10 minutes with Geert Hofstede on Individualisme versus Collectivisme 10112014

Summary

The transcript explores the concepts of individualism and collectivism, historically rooted in political ideologies of the 19th century. It delves into how these terms describe societal structures, with individualistic societies valuing personal independence and collectivist societies emphasizing group identity and harmony. The speaker discusses the implications of these values on various aspects of society, such as communication styles, family dynamics, and social media usage. The video also touches on the correlation between individualism and wealth, suggesting that wealthier countries tend to be more individualistic. Additionally, it mentions that individualism scores have increased over time but the relative positions of countries have remained stable.

Takeaways

• 📚 The terms 'individualism' and 'collectivism' were first used in the 19th century for political ideologies and later in the 1960s for personality psychology.
• 🌍 Individualism is characterized by loose ties between individuals, where people are expected to look after themselves and their immediate family, while collectivism involves strong group affiliations from birth.
• 🏡 In collectivist societies, there is a 'we' identity and a tendency to classify others as in-group or out-group, whereas individualist societies emphasize an 'I' identity and universalism.
• 🏆 Competition in collectivist societies is between groups, whereas in individualist societies, it is between individuals.
• 🤝 In collectivist societies, relationships come first, and tasks come second, whereas in individualist societies, tasks take precedence, and relationships may form afterward.
• 💬 High-context communication is typical in collectivist societies, where much is implied and communication is brief, while low-context communication is found in individualist societies, requiring more explicitness.
• 🎎 The key word in collectivist societies is 'harmony,' even when disagreements occur, superficial harmony is maintained to prevent the in-group from weakening.
• 📊 Individualism can be measured relative to other societies, with scores ranging from 0 to 100, and is correlated with wealth, press freedom, and human rights.
• 🌐 Wealthier countries tend to be more individualistic, while poorer countries are more collectivist, but wealth is the precursor to individualism, not the other way around.
• 📈 Over time, individualism scores have increased, but the relative order of countries has remained stable, indicating that these values are transferred across generations and are relatively stable.

Q & A

What do the terms 'individualism' and 'collectivism' originally suggest and how were they first used?

The terms 'individualism' and 'collectivism' originally suggest political ideologies and were first used in the 19th century. They were felt to be either good or evil from the beginning.

In what decade did the term 'individualism' emerge in the field of personality psychology?

The term 'individualism' emerged in personality psychology in the 1960s.

What is the definition of individualism in the context of societal structure?

Individualism is defined as a society where ties between individuals are loose, and everyone is expected to look after themselves and their immediate family.

How is collectivism defined in societal terms?

Collectivism is a societal structure where individuals from birth onwards are part of strong in-groups, such as the family, extended family, village, society, or tribe.

What is the 'we' identity in collectivist societies, and how does it differ from the 'I' identity in individualist societies?

In collectivist societies, people identify with a 'we' identity, emphasizing group cohesion, whereas in individualist societies, there is an 'I' identity, focusing on individuality.

How does competition manifest in collectivist societies compared to individualist societies?

In collectivist societies, competition is between groups, such as tribes, whereas in individualist societies, competition is between individuals.

What is the primary focus when carrying out a task together in collectivist societies, and how does it differ in individualist societies?

In collectivist societies, the relationship comes first, and the task comes second, whereas in individualist societies, the task comes first, and the relationship may develop afterward.

What is the difference between high context communication and low context communication as it relates to individualism and collectivism?

High context communication is typical of collectivist societies where many things are implicit, and communication can be brief. Low context communication is typical of individualist societies where everything must be specified, and communication is more extensive.

What is the key word associated with collectivist societies in terms of group dynamics?

The key word associated with collectivist societies is 'harmony,' emphasizing the maintenance of superficial harmony within the in-group even if there are disagreements.

How can the position of a country on the individualism-collectivism dimension be measured?

The position of a country on the individualism-collectivism dimension can be measured relative to other societies using a scale from zero to a hundred, with scores close to zero indicating collectivist societies and scores close to 100 indicating individualist societies.

What are some significant correlations between a country's individualism score and various social and economic factors?

Countries with higher individualism scores tend to be wealthier, have more press freedom, higher human rights indexes, higher divorce rates, and faster paces of life. Additionally, languages in individualist societies use the word 'I' more frequently.

How do individualism and power distance relate, and do individualism scores change over time?

