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In life, is it "all for one, and one for all..."
...or "every man for himself"?
Not everyone agrees about which is better!
Collectivism and individualism are two ideologies, or sets of political and cultural beliefs, that create a vision for society.
What is collectivism?
the family and community are the most important aspects of society
people define themselves by their relationships with their community and culture
values include cooperation, generosity, group loyalty, and compromise
the government has a role in promoting economic opportunity for all
Quiz
Which of the following government policies reflect collectivist values?
Public education and employment insurance are programs provided by government that benefit society as a whole. These policies reflect a collectivist ideology.
What is individualism?
Quiz
Researchers have noticed that culture has an influence on how people describe themselves. Which of the following descriptions show an individualistic self-concept?
People from individualistic cultures are more likely to describe themselves using personality traits like athletic and intuitive, whereas people from collectivist cultures are more likely to describe themselves through their relationships with others (verywellmind.com, "Individualistic Cultures and Behavior", 2020).
Collectivist or individualist?
That being said, many communities reflect a balance of collectivism and individualism. 🍁Canada is an example of a country with both collectivist values and individualist values.
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This Byte has been authored by
Lauren O'Neill
Educator | Curriculum Designer