Cultural dimensions and social behavior correlates: Individualism-Collectivism and Power Distance.

Abstract

This study presents the macrosocial and macropsychological correlates of two cultural dimensions, Individualism-Collectivism and Hierarchy, based on a review of cross-cultural research. Correlations between the culturelevel value scores provided by Hofstede, Schwartz and Trompenaars and nation-level indices confirm their criterion validity. Thus power distance and collectivism are correlated with low social development (HDI index), income differences (Gini index), the socio-political corruption index, and the competitiveness index. The predominantly Protestant societies are more individualist and egalitarian, the Confucianist societies are more collectivist; and Islamic soci