Countries with lower power distance tend to be more individualist, but this correlation is mainly an effect of wealth. Research shows that individualism scores have increased over time but have not changed the order of countries, suggesting that the scores can be assumed to be stable over time.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Understanding Individualism and Collectivism

This paragraph delves into the origins and definitions of individualism and collectivism, which are often misconstrued as political ideologies. These terms were first used in the 19th century and carry strong value connotations. The speaker clarifies that individualism refers to societies where people are loosely tied and are expected to look after themselves and their immediate family. In contrast, collectivism describes societies where individuals are part of strong in-groups, such as families or tribes, from birth. The paragraph also discusses how people in collectivist societies have a 'we' identity, unlike individualist societies where an 'I' identity prevails. It highlights the differences in competition, relationships, and communication between the two types of societies. The concept of harmony in collectivist societies is also explored, where maintaining superficial harmony within the in-group is crucial, while individualist societies may view confrontations as healthy. The paragraph concludes with a discussion on how to measure a country's position on the individualism-collectivism spectrum, emphasizing that it's relative to other societies.

05:01

📊 Correlations with Individualism and Collectivism

The second paragraph explores how individualism and collectivism can be measured and what factors correlate with these values. It explains that there's no absolute measure, but societies can be plotted on a scale from zero to a hundred, with scores close to zero indicating collectivist societies and scores near 100 indicating individualist societies. The United States scores the highest in individualism, followed by Australia, Britain, the Netherlands, and other European countries. Conversely, collectivist societies are found in countries like India, Japan, Russia, and China. The paragraph then correlates these scores with various hard data points, such as wealth (wealthier countries tend to be more individualistic), press freedom, human rights, divorce rates, age differences in marriages, pace of life, and language use. It also touches on the use of social media in individualist versus collectivist societies. The relationship between individualism, power distance, and wealth is also discussed, noting that lower power distance is associated with wealth and individualism. The paragraph concludes with the observation that individualism scores have increased over time but the relative order of countries has remained stable.

10:03

🕰 The Evolution of IDV Scores Over Time

The final paragraph addresses the question of whether IDV (Individualism vs. Collectivism) scores change over time. It suggests that these values are transferred from one generation to another, and research by Professor Burgos from Groningen indicates that over a 30-year period, individualism has only increased without altering the order of countries on the IDV scale. This implies that while individualism may rise or fall within a country, the relative positions of countries on the IDV spectrum remain consistent over time. The paragraph reinforces the idea that these cultural dimensions are stable and are passed down through generations, maintaining the relative standings of countries on the individualism-collectivism spectrum.

Keywords

💡Individualism

Individualism refers to a societal structure where individuals are expected to look after themselves and their immediate families, with loose ties to others. It is a key concept in the video, contrasting with collectivism. The video defines individualist societies as those where people have an 'I' identity, prioritize tasks over relationships, and value personal achievements. For example, the United States is cited as having a high individualism score, indicating a cultural emphasis on personal independence and self-reliance.

💡Collectivism

Collectivism is a societal structure where individuals are part of strong in-groups, such as families or tribes, from birth onwards. In the video, collectivist societies are characterized by a 'we' identity, where group harmony is prioritized over individual expression. The video explains that in collectivist cultures, people are more likely to classify others as in-group or out-group, with a strong emphasis on maintaining harmony within the in-group, even when disagreements arise.

💡Exclusionism

Exclusionism, as mentioned in the video, is a practice in collectivist societies where individuals who are part of the out-group are excluded. This concept is tied to the idea that collectivist cultures have a strong in-group/out-group dynamic, and those who are not part of the in-group may face social exclusion. The video suggests that this is a mechanism to maintain the cohesion and strength of the in-group.

💡Universalism

Universalism is a principle in individualist societies where people are classified by their own particular characteristics, rather than group affiliations. The video contrasts this with collectivist societies' tendency to classify others based on group membership. Universalism implies a focus on individual merit and characteristics, which is more common in societies with higher individualism scores, such as those in Western Europe.

💡High Context Communication

High context communication is a communication style prevalent in collectivist societies, where much is left unsaid because it is assumed to be known by the participants. The video explains that in high context cultures, communication is often brief and relies on non-verbal cues or shared understanding. This is in contrast to low context communication, which is more explicit and common in individualist societies.

💡Low Context Communication

Low context communication is a style where explicitness is valued, and messages need to be clearly stated. The video describes this as characteristic of individualist societies, where individuals must specify their intentions and desires because shared context or assumptions are less common. This is exemplified by the need for detailed communication in business and legal matters in individualist cultures.

