W2: Culture and Self: Agency, Individualism, and Collectivism

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary distinction between the self and an organism?

The self is an unsocialised animal.

The self is biologically detached from culture.

The self is shaped through sociocultural engagement. (correct)

An organism lacks any sense of awareness.

Which of the following best describes how the self develops?

Independent of social interactions.

Through symbolically mediated interactions with others. (correct)

By isolating oneself from cultural influences.

Through genetic inheritance alone.

How does culture relate to the individual self?

Culture has no influence on self-awareness.

Culture originates only from past generations.

Culture exists separately from individual actions.

Culture is a product of individual activity and social interactions. (correct)

In the context of selfhood, what role do sociocultural factors play?

They contribute to the continuous development of awareness and agency. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to say that 'the self is at the center of awareness and agency'?

The self integrates sociocultural patterns into its identity. Signup and view all the answers

What are 'independent and interdependent selves' primarily concerned with?

Cultural views on self-concept and identity Signup and view all the answers

What does the Individualism & Collectivism dichotomy help to explain?

The contrasting cultural values that shape personality Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect has been criticized according to Bandura's views mentioned in the outline?

The generalization of cultural influences in personality theories Signup and view all the answers

What implication does the outline suggest about understanding personality?

Personality theories must consider cultural contexts Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between positions of power and individualism in hierarchical societies?

Positions of power are more individualistic. Signup and view all the answers

How do US teens typically express their self-construals according to Raeff (2004)?

Both independent and interdependent self-construals. Signup and view all the answers

What insight does Turiel (2004) provide about societies and cultures?

They are hierarchically organized. Signup and view all the answers

What do Freeman & Bordia (2001) advocate regarding measures of individualism and collectivism?

Both global and specific context measures are important. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement reflects the finding regarding collectivism and individualism in family versus national contexts?

It is possible to be a collectivist with regard to one’s family and an individualist with regard to one’s nation. Signup and view all the answers

What is primarily conceptualized as a value system in the dichotomy of individualism versus collectivism?

Collectivism Signup and view all the answers

How is individualism primarily operationalized according to the dichotomy discussed?

In terms of beliefs in an individuated self Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'faceless others' in the context of collectivism refer to?

Cultural measures detached from real-life interactions Signup and view all the answers

What does Brewer & Chen (2007) suggest is necessary for conceptual clarification of individualism and collectivism?

Understanding the roles of collectives Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements reflects a key aspect of individualism?

Celebration of individual uniqueness Signup and view all the answers

What role do shared norms and beliefs play in collectivism?

They provide a foundation for communal obligations. Signup and view all the answers

What is personal agency primarily concerned with?

Intentionally influencing life circumstances Signup and view all the answers

Which type of agency involves influencing others to achieve goals?

Proxy agency Signup and view all the answers

What does Bandura suggest about the relationship between individualism and collectivism?

They can coexist without conflict Signup and view all the answers

What type of identity do individuals retain even within group contexts?

Individual identity Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about agency is true?

All forms of agency are universal across cultures Signup and view all the answers

In the context of agency, what does 'collective agency' refer to?

Actions taken by a group to achieve a common goal Signup and view all the answers

According to Bandura, why is personal efficacy valued in various cultures?

Because it is essential for success, regardless of the structure Signup and view all the answers

What misconception about identity does Bandura aim to challenge?

The idea that group identity is more important than individual identity Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect does Bandura emphasize in the concept of agency?

The necessity of personal and group efforts Signup and view all the answers

The description of culture as a 'socially transmitted or socially constructed constellation consisting of such things as practices, competencies, ideas, schemas, symbols, values, norms, institutions, goals, constitutive rules, artifacts and modifications of the physical environment' was said by which researcher?

Fiske (2002) Signup and view all the answers

According to Cohen (2009), is culture the same as a country or nation?

No, there is a large amount of variation in norms, values, beliefs, and behaviors within a country/nation. Signup and view all the answers

According to Hofstede (1980), cultural differences vary in 5 dimensions including:

Long-term orientation, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity/femininity, individualism or collectivism Signup and view all the answers

According to Markus (2004), culture does not just impact individual attitudes, beliefs, and values; it is also...

Materialised and objectified in policies, practices, symbols, and social institutions or situations Signup and view all the answers

Are Japanese people more collectivist than US people?

Not always, in Oyserman's meta-analysis US people were sometimes higher Signup and view all the answers

The theory of Reciprocal Determinism (where a person, environment, and behavior interact) was put forward by:

Bandura Signup and view all the answers

What was Bandura's critique of how individualism was thought to impact personality?

Any reference to self could be seen as encouraging self-centredness rather than community values Signup and view all the answers

What did Bandura believe about collective and individual identities?

One can be part of a collective identity whilst retaining their individual identity Signup and view all the answers

What did Bandura think about generalizing cultures as individualistic or collectivistic?

He believed it was misleading, as it does not account for individual variation and agency. Signup and view all the answers

Bandura is best described as a:

Social learning theorist Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Culture and Self

Culture is a product of human activity, shaped by individual experiences and social structures.
The self is a dynamic sense of awareness and agency developed through sociocultural engagement.
The self is not isolated but emerges through interactions with others and the environment.

Self and Agency

Agency is the ability to influence life circumstances.
Personal agency is individual effort.
Proxy agency is influencing others.
Collective agency is group action.
All forms of agency are present universally, though emphasis may vary cross-culturally.

Individualism vs Collectivism

Individualism emphasizes personal goals and values, while collectivism prioritizes group goals and interdependence.
The distinction between individualism/collectivism is not a simple dichotomy.
Individualism and collectivism can coexist within a single culture and even in a single person.
The concept of "group identity" does not necessarily negate individual identity, and vice versa.
Group agency still requires individual effort.
The prominence of individual or group agency can vary across cultures and even within the same culture.

Critiques of the Dichotomy

Measures of individualism and collectivism often mask intrapersonal and intracultural diversity.
The dichotomy can be misleading and oversimplifies the complexity of human behavior.
Individualism and collectivism should not be seen as exclusive ends of a single dimension.
Research using the individualism/collectivism dichotomy often struggles with the alignment of the constructs.

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Description

Explore the intricate relationship between culture and the self, focusing on how individual experiences shape personal agency and social interactions. This quiz also examines the nuances of individualism and collectivism, highlighting how these concepts can coexist within cultures and individuals. Test your understanding of these sociocultural dynamics.