Individuals in relationships: Cultural values, children's social interactions, and the development of an American individualistic self

Journal/Book: Develop Rev. 1997; 17: 525 B St, Ste 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495. Academic Press Inc Jnl-Comp Subscriptions. 205-238.

Abstract: This paper explicates the theoretical position that independence and interdependence are inseparable dimensions of self-development in all cultures and that self-development takes place through social interactions that are shaped by cultural values about the ideal nature of human existence. Individualism and collectivism are viewed as terms for classifying two multidimensional cultural value systems about the nature of human existence that shape different routes and goals of self-development through the enactment of different modes of independence and interdependence. The paper highlights individualism in American culture, and research on parent-child interactions that illustrates how individualism shapes self-development in terms of both autonomy and relatedness in American culture is reviewed.

Note: Editorial Raeff C, Indiana Univ Penn, Dept Psychol, Indiana,PA 15705 USA

Keyword(s): PSYCHOLOGY; ORIENTATIONS; ACHIEVEMENT; TEACHERS; BEHAVIOR; CONTEXTS; FAMILY

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