On the one hand, people seem happy, laugh a lot, make jokes, are socially active, outgoing, extrovert and easy going in most Latin countries.
On the other hand people seem nervous and sometimes fearful mostly in commercial context. When I enter a shop (almacen) the vendor is observing every step I do. When I walk on the street neighbours wait that I pass by and then open their door while looking at me. When I ask for directions people seem scared that I talk in a 1 on 1 situation to them. It feels like people check me out if im dangerous or not. Thats how it feels like. Like distrust.
This duality between happiness and nervousness is what I dont get. In northern Europe people are pissed 24/7 and its easy to understand social dynamics there. But in latam it seems I need to have a masters degree in Psychology to understand people. I dont understand how people here can be happy while nervous and fear their security at the same time. If I fear my security, how can I be happy and laugh at the same time? This range of different emotions people can feel in the same moment in Latam is new to me. You are happy but at the same time live behind big fences waiting that the stranger passes by. Its one of the biggest cultural shocks I have here.
Do I overthink things or is there a valid point?
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Misery loves company, search that idiom
Where are you from, and which countries in latam have you visited?
Most places in LATAM are not safe and require you to be conscious of that or you’re screwed. But still, we have a good time and are happy. If I went to your home country I would probably feel some culture shock too, not having to worry about my safety lol.
What country in latam are you speaking about?
In chile speaking out of the blue with someone is frowned upon, especially in santiago.
Charles darwin said that chilean people are very mistrusting, and he was kind of right xD.
You get used to being alert in case of trouble but it’s absolutely stupid let that ruin your day, or your life for that matter.
What are you even saying
People are stressed and we have debts to pay.
Dominicans are out going but you can’t pull this off in most of south America people don’t trust each other and are wary of others . Chileans and Uruguayans are like Nordic people.
The answer is so simple yet so out of reach for a northern European.
Insecurity and crime does develop some latin DNA I guess.
It is just “crime” dude
>the vendor is observing every step I do
So you don’t steal.
>When I walk on the street neighbours wait that I pass by and then open their door while looking at me
Because they don’t know you.
>When I ask for directions people seem scared that I talk in a 1 on 1 situation to them. It feels like people check me out if im dangerous or not
Because anyone approaching you COULD be planning on robbing or conning you
It is not the same to speak to a rando on a heavy traffic street than approaching them on a shopping mall. Location matters.
Feel free to open a business here without any security…
It’s pretty simple, actually. Most of LATAM doen’t have any kind of cultural or social cohesion and years of governments doing nothing for the people while crime and corporations go unchecked has taught everyone that it’s eat or be eaten, and that everyone else is out to get you, completely eroding trust. So when you’re with friends or relatives you have a great time, but when you’re outside with strangers you are on your toes always because everyone else is an enemy that could kill you until proven otherwise.
Because LatAm is not safe, in general. Sure there are places in LatAm that are safe, but most of us have a very high situational awareness at all times. It sucks but that’s just what we have been accustomed to. When you grow up somewhere where you aren’t constantly in danger of being robbed/mugged/scammed it is hard to understand. However, we are generally more joyful and warm than people from other regions of the world, in spite of all that. Why? I’m not sure, I guess it’s just our nature and because of our culture. And before all the Cono Sur people come at me with some “pero solo los caribeños” bullshit, you are generally warmer and more friendly/outgoing than people from other cultures as well, you just don’t realize it.
Low trust society
On paragraph you are talking about the social expectations of at least argentinian culture. Not everyone – not even close – is like that, but many are and it is almost expected for you to, I feel. I disagree and I find the involvement a rather shallow one, mostly a facade, like a corporate politeness to actual one, but harder to distinguish unless you are on the receiving end ;Still, a “thing” here, imho.
