Compare and contrast collectivist and individualistic societies. Why is the collectivism–individualism distinction controversial?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer: In cultures that emphasize collectivism, people stress group goals over individual goals and value interdependent qualities, such as social harmony, obligations and responsibility to others, and collaborative endeavors. In cultures that emphasize individualism, people are largely concerned with their own personal needs and value independence—personal exploration, discovery, achievement, and choice in relationships.
Though the most common basis for comparing cultures, the collectivism–individualism distinction is controversial because both sets of values exist, in varying mixtures, in most cultures. In addition, cultural values are complex, differing in myriad additional ways. Nevertheless, consistent cross-national differences in collectivism–individualism remain, with important consequences: The United States is more individualistic than most Western European countries, which place greater weight on collectivism. These values powerfully affect a nation's approach to protecting the well-being of its children and families.