. 1 Table, 40 References. J. Sadler