On the second paragraph yhou are talkign about the “paranoia”, the alertness you will probably see in every country with high levels of theft. An adaptation to the environment. Much like when you are playing a sport yhou are wary of where the ball or whatever is at any given time, in this case you tend to be aware of the rough actions and demeanors of people as well as the “misgivings” of the environment; This is there regardless of you being extrovert, introvert, genuine, apathetic, or anything else. It has more to do with exposure to the “streets” (usually lower middle class and downwards as others are more usually living in a bubble) on a city (towns still have crime but the idiosyncracies and overall dynamcs change a lot. Even if the crime per capita is the same people might leave their house unlocked in a “farmer’s town”)
> In northern Europe people are pissed 24/7 and its easy to understand social dynamics there
I have never been in northern europe but im pretty confident you are incorrect in your assessment there….
> But in latam it seems I need to have a masters degree in Psychology to understand people. I dont understand how people here can be happy while nervous and fear their security at the same time
Neither of those are mutually exclusive…. its like asking “how can people like pizza and complain it is too hot and they burned their mouth?”. Actually is eve nfurther than that but it illustrates the silliness of the analogy
> If I fear my security, how can I be happy and laugh at the same time?
That is a rather loaded question but what do you expect? Happiness and overall enjoyment much like sadness are situational emotions comparative to your own experiences .That is why people say “poor people are happy”, because when you struggle a lot, very little (in the eyes of the “average”) can make a huge difference. Proportionality matters there and no one can be happy or sad or angry all the time anyway, not really, it is exhausting and the brain will oppose that. Maybe someone with very serious psychological conditions but otherwise? Nope; I think you have a rather shallow understanding of psychology and people in general, OP
> This range of different emotions people can feel in the same moment in Latam is new to me.
Unless you are very very deep in the autistic spectrum (im not trying to offend – not that it should) I would find that baffling. Regardless of where you live, emotions m while not always that visible as in latam, are always complex
> Do I overthink things or is there a valid point?
I think you are UNDER thinking, OVER analyzing andhave a very shallow point not just with latam but in general with humanity , if you are looking for an opinion
Low trust society, and it may be amplified by you not understanding the culture.
They watch you in the store because you might steal, and did you walk in with a backpack like a European?
Why is a stranger just walking down the street, and were you looking like you have no purpose (just kind of roaming)? Are you going to force your way in and rob me, rape me, and/or kidnap me?
Asking directions one and one? Are you trying to distract me for some reason? And why did you approach me as an individual rather than the group of guys over there? Are you a man approaching a woman… because that’s suspicious, almost threatening.
You can be happy and still be aware of your surroundings. We pay attention without really paying attention, we have it very incorporated to the point that it doesn’t feel like a burden.
Also, I say this because I live in an very populated area but I think it is important to clarify that smaller cities are quite safe, people aren’t paying attention most of the time, and they get a similar shock to yours when they travel to the big cities lol.
Let’s not generalize. This is not all Latam. Just a part of it. I have an anecdote… I was at the coast and I have the habit of putting my bag at the front, so I did so while being in holidays. I had several locals telling me stuff like “you are no longer in conurbano, put the backpack on your back and relax”, lol. I tried to but I did it without thinking, so I got into the same conversation over and over again.
I think it isn’t contradictory. This happens when you cross paths with strangers, and you will be nice to them, but you don’t inherently think “ah, they are good and I am safe!”. Humans can be bad. You can have a nice talk with them without having to trust them completely.
I think this awareness doesn’t have to do with latinamerica, it is more about streets smarts. You can find it anywhere in the world.
I do not deny that the low safety levels on some areas have an influence, it does.
You are misreading us when you think we leave in fear. We don’t.
Sounds like your vibes are off bro.
I’m based in Colombia, there’s maybe a tiny bit of truth in what you’re saying ? Like a lot of Europe is basically danger free in comparison and no one bothers you for anything..
But at the same time, folks are out with strangers all day long in Colombia. If your vibes and presentation are right everyone in Medellin is a parce.. everyone is hanging out everywhere…
You are NOT describing my experience.
When I moved to Europe I had to stop overworrying about people stealing my stuff, I kind of relaxed in that sense but everyone is so dense and take evrything so seriously. I sometimes think the exact opposite, how can you live in a country where your basic necessities are met and people are so unhappy!
OP really wrote a big ass paragraph of what they thought was a deep analysis and still can’t grasp the fact that people can be friendly but most don’t rellly like being robbed.
