Cultural Differences – Comparison and Contrast of Individualistic and Collectivistic
When it comes to self-construal, there is variation among different cultures. In some cultures, individuals are regarded as psychologically distinct and independent from others. In other cultures, people are regarded as interdependent and aware that they are part of a bigger collective entity. From these perspectives, two cultures are born: the individualistic and collectivistic societies.
Individualistic and collectivistic cultures represent two broad categories used to describe and understand cultural differences. These concepts highlight how societies prioritize individual needs and goals versus group needs and goals. One aspect of individualistic and collectivistic cultures that can be compared and contrasted is the primary focus of both cultures. Accordingly, in individualistic cultures, the primary focus is on the individual. People are encouraged to be self-reliant and independent and pursue personal goals and happiness (Nickerson 2023). As such, in these cultures, people tend to behave according to their own self-interest or personal preferences and consider self-sufficiency as well as independence very crucial. An example of an individualistic culture is found in Western countries whereby young people as young as eighteen are considered grown-ups and expected to move out of their parent’s homes and build their own.
On the other hand, in collectivistic cultures, the primary focus is on the group (family, community, or society). Individuals are encouraged to prioritize the needs and goals of the group over their own. As such, people in collectivistic cultures know that their self-interest comes secondary to that of the group (Rockstuhl et al. 2020:935). Examples of collectivistic cultures are found in China, Japan, and South Korea. Further, while individuals in collectivistic cultures form their identity around their social roles, group membership, and family, people from individualistic cultures use personal achievements, attributes, and choices to define their identity.
References
Nickerson, Charlotte. 2023. “Individualistic Cultures and Example Behavior”. Simply Psychology.
Rockstuhl, Thomas, Robert Eisenberger, Lynn M. Shore, James N. Kurtessis, Michael T. Ford, Louis C. Buffardi and Salar Mesdaghinia. 2020. “Perceived organizational support (POS) across 54 nations: A cross-cultural meta-analysis of POS effects”. Journal of International Business Studies, 51, 933-962.
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Question 
Advocating for Physical Education Programs
Write an essay about cultural differences:
Compare and contrast two different cultures, or compare your own culture to a culture with which you are unfamiliar.
Choose a specific aspect of two cultures to research. Use a narrow topic so you can focus on detail.