collectivism

tivism

Theindividualism-collectivismdichotomyisanimportantelementtounderstand

theWesternandEasterncultures,becauittellsamajordifferencebetweenthetwo

cultures.

Table1ContrastbetweenIndividualismandCollectivism

Attitudesand

behaviors

IndividualismCollectivism

SelfEachpersonisparatefromeach

other;childrenlearntothinkinterms

of“I”

Eachpersonispartofagroup;

childrenlearntothinkintermsof

“we”

IdentityIdentityisbadontheindividualIdentityisbadonthesocial

network

CommunicationLow-contextHigh-context

SocialvalueSpeakyourmindandtellthetruthMaintainharmonyandavoid

confrontations

Decision-makingPersonalfreedomismoreimportantEqualityismoreimportantthan

personalfreedom

GroupmembershipFellowuniversalrules;The

decision-makingprocessisimportant

Fulfillobligationstoin-group

members;relationshipsare

important

ConformityTheindividualbelongstomany

groupsbuthisattachmenttothemis

relativelyweak

Theindividualbelongstofew

groupsbutfeelsstronglyattached

tothem

Behaviortoward

In-groupand

Out-groupmembers

Grouphasrelativelylittleinfluence

onthebehaviorofgroupmembers

Groupgreatlyinfluencethe

behaviorofmembers

Relationshipswith

groupmembers

Relativelylittledifferencein

behaviortowardin-groupand

out-groupmembers

Bigdifferencebetweenin-group

andout-groupmembers

CompetitionLessintimatewithin-groupsandless

hostiletoout-groups

Cooperatewithmembersof

in-groupsbutnotwithmembersof

out-groups

CooperationOccurswithingroupsaswellas

betweengroups

Cooperatewithmembersof

in-groupsbutnotwithmembersof

out-groups

StrangersValuemeetingnewpeople;meet

themeasily

Formalanddistantwithstrangers

Self-relianceItisapleasuretodoasmuchby

yourlfaspossible

Peopledependoneachotherbut

shouldnotburdenin-group

membersunnecessarily

Typicalrelationship

pattern

Short-term,

Voluntary,

Lessintensiverelationship

Long-term,

Involuntary,

Moreintensiverelationship