Individualism-Collectivism and Pyschological Needs

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to examine the relationship between the dimension of individualism versus collectivism and psychological needs. In the first study Chinese subjects in Hong Kong completed an Individualism-Collectivism Scale and the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule. Collectivism was found to be positively related to the needs for affiliation, succorance, abasement, and nurturance and negatively related to the needs for autonomy, deference, and heterosexuality. In the second study, American subjects in Illinois responded to several scales from the Personality Research Form, (PRF) and a collection of items constructed to measure collectivism. A factor labeled Self-reiliance Versus Interdependence held significant correlations with the autonomy need. It was negatively associated with needs for abasement, affiliation, nurturance, succorance, and desirability, as measured by the PRF. The similarity of correlational patterns observed among Hong Kong Chinese subjects and Illinois subjects suggested that there was some generality in the findings.