MainPoints1)Individualism-collectivism2)Individual-OrientedSocieties3)Collectivism-OrientedSocieties4)HowtomakethetwoworktogetherIndividualism-collectivism

Allculturesmustaskandanswerthefollowingquestion:Towhatextentshouldpeoplepursuetheirownindividualactivitiesandagendasratherthancontributingtothesuccessandwell-beingofthelargergroup,suchafamily,neighborhood,clan,team,orcompany?Individualism—beingdifferentCollectivism—howmuchyoucandoforthegroupyouareinSomecountries,suchastheUnitedStates,Canada,GreatBritain,andtheNetherlands,placeahighvalueonindividualism.Thereculturesemphasizetheworthanddignityoftheindividualoverthegroup,independenceratherthaninterdependence,andrelativelyfewsocialobligations.Everybodyistryingtobedifferentfromtheothersintheteamorclan;Personalgoalsareoverthegroupgoals;Peopleplacetheworthanddignityoftheindividualoverthegroup.Othercultures,suchasJapanandChina,tendtoemphasizethelargergroup.Theseculturesencouragepeopletoputtheinterestofthegroupabovetheirown,maintainstrongtiesandobligationstogroupmembers,andvaluelong-termsocialrelationshipsaboveshort-termaccomplishments.

Individualisticculturebelievesthatpeoplearesupposedtotakecareofthemselvesandremainemotionallyindependentofgroups,organizations,orothercollectivities.Self-emphasisisimportant,eveninbuildingfriendships.1.Individual-OrientedSocietiesIndividualscandowhatevertheywant,andtheir“freedom”andtheir“rights”arenecessaryvalues.Theybuildcontractstoprotecttheirrightsfromothersandtoprotecttheirdignity.Theirhighlevelofself-respectdoesnotkeepthemfromenjoyingagoodtimeandanoccasionaladventure,eveniftheymightfeelguiltylater.Whentheyarefriendly,theyareveryverbalandopen,buttheycanbeverycriticaltowardenemies.Individualsliketodebateissuesbutwillwithdrawandbecomedefensivewithsomebodytheydon’ttrust.Whentheyareinterested,theycanbeloudwithlotsofquestionsbuttheyarelikelytolookawaywhentheygetbored.(1)Other’sbehaviorisexplainedbypersonaltraits.(2)One’ssuccessisattributedtohisownability.(3)Selfisdefinedasindividualentity.(4)Oneknowsmoreaboutselfthanothers.(5)Achievementismadeforone’sownsake.(6)Personalgoalsareovergroupgoals.(7)Self-assurednessisvalued.(8)Autonomyandindependenceisvalued.(9)dependenceonothersisavoided.(10)Onebearscasualconnectionstomanygroups.(11)Taskcompletionisimportant.(12)Onehasfewobligationstoothers.(13)Confrontationisacceptable.Thecharacteristicsofindividuals2.Collectivism-OrientedSocieties

Collectivistcultureemphasizestheingroup,suchastheorganizationortheextendedfamily.Collectivistsvalueharmonyandavoiddirectconfrontation.Theyemphasizebuildingrelationshipswithotherthroughritualsandpoliteness,andtaskaccomplishmentbecomesanindirectorsecondarygoal.

Groupsaremajorunitsofsocialperception.(2)Others’behaviorisexplainedbygroupnorms.(3)Successattributedtohelpofgroup.(4)Selfdefinedintermsofgroup.(5)Oneknowsmoreaboutothersthanself.(6)Achievementisforbenefitofgroup.(7)Ingroupgoalisoverpersonalgoal.(8)Modestyisvalued.(9)Interdependenceisvalued.(10)Ostracism(排斥)isfeared.(11)Onehasstrongconnectionstoafewgroups.(12)Onehasmanyobligationstoothers.(13)Harmonyisexpected.(14)Relationsareimportant.3.Impactuponindividual-orientedsocieties

