Collectivism

For the descriptive terminology as used in anthropology and psychology, see Collectivist and Individualist cultures. For the magazine, see Collectivism (magazine).

Related Topics:
Collectivist and Individualist cultures - Collectivism (magazine)

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Collectivism, in general, is a term used to describe a theoretical or practical emphasis on the group, as opposed to (and seen by many of its opponents to be at the expense of) the individual. Some psychologists define collectivism as a syndrome of attitudes and behaviors based on the belief that the basic unit of survival lies within a group, not the individual.

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This article discusses collectivism as a common theme that spans a broad category of non-individualistic philosophies, many of which significantly differ from each other in other ways.

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Some types of collectivism state that the good of the group is more important than the good of the individual, while others argue that, since any group is ultimately made up of individuals, the individual incidentally serves his own interests by serving the group's interests (in other words, as the group prospers, all members of the group prosper). Detractors from this latter position argue that it is difficult, if not impossible, to imagine that what is beneficial for a group is always beneficial for every individual that comprises it. Collectivism may also be associated with altruism since what is good for the group may conceivably require the sacrifice of at least one individual's self-interest.

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Collectivism is considered diametrically opposed to individualism. However, both collectivism and individualism may be interpreted differently by different people. In some cases, the same people may characterize themselves as both individualists and collectivists, depending on the situation.

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