Final answer:
The modal self of how to succeed as an American suggests that success in the United States is based on individual choice, motivation, and self-effort. It reflects the American Dream of upward social mobility through hard work and few barriers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The modal self of how to succeed as an American suggests that success in the United States is seen as the result of individual choice, motivation, and self-effort. The emphasis is on hard work and talent determining social mobility, rather than inherited wealth, prejudicial treatment, institutional racism, or societal values. This belief reflects the American Dream, which is based on the opportunity for prosperity and upward social mobility through hard work and few barriers.