Communication Between Cultures

at first) values associated with individualism or collectivism. The enactment of these

lessons takes a variety of forms. Let us look at some of those forms.

As stressed throughout this chapter, most cultural characteristics have their roots

in the deep structure of a culture. For Americans, individualism, as it applies to fam-

ilies, is partially linked to the history ofthe United States. From earliest colonial

times through the present, the nuclear family has been prominent in American cul-

ture. It was, however, the Industrial Revolution that saw a major escalation in the

concept of individualism. As Lamanna and associates note,“The Industrial Revolu-

tion and its opportunities for paid work outside the home, particularly in the grow-

ing cities and independent of one’s kinship group, gave people opportunities for jobs

and lives separate from the family.”^97 This meant that most individuals were able—

and continue even now—to make decisions that serve their own interests instead of

those of the larger group. In most cases, this encourages a shrinking compliance

with the authority of the family and stresses self-reliance. Triandis underscores this

North American attitude toward individualism within the family when he writes,

“In individualistic cultures independence is expected and valued, and self-

actualization is encouraged. Mother and child are distinct and the child is encour-

aged to leave the nest.”^98 This independence encourages autonomy. Nomura and

his colleagues expand on this idea, writing that“children in America appear to be

encouraged to‘decide for themselves,’‘do their own things,’‘develop their own

opinion,’or‘solve their own problems.’”^99 Whenever possible, to help their off-

spring feel autonomous, parents strive to give each child a separate bedroom, com-

puter, television set, and cell phone.

We should remind you in closing that

the United States is not the only culture

that “teaches”and rewards individualism

within the family. Germany, Switzerland,

Canada, Australia, France, Finland, and

many other cultures can be classified as

individualistic.

Collectivism and the Family

An Asian Indian proverb states,“An individual could no more be separated from

the family than a finger from the hand.”The proverb serves as an excellent intro-

duction to our discussion of collectivism and the family, as it demonstrates the

interdependence found in collective cultures. As noted at the outset of this section,

in collective cultures, people experience a profound allegiance and attachment to

their families. You can see that interdependence in much of India as families often

share property, live together, and take part in religious rituals together. You can fur-

ther observe family loyalty in India in the fact that“feelings of self-esteem and pres-

tige originate more from the reputation and honor of one’s family than from any

individual attainments.”^100

We now move to the collective cultural orientation found in Latino families. This

approach“emphasizes family responsibilities and interdependence to maintain family

groups.”^101 Ingoldsby offers a synopsis of the Latino experience within the family as a

“type of social organization that places the family ahead of the individual’s interests

and development. It is part of a traditional view of the society that highlights loyalty

and cooperation within the family.”^102

REMEMBER THIS

Some cultures engage in child-rearing practices that are char-

acterized as dependence training while other cultures empha-

size independence training routines.

Cultural Variants in Family Interaction 89

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