Collectivist and Individualist cultures
- For judgements of value about collectivism and individualism, see individualism and collectivism. This article regards how 'collectivist' and 'individualist' are used descriptively in anthropology and cultural psychology.
Cultures are typically divided into two categories: collectivist and individualist. Individualist cultures, such as those of the United States and Western Europe, emphasize personal achievement at the expense of group goals, resulting in a strong sense of competition. Collectivist cultures, such as those of China, Korea, and Japan, emphasize family and work group goals.
Collectivism and individualism deeply pervade cultures. People simply take their culture's stance for granted. In the U.S., everything from 'self-serve' buffet tables to corporate structure to cowboy movies reflect the deeply ingrained individualism. In Japan, after a professor gave a lecture on individualist culture, the students asked the professor if what he said could 'really be true'.
Both collectivist and individualist cultures have their failings. People in individualist cultures are susceptible to loneliness, and people in collectivist cultures can have a strong fear of rejection.
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Identity
Collectivistic Culture
- Group goals and achievement.
- More "interdependent"
- "We"or "Us" identity
- Each person is encouraged to conform to society, to do what is best for the group and to not openly express opinions or beliefs that go against it.
- Group, family or rights for the common good seen as most important (eg. Rules that promote stability, order, obedience)
- Fitting in or conforming to group or society is required.
- More distinction between in-group and out-group.
- Working with others and cooperating is the norm. Refusal to cooperate and wanting to be independent or stand out is seen as shameful. Everyone must rely on others for support.
Individualistic Culture
- Individual goals, initiative and achievement
- More "independent"
- "I" identity
- Each person is encouraged to stand out, be unique and express themselves.
- Individual rights seen as most important (eg. Rules that give a lot of independence, choices and freedom of speech)
- No need to fit in or conform to group or society.
- Less distinction between in-group and out-group.
- Relying or being dependent on others is seen as shameful. People are encouraged to do things on their own, to be self-reliant.
Examples of Countries with Generally Collectivistic Cultures
- Argentina
- Brazil
- China
- Egypt
- Greece
- India
- Japan
- Korea
- Mexico
Examples of Countries with Generally Individualistic Cultures
- Canada
- Australia
- England
- France
- Ireland
- Italy
- New Zealand
- United States
Attribution
Attribution is the process of understanding the actions of others based on limited information. Since the process is inexact, large errors often creep in. In individualistic cultures, there is a strong bias towards attributing a person's behavior to the characteristics of that person, instead of to the situation that person is in. This is called the fundamental attribution error. People in collectivist cultures have this bias to a much lesser degree.
Personality Types
The stereotype of a 'good person' in collectivist cultures is trustworthy, honest, generous, and sensitive, all characteristics that are helpful to people working in groups. In contrast, a 'good person' in individualist cultures is more assertive and strong, characteristics helpful for competing.
The idea of the 'artistic type' or 'bohemian' is not usually found in collectivist cultures. However, collectivist cultures usually have a 'community man' concept not present in individualist cultures.
Collectivism in China
In China, collectivism has a long tradition based on Confucianism, where being a 'community man' (qúntǐ de fènzǐ) (群体的分子) or someone with a 'social personality' (shèhuì de réngé) (社会的人格) is valued. Additionally, there is the shìgu (世故) personality type, who is worldly and committed to family.
Individualism in China
Individualist thinking in China was formed by Lao Zi. He taught that individual happiness is the basis of a good society and saw the state, with its "laws and regulations more numerous than the hairs of an ox," as the persistent oppressor of the individual, "more to be feared than fierce tigers." He was an opponent of taxation and war, and his students and the tradition that followed him were consistently individualistic.
See Also
- Western culture
- Asian values
- Individualism
- Collectivism
- Face (social custom)
- Uncertainty avoidance
- Power distance