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- DictionaryCol·lec·tiv·ist/kəˈlektəvəst/
adjective
- 1. relating to the practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it: "collectivist cultures had disciplined and cooperative work forces"
noun
- 1. an adherent of the practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it: "an entire nation of collectivists"
People also ask
How do collectivists define themselves?
What is the difference between collectivism and individualism?
What are the effects of collectivism on society?
What are the benefits of living in a collectivist culture?
Collectivism is a political or economic theory advocating collective control over production and distribution, or a system marked by such control. It also means emphasis on collective rather than individual action or identity.
- Overview
- Traits of Collectivist Cultures
- Individualism vs. Collectivism
- Impact of Collectivism
- Potential Pitfalls of Collectivism
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Collectivist cultures emphasize the needs and goals of the group as a whole over the needs and desires of each individual. In such cultures, relationships with other members of the group and the interconnectedness between people play a central role in each person's identity.
In collectivistic cultures, people are considered "good" if they are generous, helpful, dependable, and attentive to the needs of others. This contrasts with individualistic cultures, which often place a greater emphasis on characteristics such as assertiveness and independence.
Common traits of collectivist cultures include:
•Individuals define themselves in relation to others (for example, “I am a member of…”).
•Communication is often more indirect to avoid potential conflict or embarrassment.
•Group loyalty is encouraged.
•Decisions are based on what is best for the group.
Collectivist cultures are usually contrasted with individualistic cultures. Collectivism stresses the importance of the community, while individualism is focused on the rights and concerns of each person. Where unity and selflessness or altruism are valued traits in collectivist cultures, independence and personal identity are promoted in individualistic cultures.
These cultural differences are pervasive and can influence many aspects of how society functions. How people shop, dress, learn, and conduct business can all be influenced by whether they are from a collectivist or individualist culture.
Self-Perception
Culture influences people's self-concept. While those in individualistic cultures might describe themselves in terms of personality traits and characteristics (e.g., "I am smart, funny, athletic, and kind"), those from collectivist cultures would more likely describe themselves in terms of their social relationships and roles (e.g., "I am a good parent, sibling, and friend").
Strong Relationships
Research shows that collectivist cultures are associated with low relational mobility, a term to describe how many opportunities individuals in a society have to form relationships with people of their choosing. Low relational mobility means that the relationships people have are stable, strong, and long-lasting. These relationships are usually formed due to factors such as family and geographical area, rather than personal choice. In a collectivist culture, it's harder to build relationships with new people, partly because it's generally more difficult to meet them. Strangers are more likely to remain strangers in a collectivistic culture than they would be in individualistic cultures. Paradoxically, this means that people in individualistic cultures devote more effort and energy toward actively maintaining close relationships, often through increased self-disclosure and greater intimacy. Unlike collectivist cultures where stable relationships are more expected, relationships in individualistic cultures tend to be more fraught and fragile. People must make a greater effort to maintain these relationships. Maintaining harmony within interpersonal relationships is of utmost importance in a collectivistic culture. This is likely because these relationships are extremely difficult to change. Failing to keep the peace can mean long-term unhappiness for everyone involved.
Conformity
Cultural differences also influence the motivation to either stand out or fit in with the rest of the group. For instance, one study found that, in a collectivist culture, people submitting an online review are less likely to go against the average rating or express emotions in their review. Conformity also appears within certain industries. According to research published in the Journal of Economic Growth, descendants of pre-industrial agricultural groups tend to favor collectivist cultures, working in more routine occupations as opposed to driving innovation. Why Do People Conform?
Social Anxiety
Research shows that collectivistic cultures may foster socially reticent and withdrawn behaviors. In one study, students from Asian cultures (collectivist) displayed higher levels of social anxiety than students from European cultures (individualist). However, it may not be collectivist values alone that contributed to this. After analyzing the data, the researchers suggested that some of the increase in anxiety could be attributed to Asian American students having greater difficulty in being able to recognize and read emotion. Cultural Differences in Social Anxiety
Less Social Support
People in collectivist cultures tend to be more cautious about sharing their personal problems with their friends. Research shows that they are also cautious when sharing their knowledge within the workplace (even when working in teams), often only doing so if incentivized or if they are highly altruistic. Instead, people often seek out what is known as implicit social support. This involves spending time with supportive people without actually opening up about or addressing the source of the stress. Why Social Support Is So Important
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of our laws are collectivist? Labor laws supporting affirmative action or equal opportunity are examples of collectivist laws because they are designed to protect the rights of entire groups. So too are laws regarding vaccinations, healthcare laws, and other forms of public policy. What do collectivist cultures value? Collective cultures value groups or communities over individuals. Thus, they value generosity over selfishness, harmony over conflict, and meeting the needs of others over meeting the needs of oneself. How can you determine if a country is individualist or collectivist? If the country's laws place more focus on protecting the rights of individuals versus groups, it is likely individualist vs. collectivist. Another way to tell the difference is to look at the level of conformity on issues such as fashion and buying preferences, as well as whether members of the community are driven to help others or if everyone must fend for themselves. How is individualism vs. collectivism measured? One way to measure individualism and collectivism is via the Culture Orientation Scale. This is a 16-point scale that measures the extent to which people see themselves as part of a group or as a fully autonomous being. It also measures their thoughts on whether they believe that each member of the group is equal or if inequality exists. By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."
Collectivism definition: the political principle of centralized social and economic control, especially of all means of production.. See examples of COLLECTIVISM used in a sentence.
Collectivism is a social philosophy that prioritizes the collective over the individual. Learn about its origins, variations, and contrast with individualism from Britannica's editors.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Collectivism is a political system where the land and industry are owned and managed by the people or the government. Learn more about the meaning, history, and contrast of collectivism with individualism from Cambridge Dictionary.
Collectivist is an adjective that describes something related to or practising collectivism, a political system based on the principle that all industries and services should be owned by or for all the people in a country. Learn more about the meaning, usage and examples of collectivist from Cambridge Dictionary.
Collectivist is an adjective that describes someone or something related to collectivism, a political system based on the principle that all industries and services should be owned by or for all the people in a country. Learn more about the meaning, usage and examples of collectivist from Cambridge Dictionary.
