Parents' goals for children: The dynamic coexistence of individualism and collectivism in cultures and individuals: Topic review

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Current scholarship on the cultural value systems of individualism and collectivism, and the associated developmental goals of autonomy and relatedness, has moved beyond grand divide theories to emphasize variation within individuals and cultures. We present a theoretical model on the dynamic coexistence of cultural value systems (at the macro level) and parents' developmental goals (at the micro level). We contend that cultural values and developmental goals that have largely been classified as polar opposites may be viewed as conflicting, additive, or functionally dependent. Parents may view the developmental goal of autonomy as interfering with the goal of relatedness (and vice versa); parents may endorse both autonomy and relatedness; and parents may consider the developmental goal of relatedness to be a path to the goal of autonomy and/or autonomy to be a path to relatedness. These forms of coexistence are themselves dynamic, changing across situations, developmental time, and in response to social, political, and economic contexts.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)183-209
Number of pages27
JournalSocial Development
Volume17
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2008

Keywords

  • Collectivism
  • Culture
  • Individualism
  • Parenting

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

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