Identity concepts and applications

¶ … person's identity may develop differently in a collectivistic vs. An individualistic culture. Then explain how your own identity has been impacted by your culture (collectivistic or individualistic). Finally, explain how your identity might differ if you were raised in the other type of culture.

Individualism vs. collectivism: Identity

Despite the variation that exists within different cultures regarding values and behaviors, it has been noted that certain character traits appear to manifest themselves cross-culturally, in the form of openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism (McCrae, n.d.: 2). In other words, all individuals, in all cultures to some degree can be said to exhibit these traits, or can be classified as lacking in these traits (introversion being the opposite of extroversion, etcetera). However, the extent to which these traits are valued or problematized within a culture is highly contextual and relative to cultural norms.

For example, in a capitalistic and individualistic culture like the United States, extroversion is highly prized. Someone who is seen as a 'go getter' and actively pursues success is praised. Entrepreneurship and invention and giving birth to new organizations and ideas is seen as the hallmark of success, and someone who manifests these characteristics is likely to thrive in American society. But this value can also come at the expense of others in the community. In other cultures, adhering to community norms is more important. Striving to stand apart from the crowd may be frowned upon. In societies where traditional values govern daily life, following the rules of social behavior and engaging in intense self-monitoring in an introverted way may be seen as a preferable 'way of being' in the world. Japan, for example, values collectivism over individualism. 'Fitting in' at school and later into corporate life is seen as a more desirable life path for Japanese citizens than self-aggrandizement.

Thus, while the characteristics of extroversion may be present to varying degrees in members of all societies, the extent to which that characteristic is prized will not be the same. Someone who is very extroverted and dislikes doing what everyone else is doing in Japan may find him or herself highly criticized. As a student, he or she may feel frustrated by a more conformist system of education, particularly if the student is not particularly strong in another value praised by the Japanese, that of conscientiousness. In America, that same student might be gently rebuked for being 'too social' or for talking back to his or her teachers, but provided his qualities of extroversion find a positive channel (such as in business, in the arts, or other areas of modern American life which value independent thinking and creativity), that student will come to have a positive self-concept. The same is not likely to be true of a Japanese student with similar qualities in his or her collective society.