individualism/collectivism - correct answers-Individualistic cultures tend to emphasize independent
aspects of the self
• Values distinctiveness and self-reliance
-Collectivistic cultures tend to emphasize interdependent aspects of the self (e.g., close relationships,
group memberships)
What areas have higher levels of individualism and collectivism? - correct answers-Individualism highest
in U.S., followed by other English- speaking countries and Western European nations
-Collectivism esp. prevalent in Asia and Latin America; also in Africa, Eastern and S. Europe, and South
Pacific
- >80% of world most likely collectivistic cultures where interdependent selves more common
• But psych research = individualistic
is it thinking of how people conceptualize self, is it more problematic?
-self-concept is a lot different across cultures which makes it problematic
-difference in consistency in how people describe selves
Regional differences for individualism/collectivism - correct answers-Within the United States, Hawaii
and the states of the Confederate South score the highest in collectivism
-On the other hand, the Mountain West and Great Plains states, the Northeast, and the Midwest are the
least collectivistic
-In Canada: comparison to ON, BC, NS, & QC
QC: the one that was significantly more collectivistic
-indigenous peoples and religious communities had more collectivism
,Socioeconomic status differences within same country for individualism/collectivism - correct
answersIndividualism varies as a function of SES
» Within same country:
• Higher SES backgrounds = more independent selves vs. lower SES backgrounds
• EX 1: Icelandic children: wealthier children describe selves more in terms of inner traits vs. poorer
children
• EX 2: U.S.: people in the middle class tend to act in ways that are more individualistic than people in
the working class (who act in ways that are more collectivistic)
example of Read welcome letter from their university for individualism/collectivism - correct answers-
Condition 1: independent message (university would allow to create their own intellectual journey)
-Condition 2: interdependent message (they would get to work together and learn from others)
First generation students were more motivated on an anagram-solving task if it followed an
interdependent welcome message from their university than they were on an independent message.
Continuing-generation students were more motivated by an independent message.
Food for thought - correct answers-We see variation within countries on collectivism, interdependence:
regions and SES
• Most research conducted on university students
» University students tend to have higher SES
» Universities within U.S. are concentrated a lot in Northeast and Midwest
» This means that psych research in U.S largely conducted with ps. who are even more individualistic
than the most individualistic place on Earth
» In addition, research on collectivistic cultures conducted on East Asian cultures (Japan, China, Korea)
Caution with Individualism/Collectivism - correct answers-Individualism/collectivism is not meant to be a
dichotomy
-Experience of self is on continuum: have both interdependent and independent aspects of self
» People vary in degree with they are closer to the independent or interdependent exemplars
» The same dynamic applies to a given culture as well (e.g. while Americans are generally individualistic,
some are collectivistic, and some are more/less individualistic than others)
, • Research talked about are general patterns of differences (not all-or-none statements)
Culture and Gender - correct answers-Research has shown that independence, as measured by
assertiveness and agency, and interdependence, as measured by collectivism and relatedness, have
cultural differences
-In terms of gender, however, few differences emerge - in fact, the only reliable difference is in terms of
relatedness
Cultures around the world have widely different views on whether roles, obligations, and rights of men
and women should be different - correct answers-14 countries using Sex Role Ideology scale
-Highest: Netherlands, Finland, Germany
-Lowest: Nigeria, Pakistan, India
-Males and females in a given culture share similar gender attitudes
correlations of gender egalitarianism - correct answers-Males generally have more traditional gender
views than females
-Some predictors of higher gender egalitarianism include:
• Religion
• Greater individualism
• Urbanization
explanations of differences in gender equality - correct answers-religion
-history behind it (women)
-genetics (men with more muscle mass, take on more dangerous roles)
Origins of Gender (In)equality - correct answers-Bosterup (1970) argued that culture differences in
gender norms may result from type of agricultural method
• In particular, cultures that rely primarily on ploughs are expected to be associated with more gender
inequality
» Children often stay with women due to dangers of being around ploughs (and large animals that pull
ploughs)
» Strong division of labor is thus established