Which of the following statements is true about individualistic cultures?

1. Language has different components. Which of the following is concerned with the study of the meanings of words, and the relationships between words and the things they refer to?

1. morphology
2. semantics
3. syntax
4. phonology

Answer: B

2. Which of the following communication styles are more likely to be associated with individualistic cultures?

1. direct
2. elaborate
3. pragmatic
4. contextual

Answer: A

3. Which of the following statements is true of an instrumental style of communication?

1. The speaker’s needs and intentions are explicitly communicated.
2. The speakers express emotions.
3. The speaker is goal-oriented and sender-focused to achieve an outcome.
4. The speaker uses colourful language to elaborate on needs and wants.

Answer: C

4. Which best describes the practice of ‘culture jamming’?

1. a practice that simplifies grammatical structures of different languages
2. a practice that prefers only a direct communication style
3. a practice that encourages women to speak louder
4. a practice that aims to disrupt consumer culture by using a particular type of language while transforming corporate advertising with subversive language

Answer: D

5. Deborah Tannen (1990), a discourse analyst, claims that men and women express themselves differently. Which of the following statements is true of gender communication, according to Tannen?

1. Women usually use verbal communication to report about the world.
2. Women usually use verbal communication to report and for rapport.
3. Men usually use verbal communication for rapport.
4. Men usually use verbal communication to report about the world.

Answer: D

6. Although languages differ, there are some common characteristics. Which of the following statement best characterizes language, according to Neuliep (2017)?

1. All languages have some way of naming objects, places or things.
2. All languages share the same meaning of the word ‘snow’.
3. All languages have a set of formal grammatical rules for combining sounds and words to create meaning.
4. All languages have some way of naming objects, places or things, and have a set of formal grammatical rules for combining sounds and words to create meaning.

Answer: A

7. Which of the following statements is true about the relationship between language and identity?

1. Language is an integral part of our personal, social, ethnic, and national identities, because language marks our cultural and social boundaries.
2. The language we speak does not influence how we perceive and categorize the world around us in any way.
3. Language is used for identities more by women than by men.
4. Language symbolizes identity only for migrants but not for local citizens of the immigrant receiving country.

Answer: A

8. In contemporary societies, our lives are strongly governed by the political environment, the economy, different public and private institutions, and the media. Fairclough (2003) points out that discourses ______.

1. do not represent the world as is
2. represent possible worlds we imagined or projected to be
3. are not important in constructing and framing our identities
4. do not regulate what can or cannot be said in a given society

Answer: B

9. To translate ‘It rains cats and dogs’ from English into another language may cause problems. Which type of translation problem does this example illustrate?

Collectivist cultures emphasize the needs and goals of the group as a whole over the needs and desires of each individual. In such cultures, relationships with other members of the group and the interconnectedness between people play a central role in each person's identity.

Collectivism contrasts with individualism, in which personal needs take precedence.

Traits of Collectivist Cultures

In collectivistic cultures, people are considered "good" if they are generous, helpful, dependable, and attentive to the needs of others. This contrasts with individualistic cultures, which often place a greater emphasis on characteristics such as assertiveness and independence.

Common traits of collectivist cultures include:

• Individuals define themselves in relation to others (for example, “I am a member of…”).
• Communication is often more indirect to avoid potential conflict or embarrassment.
• Group loyalty is encouraged.
• Decisions are based on what is best for the group.
• Compromise is favored when a decision needs to be made to achieve greater levels of peace.
• Working as a group and supporting others is essential.
• Greater emphasis is placed on common goals than on individual pursuits.
• The rights of families and communities come before those of the individual.

Asian countries—such as China, Japan, and South Korea—as well as countries in South America tend to be more collectivist.

Individualism vs. Collectivism

Collectivist cultures are usually contrasted with individualistic cultures. Collectivism stresses the importance of the community, while individualism is focused on the rights and concerns of each person. Where unity and selflessness or altruism are valued traits in collectivist cultures, independence and personal identity are promoted in individualistic cultures.

These cultural differences are pervasive and can influence many aspects of how society functions. How people shop, dress, learn, and conduct business can all be influenced by whether they are from a collectivist or individualist culture.

For example, workers who live in a collectivist culture might strive to sacrifice their own happiness for the greater good of the group. Those from individualistic cultures, on the other hand, may feel that their own well-being and goals carry greater weight.

Impact of Collectivism

Collective cultures affect the people within them a few different ways.

