| Conception Of the Self |
Collectivist: Higher
value placed on group cooperation and individual modesty. |
Individualist: Higher
value placed on self-reliance. Self-promotion is more
accepted. High value placed on "freedom" from
externally imposed constraints. |
| Social Relationships |
Formal, hierarchical. People most comfortable in the presence
of a hierarchy in which they know their position and the customs/rules
for behavior in the situation. |
Informal, egalitarian. People most comfortable with their
social equals; importance of social rankings minimized. |
| Friendship |
Small number of close, lifelong friends who feel deeply obligated
to give each other whatever help might seem required. |
Large collection of "friends" and acquaintances which
changes over time and involves only limited mutual obligations. |
| Obligation |
Relationships with other people involve reciprocal obligations. |
People avoid interdependent relationships and situations
that might entail long-term obligations. |
| Task vs.
Relationship Orientation |
Relationship-oriented: Maintaining a harmonious relationship
has priority over accomplishing tasks. |
Task-oriented. Relationships are less important than
getting the work done. |
Harmony vs.
"Truth" |
Avoid direct confrontation, open criticism,
and controversial topics. Concern maintaining harmony
and with "face." |
Willing to confront directly, criticize,
discuss controversial topics, press personal opinions about
what they consider "the truth. Little concern
with "face." |
| Role of laws, rules, and regulations |
More faith in personal relationships than in written rules
and procedures for structuring interactions. |
Written rules presumably apply to everyone and are assumed
to produce fair, reasonable procedures and decisions. |
| Time
Consciousness |
Relatively more attention to the past and to the longer-term
future. |
Less interested in the past; eye on near-term future. |
| Ascribed vs.
Achieved Status |
Traditionally, a person's status in the society was based
importantly on inherited characteristics such as age, gender,
and family. This is changing. |
People's status is based mainly on their own achievements,
including education obtained and level of success realized
in their line of work. |