💡Harmony

Harmony is a key value in collectivist societies, as discussed in the video. It refers to the maintenance of group cohesion and balance, even in the face of disagreement. The video suggests that in collectivist cultures, superficial harmony is often prioritized to prevent the weakening or breakdown of the in-group.

💡Power Distance

Power distance is the degree to which less powerful members of a society accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. The video relates power distance to individualism and collectivism, noting that societies with lower power distance tend to be more individualist. It suggests that wealth plays a significant role in this relationship, with wealthier societies generally exhibiting lower power distance and higher individualism.

💡IDV Scores

IDV scores, or Individualism scores, are used to measure a society's position on the individualism-collectivism dimension. The video explains that these scores are relative and can range from zero to one hundred, with higher scores indicating more individualist societies. The United States is given as an example of a country with a high IDV score, reflecting its cultural emphasis on individual autonomy and personal achievement.

💡Horizontal and Vertical Individualism

Horizontal and vertical individualism are concepts that combine the dimensions of Individualism (IDV) and Power Distance (PDI). The video mentions that in the United States, these terms are used to describe different aspects of individualism, with horizontal individualism referring to egalitarian relationships and vertical individualism referring to individual achievements and aspirations.

Highlights

Individualism and collectivism were first used in the 19th century for political ideologies and have strong value connotations.

Individualism in personality psychology emerged in the 1960s, but collectivist personalities were not discussed.

Individualism versus collectivism describes societal differences, not a new dimension, and was used to describe national societies' differences.

Individualist societies have loose ties between individuals, emphasizing self-reliance and immediate family.

Collectivist societies are characterized by strong in-group ties, often starting from birth and including family or community.

In collectivist societies, people identify with 'we' and have an 'in-group' versus 'out-group' mentality.

Individualist societies prioritize the individual over the group, with a focus on personal characteristics.

Collectivist societies engage in group competition, while individualist societies emphasize individual competition.

In collectivist societies, relationships are prioritized over tasks, contrasting with individualist societies.

High context communication is typical in collectivist societies, where much is implied and communication is brief.

Low context communication is found in individualist societies, requiring explicitness and more extensive dialogue.

Collectivist societies value harmony within the in-group, even when disagreements occur.

Individualist societies view confrontations as potentially healthy and not necessarily harmful.

The position of a country on the individualism-collectivism scale is relative and measured by comparing with other societies.

Wealthier countries tend to be more individualist, while poorer countries lean towards collectivism.

Collectivist societies generally have lower press freedom compared to individualist societies.

Human rights indices are higher in individualist societies, aligning with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Divorce rates are higher in individualist societies, often with different marital dynamics than in collectivist societies.

Pace of life is slower in collectivist societies, as indicated by measures like walking speed.

Linguistic studies show individualist societies' languages use the word 'I' more frequently, with English being the most individualist.

Social media usage differs by individualism and collectivism, with individualist societies using it more for active search.

There is a relationship between individualism and power distance, with lower power distance correlating with individualism.

Research indicates that individualism scores have increased over time but the order of countries has remained stable.

