Question

Describe how differences between individualist and collectivist cultures are likely to manifest themselves in the processes of group identification and group-versus-individual goals in athletics and work. How do these cultures differ in the personal freedom they enjoy? What are the advantages and disadvantages of more or less personal freedom?

Answer 1

Individualist cultures mainly adopt the freedom to individuals to live the live according to their will, free of spirits and do whatever they like of their choice and mostly encourage individuals to be independent and work and earn to fulfill their own needs while collectivist cultures prefer the individuals would ideally be the the part of the group or family, live along and try to get engaged with the family to the most possible way and also adhering to the cultural norms sufficed.

Individualist cultures prefer their kids to be goal oriented and work according to their individual benefits and are less concerned about societies, maintaining close cultural bonds and group while collectivists are totally opposite. Indians follow a culture specially a collectivist one, where each and every individual is regarded as a part of the group, bonds are maintained and also close relationships are given importance both at work and at home. They believe that an individual cannot survive without forming a social bond with other group or societies since we all are part of a social system.

The major advantage of individualist culture is to be liberal and free of choice and living the life actually the way you want which is the reason that more and more people are getting into this system since they actually want to live the life they want without any restrictions. A major disadvantage is that it actually leads to kind of social imbalance that a person cannot make properly between the society and his own self according to some cultural values that are significantly important.While the advantage of collectivist culture is that it abides by the social system with an integrative approach and attachment that keeps one together. While the disadvantage can be of extensive dependency on family and social bonds that the individual identity is neglected.