Collectivism
The Basic Idea
Have you ever considered joining the army? To some, enlisting might seem dangerous and senseless. After all, you’re putting your life in danger. To others, putting their life on the line is an opportunity to do good for the greater group. This type of mindset aligns with collectivism.
Collectivism is a worldview where people tend to see themselves as part of a larger group rather than focus on their individuality. As a result, they value behavior that emphasizes unity. Individual goals and needs are subsided for the good of the greater whole, as they are seen to matter less than the objectives of a group.
Individuals who demonstrate collectivist attitudes will tie their identity to groups. This kind of behavior doesn’t have to be as drastic as joining the army – people exhibit minor forms of collectivism on a daily basis. Wearing a team’s jersey and using the pronoun ‘we’ when talking about the team demonstrates that someone has tied their identity to a larger collective. We can also see a collective mindset in people who tie their identity to the college or university they attend, wearing sweatshirts with the logo or introducing themselves as an alumnus from that university.
Other common attributes of collectivist worldviews include exhibiting group loyalty, making decisions based on what is best for the group, working collaboratively, and strongly focusing on one’s relationships.1
Collectivism is a cultural pattern found especially in East Asia, Latin America, and Africa. It is usually contrasted with individualism found in the West, e.g., in Western and Northern Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Any typology is an oversimplification. Societies are not purely individualist or collectivist, but some mixture of the two. The construct is widely used by those interested in studying cultural differences. It is also used to describe the values of individuals in these differing societies.
– Psychologist Harry Triandis, in his paper “Collectivism and Individualism: Cultural and Psychological Concerns”2
About the Author
Emilie Rose Jones
Emilie currently works in Marketing & Communications for a non-profit organization based in Toronto, Ontario. She completed her Masters of English Literature at UBC in 2021, where she focused on Indigenous and Canadian Literature. Emilie has a passion for writing and behavioural psychology and is always looking for opportunities to make knowledge more accessible.
