Page 134 - Cultures and Organizations

I, We, and They 113

TABLE 4.2 Key Differences Between Collectivist and
Individualist Societies
I: General Norm and Family

COLLECTIVIST INDIVIDUALIST

People are born into extended Everyone grows up to look after him-
families or other in-groups that or herself and his or her immediate
continue protecting them in exchange (nuclear) family only.
for loyalty.
Children learn to think in terms of Children learn to think in terms of “I.”
“we.”
Value standards differ for in-groups The same value standards are
and out-groups: exclusionism. supposed to apply to everyone:
universalism.
Harmony should always be maintained Speaking one’s mind is a
and direct confrontations avoided. characteristic of an honest person.
Friendships are predetermined. Friendships are voluntary and should
be fostered.
Resources should be shared with Individual ownership of resources,
relatives. even for children.
Adult children live with parents. Adult children leave the parental
home.
High-context communication prevails. Low-context communication prevails.
Frequent socialization in public My home is my castle.
places.
Trespasses lead to shame and loss of Trespasses lead to guilt and loss of
face for self and group. self-respect.
Brides should be young, industrious, Criteria for marriage partners are not
and chaste; bridegrooms should be predetermined.

older.
The most powerful infl uence on girls’ The most powerful infl uence on girls’
beauty ideals is girlfriends. beauty ideals is boys in general.

English language, spoken in the most individualist countries in Table 4.1, is
the only one we know of that writes “I” with a capital letter.
Languages change over time, but only slowly. The fi rst-person singular
pronoun was used in Western European languages in medieval poetry. An
Arab saying dating from the same period is “The satanic ‘I’ be damned!” 35