Lesson 6 10/19/17 Individualism vs. Collectivism

Individualism vs. Collectivism

Understanding the differences between individualism and collectivism can help us to understand different cultures and why they do the things they do.

The United States: A Group of Individuals

The United States is a country of individualistic orientation. We believe in "doing your own thing" and "standing out in a crowd." Doing great and individual things is a positive way to get noticed and even advance your own career and success. People are always looking for new and unique ideas, and people who are exceptionally talented get recognition. However, we are also, for the most part, held accountable individually. We are responsible for our own mistakes, and often times there is not someone to help bail us out. There are definite pros and cons to an individualistic society.


The Whole Wide World: Featuring Collective Societies

Many other countries in the world have a collectivist orientation. There is a saying, "the nail that sticks out gets hammered back." In a collective society, standing out in any way, good or bad, is seen as negative. Everyone is equally responsible for any crimes that are committed, even if they did not have a lot to do with it. Everyone takes the credit, or everyone takes the blame. However, this is positive because everyone is recognized equally for their work. There is a sense of community and responsibility to your neighbor.

Understanding that there are different views in collectivism and individualism can help us to better understand people who come from each cultural background. What may seem like a celebration of outstanding achievement to you may seem like calling unnecessary negative attention to someone else. The more we are able to understand these cultural differences, the easier it will be for us to understand and make those around us feel more comfortable.