Individualism-Collectivism as the Dimension Distinguishing the Western from the Eastern Culture

Abstract

Individualism (IND)-collectivism (COL) has been the most popular dimension separating the West from the East. As the recent findings relating to IND-COL by national and ethnic groups become divergent, however, some investigators are challenging IND-COL as the most representative framework dividing into the West and the East. For this reason, focusing on some issues that are supposed to cause inconsistent findings regarding IND-COL, it requires making IND-COL investigations examined and, in turn, elaborated. In the context of supporting the elaboration, this review tries to provide some suggestions as follows. First, it is necessary to analyze and set up the concept of IND-COL precisely. Second, cultural psychologists need to elaborate instruments and introduce social-ecological variables, cultural products, and qualitative approach. Third, there need to diversify the sampling target. Fourth, future research requires specifying the sampling target more specifically. Fifth, IND-COL studies need to solve the issue due to the level of analysis.