Culture differences

The textbook for my Interpersonal Communication class just used the differences between American and Kenyan cultures to demonstrate how different cultures are in terms of individualism. I found this interesting why? Because I'm an American married to a Kenyan! See the quoted section below. Fun stuff.

"Individualism: One and Many

One of the most prominent dimensions of a culture is the dimension of individualism versus collectivism. Individualistic cultures, such as those in North America, value individual achievement and personal accomplishment. Collectivistic cultures, including many Asian cultures, value group and team achievement. One researcher summed up the American goal system this way:

Chief among the virtues claimed is self-realization. Each person is viewed as having a unique set of talents and potentials. The translation of these potentials into actuality is considered the highest purpose to which one can de- vote one’s life.

Conversely, in a collectivistic culture, people strive to attain goals for all members of the family, group, or community. In Kenyan tribes, for example,

Nobody is an isolated individual. Rather, his [or her] uniqueness is a secondary fact. In this new system group activities are dominant, responsibility is shared, and accountability is collective. Because of the emphasis on collectivity, harmony and cooperation among the group tends to be emphasized more than individual function and responsibility.

Individualistic cultures tend to be more loosely knit socially; individuals feel responsible for taking care of themselves and their immediate families. In collectivistic cultures, individuals expect more support from others; they also experience more loyalty to and from the community. Because collectivistic cultures place more value on “we” than “I,” teamwork approaches usually succeed better in their workplaces. U.S. businesses have tried to adopt some of Japan’s successful team strategies for achieving high productivity."

(Interpersonal Communication: Relating to Others, 6th Edition. p. 95).