Why does the elder in one culture order food for everyone at his table while in another culture, people argue over how to precisely split the bill? Why do some cultures expect the community to help parent the children while others are fiercely protective against any outside voice? The differences can be understood by the levels of individualism and collectivism in each culture.

I say “levels” of individualism and collectivism because it’s not a simple binary. “[E]very human,” writes Harry C. Triandis, “is both an individualist and a collectivist in varying proportions” (126). That mixture of impulses is reflected in society as well. In Individualism and Collectivism, Harry C. Triandis surveys the literature on this social phenomena and adds his voice to the mix.

Triandis rightly complexifies the issue. Following earlier sociologists, he explains that there are four kinds of self: independent or interdependent and the same or different. Combined, this leads to four types of people (44):

1. Horizontal individualism (independent people who prefer to be the same)
2. Horizontal collectivism (interdependent people who prefer to be the same)
3. Vertical individualism (independent people who prefer to be different)
4. Vertical collectivism (interdependent people who prefer to be different)

Taking this further, horizontal individualists like to be unique, horizontal collectivists like to be cooperative, vertical individualists are achievement oriented, and vertical collectivists are dutiful (47). If you’re anything like me, names and societies come to mind as you begin to think through the permutations.

Although published in 1995, Triandis’s theories are still discussed today. This is an excellent social psychological primer on a fundamental feature of society.

Triandis, Harry C. Individualism and Collectivism. Westview Press, 1995. New Directions in Social Psychology.