Intercultural Focus Study Collectivism: Collectivism

Intercultural Focus Study

Collectivism:

Collectivism entices the concept for the very word within itself -- collect. Collect is a verb that expresses the action of bringing more than one thing or person together -- a collection. Adding in the ism to this verb adheres to the definitions of an adjective. Isms are commonly used to form a noun for action from a verb. Through its usage, it provides further distinguishing connotations to organizational systems and concepts of ideological, theological, social or governmental basis. These further distinguishing connotations implicate an overall position regarding beliefs toward the unification or 'collection' of those pertinently associated with the specific basis. In sum, collectivism is a direct focus on anthropological groups as a whole, rather than in individual priority.

Collectivism is differential within cultures and varies according to many factors within the subdivided categorical aspects of culture. Collectivism is partially dictated by the communication structure within cultures (Samovar, Porter, and McDaniel (1). Every culture displays some degree of collectivism throughout their societies. Communication within cultures is a supportive factor that helps to identify the significant factors that develop the outlooks in specific areas of collectivism. The United States government infrastructure as a Democracy is conceivable correlation to collectivism through the common outlooks that range within its makeup. In the society of America, the belief in the superiority of Democracy creates the actual characteristics within the government and indicates the very collectivism within it. The religions within a society or culture are prime examples of collectivism by that they signify a group or organizational structure with a common belief. The same can be said of nearly all sects of the political arena. Another fine example of collectivism is seen in the American Amish.

Individualism:

Individualism provides a somewhat opposite definition to collectivism by its focus as an outlook on the same social systems, but with emphasis on the individual independence within each basis. Individualism opposes the influence of collective social institutions and organizations upon the individual. The overall stance of individualism resists the demand to conform to standards held by collectivistic views.

The concepts strongly held throughout the world regarding abortion are examples of individualism that side toward beliefs in civil rights. Civil rights are hand-in-hand with Democracy and tend to be attributed to government types. Civil rights, in the instance of abortion, promote the opinion that individuals must be allowed their own independent choice outside of the influence of the religious sect or government restrictions.

Collectivism and individualism do exist concurrently in many countries throughout the world. The U.S. is a prime example of a society where they cohabitate. There are radical religious sects that strongly oppose morale issues such as abortion, gay marriage, or traditional beliefs that stand side-by-side with the very individuals that their beliefs are intended to suppress. However, despite their coexistence, the two sides are often subjects for heavy controversy and significant reasons for much of the political debate, and near rioting uproar throughout societies across the map. It is apparent that these two orientations are able to exist in one culture at the same time, but not without great consequence.

The history of the United States has had a great impact on the way that cultural values have been developed and kept. Citizens of the United States agree that each individual has the right to their own beliefs and the actions by which they exercise those beliefs. U.S. citizens have come to expect that their actions are taken as constitutional rights -- oddly enough, this is even the same when one group protests the existence or practices of another. These beliefs and each citizen's right to exercise them has developed a commonality among Americans and influenced the overall diversity seen throughout the U.S.