Comparisons Between Mongolian Personality Types and American Ag Producers by Dr. Alimaa Khosbayar and Dr. Val Farmer

The following is a dialogue between Alimaa’s research on the Big Five Personality types of Mongolians and a strong similarity to rural American Ag Producers. Because of the prominence of herding animals in the Mongolian economy and their distinct personality profiles, Mongolians have been called “The Cowboys of Asia”. Dr. Alimaa’s research indicates this is more than a catchy nickname.

The following is a dialogue between Dr. Val Farmer, an American Psychologist, whose own clinical work, and syndicated newspaper column in the American Midwest identified the personality profile of American Ag Producers and addressed their main challenges when faced with enormous economic and personal challenges.

Dr. Alimaa’s comments are highlighted in red to identify the strengths and weaknesses of Mongolian immigrants as they adapt to their new lives in the United States. Dr. Farmer’s response (highlighted in blue) with insights garnered from his observations during his 48-year career as a clinician and writer on rural issues in the American Midwest.

In an email exchange, Dr. Alimaa shared her goal of helping Mongolian immigrants adapt to American culture and lifestyle and described highlights from her research on Mongolian personality traits. Dr. Farmer responds with how he sees comparisons to the strengths and weaknesses of American Ag Producers when faced with daunting challenges in their lives.

Dr. Alimaa shared a graphic of her research on Mongolian personality traits, (see chart below) and then made the following observations as they apply to immigration: My research examined the general personality profile of Mongolians and compared it across East Asian cultures utilizing the Big Five Inventory (BFI), a widely accepted measure assessing five prominent domains of personality: agreeableness, extraversion, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness to experience. Each of these traits are defined as follows:

Agreeableness: This trait assesses how individuals value others, ranging from warmth and empathy to indifference. Facets include compassion, trust, and respect.

Extraversion: This trait describes how individuals interact socially. It separates those who enjoy social situations from those who prefer solitude and restraint. Facets encompass sociability, assertiveness, and energy level.

Conscientiousness: This trait focuses on reliability and adherence to rules, with highly conscientious individuals setting goals and organizing effectively. Facets include organization, productivity, and responsibility.

Emotional stability: This trait measures emotional resilience, from worry and stress to calmness and security. Facets include anxiety, depression, and emotional volatility.

Openness to experience: This trait reflects an individual's openness to new ideas and experiences, distinguishing between those who embrace change and those who prefer routine. Facets include intellectual curiosity, aesthetic sensitivity, and creative imagination.

Based on my research, I discovered that Mongolians have a unique set of character traits that is distinct from other East Asian cultures. The moderate scores in Agreeableness and Openness to experience suggest adaptations fostered by Mongolia's nomadic heritage, fostering resilience amidst challenging conditions. Furthermore the relatively heightened levels of Conscientiousness and Extraversion may reflect adjustments to recent shifts in Mongolia's social and governmental structure. These qualities may account for the transition to more settled ways of life. Additionally, comparable levels of Emotional stability to other Asian countries demonstrate shared factors with other Asian cultures.

Ultimately, I believe that Mongolians are highly capable individuals who are well-poised to succeed in the United States, especially when supported by third-party programs designed to accommodate their cultural values.

Dr. Farmer: My first thought was that this pattern was quite similar to why other immigrants from other cultures were and continue to be attracted to the United States. They see where in this country they can experience the "American Dream" for themselves and their children. They have the freedom and opportunity to design a life where their skills and attributes are the determining factor in their success.

These are the kind of citizens America loves and needs. These are the kind of citizens who made America the shining light and city on a hill for the whole world to see.

Dr. Alimaa: With respect to the Agreeableness factor, Mongolians are very compassionate and family-oriented. Mongolians hold a deep-seated reverence for familial bonds, stemming from centuries of tradition and a nomadic lifestyle that demanded unity and mutual support.

Family is a cornerstone of identity and strength in Mongolian society. Mongolians prioritize family, demonstrating a deep compassion and understanding towards those who prioritize caring for their loved ones. This deep-seated respect for familial responsibilities means that if someone is caring for a child or their elderly parents, they are likely to receive understanding and support from their community.

Mongolian society recognizes the importance of caregiving and the sacrifices it entails, often granting leniency or cutting slack to those who prioritize their family duties. This emphasis on familial care highlights the importance of kinship ties in Mongolian culture.

Mongolians, known for their resilience and self-sufficiency, often prioritize independence and self-reliance in their daily lives. This cultural trait is deeply ingrained, stemming from a history shaped by their nomadic lifestyles, where survival often depended on individual resourcefulness.

Consequently, many Mongolians find it challenging to collaborate outside of their immediate kinship circles. The concept of seeking assistance contradicts the characteristic of self-reliance instilled from a young age. As a result, the tradition of teamwork beyond familial ties has historically been less prevalent in Mongolian society. While this self-reliant attitude fosters individual resilience, it can also pose obstacles to collective endeavors that require cooperation and collaboration beyond the confines of familial networks. For example, Mongolian business owners may find it difficult to delegate or seek consultation services. Efforts to foster a culture of teamwork and cooperation beyond kinship circles may require a delicate balance between honoring traditional values of self-reliance and embracing the benefits of collaboration.

Dr. Farmer: Seeds of problematic adaptation arise when the parents, who are generally revered and counted on for support and childcare, stay behind in Mongolia. This throws a big wrinkle into the challenge. The standard of living here is such that both parents need to be employed which puts stress and strain on the immigrant nuclear family.

This is very similar to the description of the settlers of agricultural lands in the United States. Look up my articles on urban and rural values on my website. The challenge of survival for farmers and ranchers in the United States is to move from self- reliance and hands-on management to human resource management. Your human resource work background fits in with the mediation work I do in helping people develop and accomplish their goals through mutual effort, common goals, and clear communication.

