中美个人和集体主义文化差异对比

跨文化交际论文

A Contrastive Study of Individualism and Collectivism between

Chinese and Americans

1. Definition

Individualism holds that the individual is the primary unit of reality and the ultimate standard of value. People tend to view themselves as individuals and to emphasize the needs of individuals.

Collectivism holds that the group (the nation, the community, the proletariat, the race and so on) is the primary unit of reality and the untimate standard of value. People tend to view themselves as members of groups(families, work units, tribes, nations), and usually consider the needs of the group to be more important than the needs of individuals.

2. The comparison of expressions of individualism and collectivism

In cultures that tend toward individualism, like America, an “I”consciousness prevails: competition rather than cooperation is encouraged; personal goals take precedence over group goals; people tend not to be emotionally dependent on organizations and institutions, and every individual has the right to his or her private property, thoughts, and opinions.

In collective societies like China, a “we” consciousness prevails: identity is based on the social system; the individual is emotionally dependent on organizations and institutions; the culture emphasizes belonging to organizations; organizations invade private life and the clans to which individuals belong; and individuals trust group decisions.Thus, the collectivism mainly focus on four aspects: first, the views, needs, and goals of the in-group rather than oenself. Second, social norms and duty defined by the in-group rather than behavior to get pleasure. Third, beliefs shared with the in-group rather than beliefs that distinguish self from in-group. And the last one,great readiness to cooperate with in-group members.

Now let us look at them in details.

1)Americans tend to believe that people should rely on themselves as much as

possible, and they usually expect other people to do the same. For example: American people often offer help to their family members and friends during emergency situations, they may not assume they are they are obligated to do this. Instead, they may view such assistance as voluntary. Another case in

point is the protagonist of《Porrest Gump》. Forrest Gump is unfortunately to be born with a lower IQ and the muscle problem, usually people always think this kind of person can't be successful in doing anything. But, instead, this unlucky man has achieved lots of incredible success, he is a football star, a war hero, and later a millionaire. He is a disabled man with his legs, but the doctor does not give him a walking stick, he give him a supplementary device to help him, hoping that he can recover from the disease; in school, he is often beat and looked down upon by other students, but he does not give up, he gets rid of them by his own efforts; as an adult, he struggles day and night, and finally becomes a millionaire. American people appreciate his independence, it is his own efforts that makes him success.

In contrast, Chinese people generally feel they have a right to expect help from other members of their groups(family, classmates and so on), and they also tend to feel they have an obligation to help other members of their groups.

For instance,《journey to the west》is a world famous work, it relates to the amazing adventures of the Tang Monk that he travelled to the west in search of buddhist sutras with his three disciples, the Monkey King, the Pig-monster and Friar Sand. If the tang monk went to the west without his disciples help, there is no doubt that he would certain to fail, as he has no gongfu and is too kindheartded to be conceived by monsters. So we can see, to a great extent, Tang Monk should attributed his success to his disciples. Take students as an example, from childrenhood to now, it is our parents that pay the tuiitions for us, they earn money hardly to provide us ererything we want , just because they are our parents, in our mind that we think it is their duty to do these for us.

Maybe the same case in America, children will choose to do some part time jobs to keep themselves, paying the high tuiition, providing themselves essential things.

2)American people feel that the rights of individuals should not be sabordinated

to the needs of a larger group, or at least that individuals should have the right to decide for themselves whether to sacrifice their personal benefit for the sake of the group. American people feel that the best way to ensure the well-being of the group is to protect the rights of individuals. In contrast, chinese people are generally more willing to accept the idea that individuals should sacrifice for the benefit of the group. When a group of people plan to have outdoor activity, some people advice that having a spring is a good choice, while someone else suggest that go hiking is more interesting. Under this condition, how to make a decision, in most cases we will decide it by raising hands. The principle of the minority subordinate to the majority. Americans may have different decisions, people who want to have a spring outing will keep it ,and the others will go hiking. Therefore, all people will do what they want and fully enjoy the process. In China, every year we will elect the “Top Ten Characters Moving China” . These people all make great sacrifice to devote themselves to some certain fields. The public hige praise their advanced affairs and appeal to others to take them as good examples. It well explaines the