Collectivism-vs.-Individualism.ppt

Collectivism vs.IndividualismIndividualism and collectivism are conflicting views of the nature of humans,society and the relationship between them.1.1.DefinitionsoHow would you define individualism?oHow would you define collectivism?oGive examples to show your understanding of individualism and collectivismoHow to understand the term“in-group”?oDistinguish between collectivism and egalitarianism2.oIndividualism:nGould and Kolb:belief that the individual is an end in himself/herself,and as such ought to realize his/her self and cultivate his/her own judgment,notwithstanding the weight of pervasive social pressures in the direction of conformity.nIndividualism holds that the individual is the primary unit of reality and the ultimate standard of value.This view does not deny that societies exist or that people benefit from living in them,but it sees society as a collection of individuals,not something over and above them.3.oCollectivism:great emphasis onnThe views,needs,and goals of the in-group rather than of oneselfnSocial norms and duty defined by the in-group rather than behavior to get pleasurenBeliefs shared with in-group rather than on beliefs that distinguish oneself from the in-groupnGreat readiness to cooperate with in-group membersExtreme/basic individualismExtreme/basic collectivism4.oCollectivism holds that the group-the nation,the community,the proletariat,the race,etc.-is the primary unit of reality and the ultimate standard of value.oThis view does not deny the reality of the individual.But ultimately,collectivism holds that ones identity is determined by the groups one interacts with,that ones identity is constituted essentially of relationships with others.5.oIn-group(内集团）nIts seen as group of people about whose welfare one is concerned,with whom one is willing to cooperate without demanding equitable returns,and separation from whom leads to discomfort or even pain.nWho is included in ones in-group is quite variable:the nuclear family,Asians,Americans,neighbors,fellow nationals.nIn extremely collectivist societies:the in-group dominates all aspects of a persons life.In individualist societies,only certain aspects of a persons life are influenced by in-groups.6.Comparison:Collectivism and Individualism oIndividualists see people dealing primarily with reality;other people are just one aspect of reality.Collectivists see people dealing primarily with other people;reality is dealt with through the mediator of the group;the group,not the individual,is what directly confronts reality.oIndividualism holds that every person is an end in himself and that no person should be sacrificed for the sake of another.Collectivism holds that the needs and goals of the individual are subordinate to those of the larger group and should be sacrificed when the collective good so requires.oIndividualism holds that the individual is the unit of achievement.While not denying that one person can build on the achievements of others,individualism points out that achievement goes beyond what has already been done;it is something new that is created by the individual.oCollectivism,on the other hand,holds that achievement is a product of society.In this view,an individual is a temporary spokesman for the underlying,collective process of progress.7.Case 1oThe musical director appointed to the PHILADELPHIA Orchestra,one of the top ten orchestras in the world,in 1982 was Italian Ricardo Muti.In an interview with the French magazine LExpress he was asked why Italy has produced such a large number of great conductors,including himself,and no major orchestras.He said that Italian are too individualistic to play well in an orchestra.8.Case 2oTrandis and Vassiliou collected multi-method data from interviews,observations,questionnaires and tests,and did experiments to obtain some impression of the cultural differences between Greece and the US.They identified the Greek in-group(family and friends)as relatively narrow,a source of protection,social insurance,and the setting within which one can relax.Relations with out-group members(everybody else)are suspicious,competitive,and uncooperative.In-group authorities are accepted;out-group authorities are rejected,defied,undermined,and resented.9.The characteristics of individualism and collectivism can be summarized as follows:oIndividualism:nIndividual autonomy;self-oriented;personal goals;unique and independent;individual privacy;nuclear family;individual rewards(equity);competitionoCollectivisim:nGroup unity and harmony;group-oriented;group goals;conforming and interdependent;group belongingness;extended family;equal distribution of reward(equality);cooperation10.2.Individualism,isolation&balanceMisconceptions about individualism:1)Individualism means isolation-being alone,being outside societynThe belief that individualism means being alone leads people to say that individualism is incompatible with cooperation.othe lone cowboy,the fearless gumshoe(cop),and the isolated prairie familynIndividualism is called“individualism”not because it exhorts the individual to seek a life apart from others,but because it asserts that the individual,and not the group,is the primary constituent of society.11.2)Balance:Individualism can somehow be mixed with or tempered by collectivism.In this view,neither“extreme”individualism nor“extreme”collectivism are correct.Rather,wisdom and truth lie somewhere in the middle.oIndividualism and collectivism are contradictory positions-there is no middle ground between them.oCollectivism maintains that the group is an entity in its own right,a thing that can act upon people.Individualism denies this.12.oCollectivism sees us being influenced by the group;individualism sees us being influenced by other individuals.Collectivism sees us cooperating with the team;individualism,with other people.Collectivism sees us building on the ideas and achievements of society;individualism,on the ideas and achievements of individuals.These are contradictory positions;its either-or.oCollectivism is,by its nature,an act of balancing the need of the individual against the need of“society”.Individualism denies that society has any needs,so the issue of balance is not relevant to it.13.3.Variables relevant to analysis of individualism-collectivismoNumber of in-groupsoExtent of the sphere of influence of each in-groupoDepth of this influence.Basic individualismBasic collectivismContextual collectivismConsultative individualism14.4.Different kinds of collectivism and individualismoBasic collectivismoConsultative Behavior No.of in-groupsConsultative individualismBasic individualism Contextual collectivismBasic collectivismExtreme basic individualism15.Dimensions for analysis of social organization(collectivist/individualist)oHow many in-groups influence an individuals social behavior?(more groups,more individualistic)oHow easy is it easy for the individual to become a member of these in-groups?(easier,more individualistic)oWhat is the size of these in-groups?(small in-groups in affiliate settingsindividualistic,any size in achievement settings)oHow many behaviors are completely determined by in-group norms?(more,collectivist)oIs behavior mostly predictable from norms and roles?(yes,collectivist)oAre the majority of the perceived consequences of social behavior other-oriented(collectivist)or self-oriented(individualistic)16.5.Main dimensions for analysis of collectivismoAntecedents of Individualism and CollectivismoConsequents(things that follow)of individualism and collectivism17.6.Chinese Culture:collectivismoHistorical roots:Confucianism,Taoism,BuddhismnDoctrines:Avoid extremes;try to be humbleoConfucianism:man cant live in an isolated way and he is being in relationship;harmonious relations with others.nJustice,propriety,wisdom,confidencenZhongyong中庸(意即谨守礼制，不偏不倚，不激不随，恰当适中。)孝，仁，礼 oTaoism:everything has two opposite sides.Everything will develop into the opposite direction when it becomes extreme.18.oBuddhism:each individual has the power to relieve the pain and suffering resulted from egos,that the salvation from pain and suffering lies only in our effort,and that only destroying his ego can one achieve happiness and alleviate suffering.19.