Transcripts

the terms individualism and collectivism

suggest too many people political IDs

and in fact the both words were used as

far as I know for the first time in the

19th century for political ideologies

anything that ends on ISM sounds like a

political ideology and they had already

from the beginning a very strong value

content they were felt to be either good

or evil in the 1920s somebody used them

as the opposite ends of one scale and

then in the 1960s the word individualism

also emerged in personality psychology

and people started to refer to

individualist personalities nobody ever

tried to talk about collectivist

personalities by the way but I chose the

term individualism versus collectivism

when I needed words to describe the

differences between national societies

differences that actually had been

described before me by several different

sociologists so I didn't invent a

dimension at all it was it clearly

describes in difference of the logical

sex but I used these terms for it and

now here's the definition individualism

is a society in which the ties between

individuals are loose everyone is

expected to look after her himself and

the immediate family father mother and

children at collectivism is a society in

which individuals from birth onwards are

part of strong in groups usually the

family sometimes the extended family

sometimes the village society sometimes

a tribe if I oppose the individual lists

and the collectivist

and I find that in collectivist

societies people identify with we they

have a we identity and an individual

Society obviously an i identity in the

collectivist society they are with a

difficult word exclusionists they

classify others as in or out group and

if they are out group they're excluded

and in the individualist society they

there is universalism other people are

classified as individuals by their own

particular characteristics the

competition in collectivist society is

not between individuals but between

groups between tribes you could say

they're often tribal societies and in

the individualist society the

competition is between individuals when

it comes to carrying out a task together

in the collectivist society the

relationship comes first the task comes

second in the individualist society the

task comes first and the relationship

may come afterwards then there is a

distinction which comes actually from

the literature between high context

communication and low context

communication and in high context

communication it means that many that is

for the collectivist society and that

many things are obvious so actually the

communication can be short individual

societies everything must be specified

and therefore the communications take

more words they are more extensive and

the last thing that I want to bring up

is that a key word in collectivist

society is a harmony there should be

harmony inside the in-group even if

people disagree there should maintain

the superficial harmony because

otherwise the in group will be weakens

it will be

we'll fall apart in the individualist

society the idea that confrontations can

do no harm they can sometimes be healthy

now how do we measure the position of a

country on the individualism

collectivism dimension it can only be

measured relative to other societies

there is no absolute yardstick for it

and it is expressed in individualism

scores ID v IV values can be plotted on

a scale from zero to a hundred and

scores close to zero sense for the most

collectivist society and squirrel's

close to 100 for the most individualist

society and here is a selection of 14

countries out of the 76 for which we

have scores and the highest score for

individualism

we find in the United States of America

on the high side we found Australia

Britain also the Netherlands also

Denmark France Germany in general we

find European countries on the high

individualism side we find a

collectivist societies low RDV scores in

places like India Japan also in Russia

by the way and the Arab countries Mexico

in the lowest in China what can we do

with these scores well we can we can

correlate them with hard data and I have

a selection here of things that

correlate significantly with the RVT

scores and first of all wealth or

poverty of a country wealthier countries

tend to be more individualist

poorer countries to be more collectivist

the order of logic in fact is not death

individualism comes first it is that the

wealth comes first and then the

individualism follows collectivist

societies have lower press freedom

individualist societies have more press

freedom

then there are human rights they were

established by the Universal Declaration

of Human Rights and they are having

measured by human rights index and the

index is clearly lower for collectivist

societies and for individualist

societies it must be said that the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

was created by people from individually

societies in the family in the

individualist societies you have higher

divorce rates in the collectivist

societies lower divorce rates often the

marriages have been concluded also by

the families and the ideal age for

marrying is also different that's the

interesting piece of research in the

collectivist society the model

relationship is over somewhat older

husband and the younger wife in the

individualist society is smaller age

differences between the spouses another

piece of research is about a pace of

life and the pace of life in

collectivist societies is slower than

the pace of life in the individualist

societies which can for example be

demonstrated by measuring how fast

people walk in the street if they don't

have any particular place to go just if

they walk freely to go from A to B how

fast they walk then in language that

linguists have looked at it and not

surprisingly the languages of individual

societies use more the word I actually

the most individuos language is English

and this is the only language I know

that writes I with a capital letter

there are other languages that writes

you with a capital letter

in the collectivist society sometimes

there are languages where the word I is

more or less taboo and where you are not

supposed to use it and the last one is

about recent applications in social

media there is a difference visible

individualist societies use social media

for an active search and collectivist

societies use it maybe for search by on

indication of the end group or from

communicating with the in-group now I

want to say something about a

relationship between individualism and

power distance because it is clear that

countries with lower power distance are

more often individualist and countries

with a higher power distance are more

often collectivist not always but more

often but this turns out to be mainly

the effects of the wealth individualism

is strongly correlated with wealth power

distance low power distance is somewhat

correlated with wealth and if we take

that effect out if we compare rich

countries with rich countries and poor

countries with poor countries the

correlation between power distance and

individualism almost disappears so that

is the reason that I treat them still

although they are correlated or treat

them as two separate dimensions in the

United States some people write about

horizontal and vertical individualism

now that is of course a combination of

ITV and PDI now the last question is do

I DV scores change over time

individualism versus collectivism are

transferred from generation to

generation you could be getting in the

family and there's research by professor

Burgos egg from Groningen who collects

all sorts of to generation thirty years

apart on questions related to

and collectivism and what it shows is

that over the 30 years that

individualism has been only increase but

it has not changed the order of the

country so the countries have moved

along together and because the scores I

use are based on the relative position

of the countries this course did not

change so the scores can be assumed to

be stable over time