Rethinking individualism and collectivism: Evaluation of theoretical assumptions and meta-analyses.

TLDR

The study examines whether Americans are more individualistic and less collectivistic than other groups. The authors aim to summarize psychological implications of IND‑COL, meta‑analyze cross‑national and within‑United States differences, and review evidence for effects on self‑concept, well‑being, cognition, and relationality. They performed meta‑analyses of cross‑national and within‑United States IND‑COL differences and reviewed evidence for effects on self‑concept, well‑being, cognition, and relationality. European Americans were more individualistic and less collectivistic than many groups, but not more individualistic than African Americans or Latinos, nor less collectivistic than Japanese or Koreans; among Asians only Chinese showed large effects; IND‑COL had moderate effects on self‑concept and relationality and large effects on attribution and cognitive style.

Abstract

Are Americans more individualistic and less collectivistic than members of other groups? The authors summarize plausible psychological implications of individualism-collectivism (IND-COL), meta-analyze cross-national and within-United States IND-COL differences, and review evidence for effects of IND-COL on self-concept, well-being, cognition, and relationality. European Americans were found to be both more individualistic-valuing personal independence more-and less collectivistic-feeling duty to in-groups less-than others. However, European Americans were not more individualistic than African Americans, or Latinos, and not less collectivistic than Japanese or Koreans. Among Asians, only Chinese showed large effects, being both less individualistic and more collectivistic. Moderate IND-COL effects were found on self-concept and relationality, and large effects were found on attribution and cognitive style.