Question

Contrast the characteristics of people who live in individualistic cultures from those who live in collectivistic cultures.

Answer 1

• Individualistic cultures are those that stress the needs of the individual over the needs of the group as a whole. In this type of culture, people are seen as independent and autonomous. Social behavior tends to be dictated by the attitudes and preferences of individuals. Cultures in North America and Western Europe tend to be individualistic.
• A few common characteristics of individualistic cultures include:
• Individual rights take center stage
• Independence is highly valued
• Being dependent upon others is often considered shameful or embarrassing
• People tend to be self-reliant
• The rights of individuals tend to take a higher precedence
• People often place a greater emphasis on standing out and being unique
• A few common traits of collectivistic cultures include:
• Social rules focus on promoting selflessness and putting the community needs ahead of individual needs
• Working as a group and supporting others is essential
• People are encouraged to do what's best for society
• Families and communities have a central role
• A few countries that are considered collectivistic include Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Venezuela, Guatemala, Indonesia, Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil, and India.
• Where collectivism stresses the importance of the group and social cooperation, individualism prizes uniqueness, independence, and self-sufficiency. Where people in collectivist cultures might be more likely to turn to family and friends for support during difficult times, those living in more individualist cultures are more likely to go it alone.
• Individualistic cultures stress that people should be able to solve problems or accomplish goals on their own without having to rely on assistance from others. People are often expected to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps" when they encounter setbacks.
• This tendency to focus on personal identity and autonomy is a pervasive part of a culture that can have a profound influence on how a society functions. For example, workers in an individualist culture are more likely to value their own well-being over the good of the group.
• Contrast this with a collectivist culture where people might sacrifice their own comfort for the greater good of everyone else. Such differences can influence nearly every aspect of behavior ranging from the career a person chooses, the products they buy, and the social issues that they care about.
  
• Individualist cultures stress the importance of each person taking care of his or her self without depending on others for assistance. Those in collectivist cultures may instead stress sharing the burden of care with the group as a whole.
• In collectivistic cultures, people are considered "good" if they are generous, helpful, dependable, and attentive to the needs of others. This contrasts with individualistic cultures that often place a greater emphasis on characteristics such as assertiveness and independence.
• Where collectivism stresses the importance of the community, individualism is focused on the rights and concerns of each person. Where unity and selflessness are valued traits in collectivist cultures, independence and personal identity are highly stressed in individualistic cultures.
• In a collectivist culture, it's difficult to build relationships with new people, partly because it's generally more difficult to meet them. Strangers are more likely to remain strangers to those from a collectivistic culture than they would be to people from individualistic cultures.