Somebody once said “Brazil is not for amateurs”, and I think this is valid for Latin America as a whole. 😂
Just kidding (a little), but if you plan to be here for a longer period of time you’ve got to learn to be very aware and you’ve got to learn to relax and enjoy – at the same time. Or you won’t survive. I don’t know how people can learn that consciously, it’s something we have automatically. I’m always in admiration of foreigners that get it. It’s almost a zen thing, “become the water” etc. Good luck…
Welcome to Latin America.
We don’t live in fear, but we’re very much aware of our surroundings and potential threats. At the same time we’re also more in touch with our emotions, and despite the mistrust we’re very social, in ways Northern Europeans are not, those are the 2 reasons why they’re pissed all the time. But they don’t need to be so aware of their surroundings because life is easier when everyone’s basic needs are more or less met.
There’s a saying “la procesión va por dentro, pero la risa en la cara” (the procession goes inside, but the laughter on the face).
The supposed joy of Latin Americans is nothing but coping mechanism, like a nervous grin or laughter. Latin Americans are full of inferiority complexes and very insecure, all of which is covered with a resounding laughter and loud music. Our consistently terrible family, political and economical decisions are a consequence of an urge to enjoy things now because they’ll for sure be worse in the future i.e. hopelessness.
There’s a saying “la procesión va por dentro, pero la risa en la cara” (the procession goes inside, but the laughter on the face).
The supposed joy of Latin Americans is nothing but coping mechanism, like a nervous grin or laughter. Latin Americans are full of inferiority complexes and very insecure, all of which is covered with a resounding laughter and loud music. Our consistently terrible family, political and economical decisions are a consequence of an urge to enjoy things now because they’ll for sure be worse in the future i.e. hopelessness.
Yep, you nailed it. We’re incredible social to the people we know or in places/situations where we feel safe.
With strangers, it’s the wild west. We’ve learned to be aware of our surroundings because crime rates are sky high. This happens more in cities. In my little town we usually leave the door open all day (even when nobody’s home) and nothing ever happens.
Replace understanding with feeling, then you will understand.
It’s like playing a sport: you relax while paying attention
> If I fear my security, how can I be happy and laugh at the same time?
if security was a prerequisite for happiness, then we would be hopelessly sad.
Well idk if you realise but this is south america, you have to be aware of the surroundings even if it’s a safe place (bc if it isn’t crime, its the weather and if it’s not the weather, it’s an earthquake or tsunami or hurricane that’s ready to fuck you up 🫠🫠🫠😭)
May I introduce you to the concept of inequality? I dont know man go talk to real people it is not that hard to understand basic human struggle
Let me put this in perspective to you.
I’ve lived 33 years in Latin America.
I’ve had one old bad phone pickpocketed from me at a Carnaval party and one guy half my size tried to rob me at a dark street after midnight when he severely overestimated how drunk I was.
I know my experience isn’t the average. I’m a big dude and thieves are first and foremost cowards and look for easy targets.
But still, while the possibility of violence existed, I knew that it wasn’t something I’d have to deal with every day or almost never really.
Now I live in Canada and while I don’t have to worry at all that I’m waiting for the train alone at the platform after midnight, every time I step outside my apartment I have to deal with rude, ill-mannered, uncivil and smelly people, I won’t be considered a human being while doing customer service because of this ridiculous culture of acceptable abuse toward retail workers in North America and god forbid I try to do anything fun and harmless like roasting some meat outside with friends without 26647844 permits from 16637482922 different institutions.
The best explanation was actually given by Tom Jobim. He spoke about Brazil, but I think it applies to most of LATAM: “Living abroad is good, but it sucks. Living in Brazil sucks, but it’s good.”
You might want to study anthropology to get a better understanding of a whole country than the study of a single mind with psychology
We are welcoming in a social enviroment or with “safe” strangers
We also know we can be robbed, kidnapped or murdered in the streets a every turn
Hope this helps!
crime in big cities. touch some grass and you will find the most laid-back people in the world. you are overthinking it a little. but its okay I too hate it when the vendors or employees start chasing me down the aisles but I get it, people like to steal a lot.