摘要

本文试图从同居现象进行切入，研究美国的个人主义价值观，以及其与同居现象之间的联系。通过大量查阅文献资料，并进行总结分析，本文从一个崭新的角度研究了个人主义这一美国文化的重要内容，并得出以下结论。
个人主义是所有美国人性格的主要组成部分之一，它深深地根治与美国文化当中并深深的影响着美国人每一天每一分钟的生活。个人主义倡导独立、自由的价值观，以及自我成功、自我实现的精神。正是这种价值观成就了美国当今以人人平等为主旋律的资本主义社会，也成就了世界上最强大的经济实体。
同居是一种与传统格格不入的生活方式，然而今天却有越来越多的美国人选择它。在这种看上去自由而浪漫的生活方式背后，隐藏的是深深根植于美国人内心的个人主义价值观。

关键词：个人主义，同居，价值观，自由，平等

Abstract

This paper tries to make research of individualism from the angel of cohabitation phenomenon, and find out the inner relation between these two parties. By collecting a great deal of information from literatures and statistics, and doing some analyses, the paper studies individualism from a new angle and gets conclusions.
Individualism is a major part of most people’s characters all around America. It has deeply taken root into American culture and influenced Americans significantly. It advocates the value of independence, freedom, and the spirit of self-realization. These values have achieved not only the U.S. capitalist society of equality, but also the world’s most powerful economic entity.
Cohabitation is a lifestyle that goes against the grain, but which is today chosen by more and more Americans. Concealed in this supposedly free and romantic way of life is the deeply-rooted value of individualism.

Key words: individualism, cohabitation, value, freedom, equality

1  Introduction
Individualism is the essence of American culture. It advocates the value of independence, freedom, and the spirit of self-realization. These values have achieved not only the U.S. capitalist society of equality, but also the world’s most powerful economic entity. At present, we mainly use a three-pronged approach to research American individualism: study its origin from historical perspective; study its expression in literary works from literary point of view; study its impact on social life from sociological point of view. The paper is based on sociological and historical research results and tries to make further research of individualism from the angel of cohabitation phenomenon. Why is American the birthplace of the world’s cohabitation culture? Why do so many Americans choose cohabitation instead of marriage? The answers of these questions are inseparable with American individualism.