Compare the Western Individualistic Culture with the Chinese Collectivist Culture

2009 届本科生毕业论文（设计）档案存档编号：

武汉大学珞珈学院

毕业论文（设计）档案

题 目：Compare the Western Individualistic Culture with

the Chinese Collectivist Culture

系 别：英语 专 业：英语 年级：2009级02班

学 号：20091050201046 姓 名：夏雪 指导教师：孙平

武汉大学珞珈学院教务处印制

2012年12月22日

ABSTRACT

Different countries have its different cultures. There are many different characterizes in the different countries. This article will compare the Chinese collectivist culture and the western individual culture. In my research, I will show you what the Chinese collectivism and the western individualism is. And then we must know some reasons that cause the Chinese collectivism and the western individualism. What’s more, the most important that I want to appear is that the differentmanifestation of the western individualism and the Chinese collectivism in the aspects of belief, thoughts, education and so on.So we can have a well acknowledge of the western individualism and the Chinese collectivism. We can have an proper attitude of the western individualism and the Chinese collectivism.Finally, we can benefit from them and can make our own country develop rapidly.

Compare the Western Individualistic Culturewith the

Chinese Collectivist Culture

When we talk about the differences between Chinese and Western culture, we always put them down to one basic difference, which is difference between individualism and collectivism.Generally speaking, individualism is formed in the western societies, and collectivism in the eastern societies. In the west, the focus is on the individual, in the east, the focus is on the relationship between individuals. What is individualism and collectivism?

A General Introduction of Individualism and Collectivism:

The individualism-collectivism dichotomy is an important element to understand the Western and Eastern cultures, because it tells a major difference between the two cultures. The individualism-collectivism dichotomy has been widely used to explain cultural differences in behaviors. Hofstede defines individualism and collectivism as follows:

“Individualism pertains to societies in which the ties between individuals are loose. Everyone is expected to look after himself or herself and his or her immediate family. Collectivism pertains to societies in which people from birth onwards are integrated into strong cohesive in-groups, which throughout people's lifetime continue to protect them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty.”

Generally speaking, the values, norms and beliefs associated with Individualism emphasize that every individual is unique. Accordingly, popular comments about individuals tend to be mainly based on their personal achievements, status and other features. By contrast, societies organized along collectivist lines prefer to characterize an individual according to his family, social class, and group. Individualism indicates that a society is a loosely knit social framework while Collectivism indicates a tight social network.

The historical Reason of Individualism and Collectivism:

The westerners’ individualism and Chinese collectivism can be traced back to their histories respectively.

Collectivism is always popular in China, no matter in ancient times or in modern society. Confucianism has great influence on the development of China. His thoughts deeply rooted in people’ mind, and take far-reaching effect on people’ behavior. In Confucius words: if one wants to establish himself, he should help others to establish themselves at first.”

However, in western countries, at that time, nomadic economy developed rapidly with the manorial economy development. The “expansivity” of nomadic economy had become more distinct, which determined that “dispute” inevitably became the key point in western culture. Additionally, the later Renaissance of Europe produced the determined and key influences on the westerners’ thoughts. Since than, the thoughts of freedom and humanity had impressed on people’s heart deeply.

The Manifestation of Individualism and Collectivism:

The manifestation of Chinese collectivism and the western individualism exists in different aspects in our society as thoughts, beliefs, cultures and so on. There are a large amount of different appearances, but now I want to introduce some essential ones.

The first that I want to say is that American people feel that the rights of individuals should not be subordinated 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 who comes from China and West make a decision, the Chinese will decide it by raising hands. The principle of the minority subordinate to the majority.In this condition, Western people will make a decision what he want to make, despite of others minds.

What’s more, individualism and collectivism can also be sensed in our name.Chinese names begin with the family name, after that come the name which suggests the status of a generation in the family, and our own name comes last. The English names are just to the opposite and highlight the individual character.

The last but the most important, the reason why that Chinese are collectivists and Western people are individualists is that different education. Americans tend to believe that people should rely on themselves as much as possible, and they usually expect other people to do the same.They are told that they must finish a task by themselves without others’ help. They have an open environment of them own. In Chinese education, our parents and teachers told us that we should learn to collaborate with our companiers. If we do like that ,we will better to finish our tasks.

Conclusion:

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. Individuals trust a group rather than themselves. They are accustomed to a group to help them make a decision, complete his goal and enhance his confidence. The difference between individualism and collectivism is a relative one, not an absolute one, and they both exist in any country. Individualism does not mean that all Americans are individualists, rather, it means that Americans are more likely to think and act in individual ways than people in collectivism cultures are; the same way as China.Whether we can say which one is better or not.They both have its own advantages and disadvantages in a special place.

With economic development, neither individualism nor collectivism can meet the demands of the global community alone. Pushed to the extreme, individualism has

created tremendous indifference and cynicism, and, collectivism has caused patronage. One man’s meat is another man’s poison, so, they are complementary. I believe combining them is the best policy in the new economic environment.