10/29/21; W06 Blog: Individualism vs. Collectivism

 

Individualism is encouraged among the American youth.  Whereas among Asians including Filipinos, group unity, togetherness, and harmony are valued. Group unity, togetherness, and harmony are valued.  There are some good things and some negative things about group orientation, sometimes called collectivism. Collectivistic cultural orientation and individualistic orientation.

The education has to adapt to the individuality and diversity from interests, expectations and needs of the student and to get the maximum developing from all individual, social, intellectuals cultural and emotional capabilities of the students. The objective is not other than to educate taking into account the diversity in a pluralist school, where the individual differences of each student and education on the diversity are very important.

Collectivistic cultures tend to teach the whole group and allow students to learn one from the other, whereas individualistic societies tend to teach by focusing on the individual. Collectivist thinking includes work groups who think and learn and reflect together. Also Collectivistic cultures train students in dependent behaviors they learn more about obedience, politeness and respect others, feeling responsible for their behaviors.

In individualistic cultures, people look out primarily for their interests and the interests of their closest family (husband, wife, and children). In the individualistic society, relationships with others are voluntary and not therefore, preset.

Teachers need to include a collectivist culture in the classroom, students should belong to a group which cannot be separated and work together.