Self-Perception

Culture influences people's self-concept. While those in individualistic cultures might describe themselves in terms of personality traits and characteristics (e.g., "I am smart, funny, athletic, and kind"), those from collectivist cultures would more likely describe themselves in terms of their social relationships and roles (e.g., "I am a good parent, sibling, and friend").

Strong Relationships

Research shows that collectivist cultures are associated with low relational mobility, a term to describe how many opportunities individuals in a society have to form relationships with people of their choosing.

Low relational mobility means that the relationships people have are stable, strong, and long-lasting. These relationships are usually formed due to factors such as family and geographical area, rather than personal choice.

In a collectivist culture, it's harder to build relationships with new people, partly because it's generally more difficult to meet them. Strangers are more likely to remain strangers in a collectivistic culture than they would be in individualistic cultures.

Paradoxically, this means that people in individualistic cultures devote more effort and energy toward actively maintaining close relationships, often through increased self-disclosure and greater intimacy.

Unlike collectivist cultures where stable relationships are more expected, relationships in individualistic cultures tend to be more fraught and fragile. People must make a greater effort to maintain these relationships.

Maintaining harmony within interpersonal relationships is of utmost importance in a collectivistic culture. This is likely because these relationships are extremely difficult to change. Failing to keep the peace can mean long-term unhappiness for everyone involved.

Conformity

Cultural differences also influence the motivation to either stand out or fit in with the rest of the group. For instance, one study found that, in a collectivist culture, people submitting an online review are less likely to go against the average rating or express emotions in their review.

Conformity also appears within certain industries. According to research published in the Journal of Economic Growth, descendants of pre-industrial agricultural groups tend to favor collectivist cultures, working in more routine occupations as opposed to driving innovation.

Why Do People Conform?

Potential Pitfalls of Collectivism

There are some potential drawbacks of collective cultures.

Social Anxiety

Research shows that collectivistic cultures may foster socially reticent and withdrawn behaviors. In one study, students from Asian cultures (collectivist) displayed higher levels of social anxiety than students from European cultures (individualist).

However, it may not be collectivist values alone that contributed to this. After analyzing the data, the researchers suggested that some of the increase in anxiety could be attributed to Asian American students having greater difficulty in being able to recognize and read emotion.

Cultural Differences in Social Anxiety

Less Social Support

People in collectivist cultures tend to be more cautious about sharing their personal problems with their friends. Research shows that they are also cautious when sharing their knowledge within the workplace (even when working in teams), often only doing so if incentivized or if they are highly altruistic.

Instead, people often seek out what is known as implicit social support. This involves spending time with supportive people without actually opening up about or addressing the source of the stress.

Why Social Support Is So Important

Frequently Asked Questions

• Which of our laws are collectivist?

  Labor laws supporting affirmative action or equal opportunity are examples of collectivist laws because they are designed to protect the rights of entire groups. So too are laws regarding vaccinations, healthcare laws, and other forms of public policy.

• What do collectivist cultures value?

  Collective cultures value groups or communities over individuals. Thus, they value generosity over selfishness, harmony over conflict, and meeting the needs of others over meeting the needs of oneself.

• How can you determine if a country is individualist or collectivist?

  If the country's laws place more focus on protecting the rights of individuals versus groups, it is likely individualist vs. collectivist. Another way to tell the difference is to look at the level of conformity on issues such as fashion and buying preferences, as well as whether members of the community are driven to help others or if everyone must fend for themselves.

• How is individualism vs. collectivism measured?

  One way to measure individualism and collectivism is via the Culture Orientation Scale. This is a 16-point scale that measures the extent to which people see themselves as part of a group or as a fully autonomous being. It also measures their thoughts on whether they believe that each member of the group is equal or if inequality exists.

  Which of the following is considered an individualistic culture?

  A few countries that are considered individualistic cultures include the United States, Germany, Ireland, South Africa, and Australia.

  Which of the following is characteristic of a culture that is individualistic?

  Individualistic cultures place emphasis on individual goals, personal achievements, fulfillment, and competition.

  What is individualistic culture quizlet?

  What is an Individualist culture? Cultures that tend to think of themselves as separate entities - individual - and are most concerned with their own needs and rights rather than those of the group.

  Which of the following is emphasized by individualistic cultures?

  Individualist cultures emphasize self-direction, autonomy, and self-expression, along with self-fulfillment, personal achievement, and personal rights and liberties.