bom bom – pow

Even in individualistic societies like America, traces of collectivism behavior can be found contrary to popular belief. In America, where people are supposed to be individualistic & place their own wants and needs before expectations of others, hints of giving in to pressures and conformity can be found in the following examples (:

One classic example is of celebrities fighting to fit in with the mold of the perfect “stick-thin model” figure. The number of celebrities who have fallen victim to it are countless, & some examples include Jessica Simpson, Hilary Duff & Kate Moss, all of whom have been attacked or criticized for their supposed “weight gain.” The latest of these celebrities who came under fire for gaining weight is Kelly Clarkson.

clickity – click – click! (:

Kelly Clarkson has recently received much criticism due to her recent weight gain. Some media critics have even labeled her as a “shape shifter” for gaining the amount of weight she has.

In these examples, we can clearly see that even in societies that are individualistic, traces of collectivism behaviors can be found. This is because as humans, we are social creatures and therefore always feel the need to be accepted or receive approval from others. By conforming to the expectations of others instead of acting on our own desires (those celebrities probably wish they didn’t have to face the pressures of staying in shape all the time,), we reeive approval from others for our actions. This therefore demonstrates how even people who belong to individualistic cultures can display characteristics of collectivist ones.

That said, even with countries like China and Korea, which are generally collectivist, have people who display individualistic characteristics as well. We cannot expect anyone to do everything and anything just for the sake of others or their ingroups, regardless whether we are from a individualist or collectivist community. This is because, as individuals, we need to feel at least a sense of self-fulfillment in order to stay balanced as well-being individuals.

Therefore, while some cultures are more collectivist while others lean more towards individualist, it is a shallow way of viewing a country with these labels.

As cultures are often multi-faceted and dynamic, it is unfair for for a country to be judged based on just a one – dimensional view. We can however, say that a country is more of a individualist (or collectivist), compared to a collectivist (or vice versa).

That said, a person belonging to a collectivist society doesnt necessarily have to be a collectivist as well. In general, Singapore is mainly considered to be a collectivist society. What about you? Are you a collectivist or an individualistic individual? Which traits or beliefs do you hold or display that identifies you as an individualist or collectivist? (:

June 15, 2009. Uncategorized.