Individualism and collectivism paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Individualism and collectivism paper - Essay ExampleIndividualism represents a society in which private relations are not strong and in which people are expected to fend for themselves. Individualism is the opposite of collectivism and taken in concert they form one of the dimensions of national cultures. Collectivism on the other hand connotes a form of society in which people from their childhood itself are co-ordinated into strong cohesive groups that protect them for the rest of their life in return for their unquestioning loyalty.Individualistic cultures like those obtaining in the USA and France exhibit a great emphasis on individual goals and people mainly on themselves as individuals. People in individualistic cultures emphasize their successes and achievements in their career or in the acquisition of wealth. In the USA the spirit of competitiveness is at its zenith.Collectivistic cultures lay a greater emphasis on groups. In such cultures accordance and loyalty are deeme d to be paramount (Individualism versus Collectivism). Collectivism requires self - sacrifice, the subordination of ones interests to those of others (Letters of Ayn Rand). The main consequence of individualism on self identity is the engendering of independence and individual achievement promotion of self expression, individual thinking and personal choice.