Individualism,asdescribedabove,referstotheattitudeofvaluingourselvesasseparateindividualswithresponsibilityforourowndestiniesandourownactions.Proponents(支持者)ofindividualismbelievethatself-interestisanappropriategoal.Therefore,theindividual-collectivedimensionplaysoutintheindividual-orientedsocietiesinfollowingaspects.1)Theidealoftheindividualisdeeplyrootedinthesocial,political,andeconomicinstitutionsofsuchsocietiesastheUnitedStatesandEngland.Theindividualisthesourceofmoralpower,totallycompetenttoassesstheeffectsofhisorherownactions,andisexpectedtoberesponsibleforthoseactions.2)Familytiestendtoberelativelyunimportant.ThatisnottosaythatintheUnitedStatesthefamilyisunimportantinanyabsolutesense,forthefamilyremainstheprimarygrouptowhichmostAmericanshavetheirstrongestloyalties.Nevertheless,whencomparedwithothercultures,Americansdividetheirtimeandemotionalenergybetweenfamilyandawidervarietyofsocialgroupings,includingchurch,school,laborunion,workplace,andahostofvoluntaryorganizations.3)ThephysicallayoutofthetypicalAmericanhouse,designedtomaximizeindividualspace,clearlyreflectstheemphasisplacedonindividualismandpersonalprivacy.Therearedoorsonbathroomsandbedrooms,parentsareexpectedtoacknowledgetheprivatespaceandpossessionsoftheirchildren'srooms,andchildrenareusuallyrestrictedintheiruseofspacethatisconsideredthedomainoftheparents.4)TheconceptofindividualismisinstilledfromanearlyageintheUnitedStatesbyconstantencouragementofchildrentobecomeself-sufficient.e.g.Childrenaretaughttomaketheirowndecisions,clarifytheirownvalues,formtheirownopinions,andsolvetheirownproblems.Theyareencouragedtosearchoutanswersforthemselves,ratherthanrelyingontheteacheroradult.5)IntheUnitedStates,theBillofRights(人權(quán)法案)protectspeopleagainstinfringement(侵害)oftheirindividualrightsbythestate,thusallowingthemtoexpresstheirideasfreely,practicewhateverreligiontheychoose,assemblefreely,andgenerallycontroltheirownlivestoasgreatadegreeaspossible.4.Impactuponcollective-orientedsocietiesCollectivismemphasizescommoninterests,conformity,cooperation,andinterdependence.Itattemptstoseeagroupofindividualsashavingasingleidentitysimilartoaperson.Ithaspurpose,anditactstoachievegoals.Therefore,theindividual-collectivedimensionplaysoutinthecollective-orientedsocietiesinfollowingaspects.1)Peopletendtoidentifyordefinethemselvesprimarilyasmembersofagroupratherthanasindividuals.2)Property,suchaslandorlivestock,iscontrolledbythelargergroupratherthanbeingindividuallyowned.WhereasAmericansownproperty(totheextentthattheyhavetotalcontroloverit),peopleincollectivistsocietieshaveonlylimitedrightsandobligationstopropertythatisultimatelycontrolledbythelargergroup.3)Basiclifechoices,suchaswhoyouwillmarryorwhatprofessionyouwillfollow,arenotmadeexclusively,orevenprimarily,bytheindividual.Forexample,marriagesinsomepartsoftheworldarearrangedbyparentsandotherinfluentialmembersofthetwofamilygroupsinvolved.4)Collectivistsocietieshaveastrongsenseofresponsibilitytothegroup(e.g.country,family,company).InJapan,forexample,ifanindividualdoesnotgivehisorherbesteffort,itisseenaslettingdowntheentiregroup.Inotherwords,bothsuccessandfailureare"teamaffairs"inJapan.5)Thereisconsiderablylessprivacy.Children,eveninthosehomeswithampleroom,frequentlysharethesamesleepingareaswiththeirparentsandsiblingsuntilwellintoadolescence.Clearly,theydonotadheretotheAmericanvaluethatconsiderschildren“disadvantaged"iftheymustsharearoomwithasibling.5)Comparisonbetween