Individualism vs Collectivism
Text 6. Individualism versus Collectivism.
The individualism-collectivism dimension refers to how people define themselves and their relationships with others. In an individualist culture, the interest of the individual prevails over the interests of the group. Ties between individuals are loose. People look after themselves and their immediate families. In a collectivist culture, the interest of the group prevails over the interest of the individual. People are integrated into strong, cohesive ingroups that continue throughout a lifetime to protect in exchange for unquestioning loyalty (Hofstede, 1997). One difference is reflected in who is taken into account when you set goals. In individualist cultures, goals are set with minimal consideration given to groups other than perhaps your immediate family. In collectivist cultures, other groups are taken into account in a major way when goals are set. Individualist cultures are loosely integrated; Collectivist cultures are tightly integrated.
In individualist cultures such as the US, for example, when meeting a new person you want to know what that person does. You tend to define people by what they have done, their accomplishments, what kind of car they drive, or where they live. Individualistic cultures are more remote and distant.
Cultures characterized by collectivism emphasize relationships among people to a greater degree. Collectivist cultures stress interdependent activities and suppressing individual aims for the group’s welfare.
(F. Jandt. An Introduction to Intercultural Communication. Pp.184.
Harry Triandis, a psychologist at the University of Illinois, is well known for his work on individualism and collectivism. Triandis writes that in individualistic cultures, emphasis is placed on an individual’s goals over group goal. In individualistic cultures, social behavior is guided by personal goals, perhaps at the expense of other types of goals. Individualistic cultures stress values that
The individualism-collectivism dimension refers to how people define themselves and their relationships with others. In an individualist culture, the interest of the individual prevails over the interests of the group. Ties between individuals are loose. People look after themselves and their immediate families. In a collectivist culture, the interest of the group prevails over the interest of the individual. People are integrated into strong, cohesive ingroups that continue throughout a lifetime to protect in exchange for unquestioning loyalty (Hofstede, 1997). One difference is reflected in who is taken into account when you set goals. In individualist cultures, goals are set with minimal consideration given to groups other than perhaps your immediate family. In collectivist cultures, other groups are taken into account in a major way when goals are set. Individualist cultures are loosely integrated; Collectivist cultures are tightly integrated.
In individualist cultures such as the US, for example, when meeting a new person you want to know what that person does. You tend to define people by what they have done, their accomplishments, what kind of car they drive, or where they live. Individualistic cultures are more remote and distant.
Cultures characterized by collectivism emphasize relationships among people to a greater degree. Collectivist cultures stress interdependent activities and suppressing individual aims for the group’s welfare.
(F. Jandt. An Introduction to Intercultural Communication. Pp.184.
Harry Triandis, a psychologist at the University of Illinois, is well known for his work on individualism and collectivism. Triandis writes that in individualistic cultures, emphasis is placed on an individual’s goals over group goal. In individualistic cultures, social behavior is guided by personal goals, perhaps at the expense of other types of goals. Individualistic cultures stress values that