Thursday, February 17, 2011

Individualism versus Collectivism

Do you prefer to meet your own individual personal goals, or your collective family goals? Do you place your own preferences before those of the culture in which you live? Patterns of social behavior and psychology vary from culture to culture, and from individual to individual. The psychologist Harry Triandis (1995) proposed that patterns of social behavior could be explained by two constructs: individualism and collectivism.

What is Individualism?

Individualism is a social pattern consisting of loosely linked individuals. People living in individualistic cultures view themselves as independent to the larger society

  • by their own preferences
  • by their own needs and rights
  • will give priority to their own personal goals over the goals of others
  • will rationalise the advantages and disadvantages of associating with others

Individualistic Cultures

Individualistic cultures include most western countries such as:
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • Australia
  • France
  • and Germany; to name a few.

What is Collectivism?

Collectivism is a social pattern consisting of closely linked individuals who view themselves as part of one or more collectives. For example: a collective may be the persons' family, workplace, or group of friends.
A collectivist is primarily motivated by:
    • the norms and expectations of the collective
    • gives priority to the goals of the collective over their own personal goals
    • will emphasise the connections they have with members of the collective

    Collectivistic Cultures

    Collectivistic cultures includes countries such as:
    • Brazil
    • India
    • Russia
    • most eastern nations, such as Japan and China

    Cultural Perspective on Individualism and Collectivism

    Traditionally, the terms individualism and collectivism have been used to describe particular cultures. However it is important to note that each individualist and collectivist culture is likely to have a unique aspect. For example, a Korean collectivist culture is quite different to the collectivism of the Israeli Kibbutz.

    Individual Differences Within Cultures

    Although much research has supported cultural tendencies towards either individualism or collectivism, individual differences must be accounted for. For example, a person may live in a traditionally collectivistic culture although they may still express individualistic behaviours within that culture. In every culture there are people with individualistic tendencies, and people with collectivistic tendencies.

    Individualism Versus Collectivism

    The terms individualism and collectivism are typically used to describe different cultures. An individualistic culture is where individuals are more concerned with their own preferences and goals, than those of the larger society. A collectivistic culture is where individuals are more concerned with pleasing the social environment in which they live. Additionally, within every culture there will be both individualist and collectivist people
     
     
     

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