How We Navigate The Group: Individualism Vs. Collectivism

Culture can serve as one lens through which we view the world. Knowing some basics about larger cultural ideas can help you understand how you view yourself, how other people interact, and what motivates decision-making from one society to the next. 

Individualistic and collectivist cultures are large-scale societal identifiers that can foster core values in the individual that touch every part of their lives and relationships.

In this article, we’ll look at individualism vs. collectivism, what these cultures entail, how they can affect the outlook of individuals raised with their principles, and how you can learn more about yourself through sociology. 

What are individualism and collectivism?

Individualism and collectivism are two of what are called cultural dimensions, markers used by sociologists to provide a framework for describing the effects of culture on its individuals, as well as how these values relate to their behavior. Other cultural dimensions include masculinity and femininity, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and indulgence and restraint. 

An individualistic culture values freedom of the individual, personal rights, and autonomy.

In individualistic societies, it’s believed that every person has inherent value and the right to make their own choices and pursue individual goals. Personal responsibility may be emphasized in this culture, and every person's unique contributions and qualities might have worth. The United States can be considered an individualist culture. 

A collectivist culture values the interests and welfare of the collective community over the needs of the individual. 

A collectivist culture may believe the individual should prioritize the group's needs and work toward common goals. Group harmony may be worth more to this culture. Interdependence, collaboration, and cooperation may be shared values of the collectivist culture. Japan can be considered a collectivist culture.

Common factors in individualistic and collectivist societies

There are pros and cons to both individualist and collectivist cultures. Let’s break down some common characteristics in both. 

The advantages of living in individualistic cultures may include the following:

• Individualism promotes autonomy and freedom within its groups. In an individualistic society, people are encouraged to make their own choices and have personal goals. 
• Individualistic cultures may prefer direct communication, which can be efficient and excellent for solving dilemmas.
• Individualism encourages creativity and innovation.
• People’s personal achievements could have more worth and be rewarded in societies where individualism may be prized. 

Living in individualistic cultures may also entail disadvantages:

• Social and economic inequality can be prevalent, as the individualistic society values self-interest over collective welfare. 
• Because there’s no strong need to look out for the welfare of others in an individualistic society, there can be social isolation for marginalized people. 
• More conflict can be inherent in an individual-centric system, as conformity may not be encouraged, and there might be a strong emphasis on personal freedoms and rights. 
• Highly individualistic societies may lack social safety nets like financial assistance for low-income families and universal healthcare. 

In collectivist cultures, people may experience the following advantages:

• Collectivist cultures tend to have stronger social ties, which can lead to a reduction in social and economic inequalities. 
• Mutual support and group bonds are prioritized.
• Because group harmony may be valued more, collectivist groups tend to avoid conflict, which can lead to non-confrontational conflict resolution strategies.
• Collectivism prioritizes respect for elders and tradition.

The disadvantages of living in a collectivist culture may encompass the following:

• There can be greater resistance to change due to respect for tradition, and there might be a tendency for change to be viewed as disruptive to group harmony, no matter how much it may be needed.
• Collectivism can suppress individuality and promote intense pressure toward conformity. 
• Due to the value of consensus in a collectivist culture, groupthink may be common. Criticism toward or refusal to align with group values may be punished socially or under the law. 

Despite significant cultural differences between individualism and collectivism, some similarities exist. These cultures can create a sense of belonging and foster strong social connections. They also desire to promote responsibility and duty, though the recipients may differ (self vs. the community). 

How greater societal values influence the individual

So, what do the concepts of individualism and collectivism mean for the psychology of the individual? First, our self-concept is shaped by several factors, and society may be a big one. Therefore, the language a person uses to describe themselves may often reflect the culture in which they’re raised. 

For example, someone with an individualistic perspective may likely talk about their character traits like “I am strong,” “I am loyal,” or “I am funny.” A person from a collectivist society may use societal roles to describe themselves, such as, “I am a good friend, I am a good daughter,” or “I am a good teacher.”

Your level of conformity may be another factor influenced by such cultures. In collectivist cultures, people may be more likely to try to fit in with the rest of the group. Individualist cultures tend to reward innovation and personal achievement, and people from these cultures are more likely to try to stand out as individuals or voices of dissenting opinions. 

Finally, social relationships can be affected by your culture. In collectivistic cultures, relationships tend to be stronger and more insular. Meeting strangers can be more challenging, so strong geographical and family ties may be prioritized. These relationships are generally more stable than those forged in individualistic cultures, where strangers meet frequently and ties aren’t as binding. Individualistic values tend to promote relationships that require more work and communication than those in a collectivist culture. 

Therapy for understanding societal influences

However, if you’re trying to understand why you think or behave in specific ways, cross-cultural psychology can help put together pieces of the puzzle. Cross-cultural psychology uses sociological factors to gain insight into human thought and behavior. Human beings have many universal values, but how they’re expressed can differ based on the culture in which they were raised. 

This field of cross-cultural psychology may not be widely used, but you may find a licensed therapist who incorporates cross-cultural psychology by looking into online therapy platforms like BetterHelp. Online therapy has opened up the opportunity to try various therapies and therapists in a way unheard of just a decade ago. Research shows that online therapy may be just as effective as traditional in-person therapy, though it offers convenience and availability that traditional therapy may not be able to match. 

With BetterHelp, you can complete a simple questionnaire online and get matched with a therapist who meets your needs personally and efficiently. Sessions with your therapist can be held over video chat, text, or phone from the comfort of your home or office. People may be more likely to find a practitioner with whom they relate based upon certain cultural backgrounds, views, or experiences than people living in areas where diverse in-person therapist options are limited or unavailable.