Individualist or Collectivist Oriented Societies
Where do you fall on the identity dimension of culture?
Test Your "We" vs "Me" First
Here is a quiz to evaluate your personal perspective on group vs individual identity: |
Our Individual Cultural Profiles Are Complex And May Differ From Our National Culture
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Features of Extreme Collectivist Culture
Cultures that value the "We" can be said to have the core value of group harmony above all else.
This manifests in 7 key ways:
1) Members of one's ingroup are very close, whereas other, outgroup people are very distant
2) Harmony should always be maintained and direct confrontations avoided
3) Relationships are more important than the task at hand
4) Laws, rights, and opinions differ by group
5) Poor performance leads to shame and loss of face for the entire group
6) The relationship between employer and employee is perceived in moral terms
7) Spoken communication is imprecise and discreet non-verbal cues are important
Members of a collectivist culture value words like:
WE, HARMONY, FACE, OBLIGATION, SACRIFICE, FAMILY, TRADITION, DECENCY, HONOR, DUTY, LOYALTY, and SHAME
Countries on the collectivist end of the spectrum include:
China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Kenya, Somalia, Zambia, Italy, Portugal, Greece, India, Korea, Ukraine, Turkey, Argentina, and Brazil
Dimensions adapted from "Exploring Culture" by Gert Hofstede, 2002.
Origins in Confucian Philosophy
Collectivist countries such as China, Malaysia, and Singapore have societies based on Confucian philosophy, which affects their approach to work and education.
"Confucius was interested above all in the moral perfectibility of mankind. He rejected categorization of human beings as good or bad, and stressed the potential for improving moral conduct through the creation of favorable environmental conditions. His view was gradually extended to all aspects of human behavior. Human beings were considered malleable, and like clay, subject to molding by the events of everyday life." (Stevenson, 1992 p97)
Collectivist countries such as China, Malaysia, and Singapore have societies based on Confucian philosophy, which affects their approach to work and education.
"Confucius was interested above all in the moral perfectibility of mankind. He rejected categorization of human beings as good or bad, and stressed the potential for improving moral conduct through the creation of favorable environmental conditions. His view was gradually extended to all aspects of human behavior. Human beings were considered malleable, and like clay, subject to molding by the events of everyday life." (Stevenson, 1992 p97)
Here is a story by the poet Li Po that is often used in elementary schools in China to teach the importance of hard work (You can play the video below, which illustrates the story):
Li Po was a playful boy and always skipped class. He did not like to sit in the classroom to follow the instructor even though he was very talented. One day when he skipped class and walked by a small stream, he saw a white-haired old woman sitting beside a rock and grinding a piece of iron. Perplexed, he asked her what she was doing. "Making a needle," she replied. This answer was even more perplexing, and Li Po asked her how a piece of iron could be ground into a needle. "All you need is perseverance," said the old woman. "If you have a strong will and do not fear hardship, a piece of iron can be ground into a needle." Li Po thought about her answer and became ashamed. He realized that someone like himself would never make progress if he failed to study hard, and from then on he was a diligent student and had great achievement in his life.
(adapted from Stevenson, 1992)
Li Po wrote 990 poems during the Tang Dynasty which are still preserved today. Many are revered by society and put in Chinese textbooks in elementary, middle school and high school levels in order to help students understand the social situations at that time and also learn poetry writing skills.
Li Po was a playful boy and always skipped class. He did not like to sit in the classroom to follow the instructor even though he was very talented. One day when he skipped class and walked by a small stream, he saw a white-haired old woman sitting beside a rock and grinding a piece of iron. Perplexed, he asked her what she was doing. "Making a needle," she replied. This answer was even more perplexing, and Li Po asked her how a piece of iron could be ground into a needle. "All you need is perseverance," said the old woman. "If you have a strong will and do not fear hardship, a piece of iron can be ground into a needle." Li Po thought about her answer and became ashamed. He realized that someone like himself would never make progress if he failed to study hard, and from then on he was a diligent student and had great achievement in his life.
(adapted from Stevenson, 1992)
Li Po wrote 990 poems during the Tang Dynasty which are still preserved today. Many are revered by society and put in Chinese textbooks in elementary, middle school and high school levels in order to help students understand the social situations at that time and also learn poetry writing skills.