Cameroonian Forms of Collectivism and Individualism

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate collectivism and individualism in Cameroon. Cameroonians were hypothesized to be more collectivist than individualist and the women to be more collectivist than the men. Specific regional characteristics were also assumed. Four-hundred and fifteen students (university and senior high school) in three different areas filled in questionnaires including the Singelis, Triandis, Bhawuk, and Gelfand (1995)and the Triandis, Chen, and Chan (1998)scales. Later, a groupof university students discussed the preliminary results with the researchers. Cameroonians were shown to be more collectivist than individualist. The women were more individualist than the men. This unexpected finding could be interpreted in terms of the everyday struggles of women. Those in the northern area were more collectivist than those in the central area, and those in the western area fell between the two. The convergence of the results confirm the suitability of the conceptual distinction.