Dr. Alimaa: With respect to the Extraversion factor, the highest facet was assertiveness among Mongolians, with the energy and low sociability also playing significant roles. Assertiveness reflects a straightforward and leader-like demeanor, characterized by the expression of honest opinions, a steadfast resistance to solutions deemed popular but ultimately unworkable, and an innate inclination to take charge and lead.

Assertiveness tends to evoke perceptions of leadership potential and motivates individuals to aspire to leadership roles. In some ways, this lack of sociability and high assertiveness stems from traditional Mongolian culture, where Mongolians lived as “саачалыхт ” or a circle of families.

In contemporary Mongolia, this facet finds expression in the widespread desire for entrepreneurial ventures and the pursuit of independent business ownership. Ambition permeates society, with many avoiding traditional employment in favor of cultivating their own enterprises. The desire to be a CEO is a driving force, reflecting the collective ambition and self-reliance ingrained within Mongolian culture.

Dr. Farmer: It's a big step to becoming a leader unless Mongolians possess the team-building and communication skills necessary to exist in an environment where the leader is using resources other than his or her own.

To be independent and run your own enterprise takes education and specialty training. And money and investment of others as well as creativity. The first generation of immigrants may have the ideal in mind but they have to pay the price...assimilation, bilingual language skills, cultural adaptation, higher education, and helping their family members (children) take steps to become specialists who can contribute something valuable to society.

The traits in the next category are the key to success. I would say Mongolian traits stand them in good stead to take charge of their own lives, and strive for hard goals such as being a CEO, a business owner, or having free-lance skills that are in demand. They need help to figure out how to get from here to there.

They also need to build a loving and supportive family (marriage, friends, business connections/networks from the Mongolian community and from the social network they nurture with Americans and others. Patience, long-term perspective, encouragement, and persistence are something that outside counselors and advisors can provide.

Dr. Alimaa: The levels of Emotional stability present in Mongolians not only reflect their cultural heritage but also offer valuable insights for individuals navigating new environments. Their diverse emotional responses, including moments of concern, highlight an adaptive approach to life's challenges. Within unfamiliar contexts, such as relocation or new opportunities, this cultural perspective on emotional well-being is crucial to effective adjustment.

By understanding and embracing the nuances of emotional resilience, individuals can effectively navigate transitions and thrive in diverse settings. Moreover, the alignment of emotional stability levels with those found in other developed nations suggests a shared understanding of emotional balance and mental fortitude, further facilitating adjustment and integration into new communities or professional landscapes.

With respect to the Openness to New Experiences factor, Mongolians scored highest on creative imagination and intellectual curiosity. Mongolians, historically nomadic, have developed a culture of innovation out of necessity, given their reliance on resourcefulness over technology.

Constantly on the move, they had to devise inventive solutions to meet their needs without the aid of modern conveniences. This ingrained creativity enabled them to adapt to changing environments and overcome challenges, whether in crafting tools, managing livestock, or navigating the vast landscapes they traversed.

Today, this tradition of innovation persists, driving Mongolians to excel in problem-solving and strategic thinking. For example, Mongolians can learn new topics very quickly and succeed in strategic competitions like chess. They also contribute to innovative technologies and industries.

Dr. Farmer: It's hard to imagine any challenges stemming from having these qualities... These qualities help Mongolians adapt to American culture easily except where they struggle with unfamiliar obstacles while adjusting and change management could be crucial.

The Mongolians are in the right place (America) to succeed but need the outside support of an advisor, counselor, or coach who can help them overcome obstacles in their life. Someone who believes in them and is conversant with the challenges of immigration. This understanding of their challenges helps them become analytical about redefining their goals or finding a new pathway to the goals they already have.

At this point, Dr. Farmer suggests an intervention model he used with displaced farmers and ranchers and their families who lost farms and ranches, positions of competence as self-employed business owners in agricultural production, sense of place, and loss of identity. This displacement resulted in becoming immigrants to a new environment (Urban/Suburban) that was indeed foreign and for which they were unprepared.

He also suggested using that same intervention model be used to help stressed-out farmers and ranchers and their families cope with uncertainty, fear of impending loss, anxiety, depression, exhaustion, and feelings of anger at others who contributed to their dilemma. Lack or poor communication or disagreements about alternatives divide or isolate married couples from being mutually supportive of each other during a time of crisis.

Dr. Farmer shared his model with Dr. K. The adaptation she postulates would be effective in helping the Mongolian immigrant community adapt to the challenges facing them in their new country.

The following is a business plan or proposal that could be an effective tool for not only Mongolian immigrants but also other immigrant communities who have a similar personality profile coming from countries or backgrounds that have agriculture and rurality as a major part of their cultural tradition.

Dr. Alimaa: My approach to supporting Mongolian immigrants in the United States is comprehensive and is tailored to address the unique challenges and needs of this community. Through my private practice, I will offer a range of services including individual therapy, marriage counseling, and coaching, all designed to provide personalized support and guidance. Leveraging my nuanced understanding of Mongolian culture and the immigrant experience, I will implement techniques and interventions that resonate deeply with my clients. By creating a safe and supportive environment where individuals can freely explore their thoughts and feelings, I will foster a sense of trust and rapport that is essential for effective growth.

Additionally, I recognize the importance of family and community in Mongolian culture and integrate these values into my practice, encouraging clients to draw strength and support from their social networks. Through my work I aim not only to address immediate concerns but also to empower Mongolian immigrants to navigate the complexities of their new environment with confidence, resilience, support, and with a strong sense of cultural identity.