Individualism And Collectivism (New Directions in Social Psychology)

In this, his latest book, Harry Triandis explores the constructs of collectivism and individualism. Collectivists are closely linked individuals who view themselves primarily as parts of a whole, be it a family, a network of co-workers, a tribe, or a nation. Such people are mainly motivated by the norms and duties imposed by the collective entity. Individualists are motivated by their own preferences, needs, and rights, giving priority to personal rather than to group goals.Reviewing relevant literature in philosophy, political science, anthropology, sociology, and psychology, Triandis shows how culture shapes the way we think; and he also explores the wide-ranging implications of individualism and collectivism for political, social, religious, and economic life. He makes compelling arguments for the appreciation of both perspectives, drawing on examples from Japan, Sweden, China, Greece, Russia, the United States and other countries.Triandis challenges the view that psychology is universal, offering evidence for culture-specific influences on thought and action. We learn that the cultural patterns represented by individualism and collectivism lead people to view their worlds through different lenses, attaching different meanings to life events. Triandis explains how these variations in meaning can help us better understand why crime rates, divorce rates, levels of self-esteem, feelings of well-being, and indeed overall behavioral patterns can be so different from one society to another.