What is Janteloven? The Law of Jante in Norway - Working With Norwegians

What is the Law of Jante or Janteloven in Norway? In Janteloven, individual success is discouraged and, in many cases, considered inappropriate. Instead, society encourages the good of the collective over any one individual. This has shaped Scandinavian culture over many years and helped to create the peaceful, modest, and homogenous society of today.

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[schoolingdiana]

This fits in with Native American culture. The hurt of one is the hurt of all; the success of one is the success of all. I can see why my Norwegian ancestors fit in and married my Native American ancestors.

[arcticblue]

Basically it is that your wealth, your high IQ or education don't impress me (I'm Norwegian btw), how you act and what you do however might impress me or tell me what kind of person you are. thats why norwegians are really individualists and even that we have a king and even a boss/leader .. we might not think he knows best all the time and in many times just plain out don't do as they say.

One way you can see how it works is that we don't use Mr. (last name) on our superiors ... we use their first name ... same with teachers, we are in many ways on what we call it "Dus" (like in du ? ... not de ... ) like we say Du to our leader, or just their first name.

So we don't brag about our achievments, we might think its cool and all, but don't brag about it as it does not come out nice towards other to do so.... and they probably would not be impressed about it anyway.

[worthyourwhilearthi.g]

I am a perfect fit to Norwegian society and culture. Can i move in now?

[becurious]

Fantastic video... American here living in Sweden and we have Janteloven here also. I am noticing a trend among some of the millennial and younger now (me being a millennial myself). I am seeing more starting to challenge these concepts. It will be interesting to see what comes of this in the future.

[Jonas.A.Larsen]

"individual success is discouraged and, in many cases, considered inappropriate." this is patently false, individual success is not discouraged or inappropriate, but if you are successful, it is looked down upon if you think you are better than other people, this is rooted in the fact that no man is an island and everyone needs some kind of help or cooperation to find success.

[truth]

Barbara Spectre needs to learn these rules

[daghugowilhelmsen]

It just say dont brag, if you are good other will say that you are good. No one likes a person who tells how great he is.

[loonylinn]

i love that japanese philosophy “a nail that sticks out gets hammered”, an address to all arrogant and narcissistic people

[sunar]

These three words are highly valued by induviduals in Norwegian workplaces; "recognition, responsibility and praise", as long as it given from others. Thanks for uploading your videos. I like your style.

[subscriptions]

Janteloven seems so similar to "Nail that sticks out gets hammered down" culture in Japan.

[udynes]

I would never ever adapt to such culture. This is not the way I understand the world.

[jordanmchighlander]

Number 10: You are not to think you can teach us anything:
Teachers: ...

[tangbein]

Biggest problem I have with janteloven is that it creates a culture of mediocrity as you're not supposed to be better than the other person. I remember reading this article about a prodigy who finished college in the US at the age of 17. Somebody wrote that it was a good thing she wasnt born in Norway. Then she would have been dimmed down and forced to be like everyone else, quite fitting.
Also I think that janteloven creates so much jealosy in people. A jealosy that at the end of the day is just hypocrisy. People critisize others who do well economically and say they should contribute more to society, yet they would never do the same if they had the same success.

[leokukkonen]

That coffee-drinking dude at 05:20 was nerve-wrecking...

[carlos_zambrano]

Hey thanks! I'm in Sweden right now and a woman talk to me about this law wich i found really interesting to understand the culture here... Thansk!

[TheLibraryOfEmotions]

Very interesting knowledge. Thank you for sharing your experiences and personal stories.

[agarlicsorbet]

This is why any people saying "the west" or "western culture" as a vague umbrella term to describe white people living west of Russia as a whole is so ridiculous.
There is no such thing as "western heritage" to protect against something. It's all mixed up.
I find so much similarity in Jante's law what I can see in my country's culture(I'm east Asian) although there are many details that makes all the difference.

[Sleepery]

I feel your pain, it must suck being 'cocky American' in Norway.. ;)

Few remarks:
1) I'm sure they give you a bit benefit of a doubt, first cos you are foreigner, second cos (I think that) most of Scandinavians have slight cultural bias towards Americans. If you were let's say 'cocky German' or 'cocky Russian' it might be even worse.. :D

2) Maybe Jante Laws are not your only issue in company meetings, but also lack of experience in consensual decision making process? Which is not unique for Scandinavians, though they can be extra difficult with it.

3) If you think that being one (or few) foreigner in Scandinavian company is difficult (I thought so too), imagine challenges working in company that has very strong Scandinavian working culture, but majority of the employees are NOT Scandinavians and come from very diverse backgrounds! :D

[redamohamed]

The rule number 10 actually cancels the prior laws.

[floro]

Is this man living in a dark cellar without external stimuli? This was about a rural town in Denmark in the 1880ies.