Individualism Vs. Collectivism

 

02/10/2022

Week 6 Response: “Individualism vs. collectivism”

Next up in our discussion of cultural differences is the dynamic of individualism vs. collectivism. Some cultures are more oriented to the individual. Individual accomplishments are valued highly, and individuals are responsible for the consequences of their own mistakes. The United States is highly individualistic. People place a high value on how well an individual does for themselves in life, like their job or education. Some cultures, on the other hand, are more group oriented. Individual accomplishments have value based on how they benefit the group. If an individual makes bad choices, a whole group could be held responsible. Brother Ivers gave the example of the Japanese students who all faced the consequences of one individual driving drunk. Only one person did the drinking and driving, but because they were part of a group, they all were held responsible.

Brother Ivers raised an interesting question at the end of the video. He presented the discussion topic of how Western Mormons are both individualistic and at the same time group oriented. I grew up in the Western Mormon culture, so I can definitely see both sides of the dynamic. A lot of the individual side of Mormonism is actually part of the doctrine, I think, and so it should be part of Mormonism everywhere. We have a strong belief in individual revelation, and that salvation is something an individual takes personal responsibility for. We also perform saving ordinances individually, to the extent that we perform them vicariously for those who have died so that everyone can have a chance to receive them. We also believe that we are individually known and loved by Heavenly Father. Individuals are also responsible for their own choices and face consequences based only on their own actions. It’s interesting that a lot of these individual principles rely on a group dynamic. For example, in order for individuals to receive their vicarious ordinances, they need the group who are still living, to care enough to do it. Many parts of the group dynamic of Mormonism may be unique to Western Mormons. American Mormons have strong ties to the early saints and the pioneers. They take a lot of pride in that heritage, and want to live up to what the pioneers had to sacrifice. There can also be a lot of pressure to conform to many group norms in the areas of speech, dress, and life choices.

The reading from this lesson made an interesting statement regarding individualism vs. collectivism in the context of education. In the US, we hear all the time about how China is “beating” in education. This is all bases on test scores. The article pointed out that China’s students may score higher on standardized tests, but at what cost, and does that really mean they are smarter, or just better at taking tests. There was a strong case made for the idea that education should value and encourage individual learning rather than forcing the group to memorize test answers. I agree, and as a future teacher, I want to live up to the ideals at the end of the article with a classroom where students are “encouraged to explore and experiment” and “the individual strengths of every student are developed.”

Comments

  1. UnknownFebruary 10, 2022 at 10:13 PM

    Good points and insights! Well-explained, thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lilian PerezFebruary 12, 2022 at 4:28 PM

    Hi Amber.
    Something I have learned through your posts is to explain the theme. I didn't grow up in a Mormon culture, but now I see how culture impact people's behavior even people from the same religion. Great reflection about China's culture, I never thought about it and I will explore more other cultures to reflect on our learning in our TESOL course.

    ReplyDelete

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