Essay on Individualism vs. Collectivism in terms of the Japanese and American Social and Business Environment
In terms of the ever growing globalization process, the American society has more and more chances to interact with people of other nationalities learning much about their cultural backgrounds. There are no more powerful forces and constructors of modern cross-cultural communication than individualism and collectivism. The following research is aimed at investigating these powers to understand, explain and predict the features of cultural similarities and differences between the American and Japanese societies. In fact, the cultural peculiarities and principles in terms of individualism and collectivism have not changed through the time. Collectivist culture still existing in the Japanese society underlines the interrelation of any person with certain groups of people like family, colleagues or the whole nation. On the other hand, individualistic cultures emphasize the fact that people are not dependent on the groups they belong to. The perception of collectivism and individualism by the representatives of different cultures including the Japanese and American societies has not shifted in the course of time. The following research is focused on the confronting issues regarding collectivism and individualism in the Japanese and American societies. It gives a detailed analysis of the individualistic and collectivistic perceptions in the Japanese and American social and business environments.
Confrontation of Cultures
Individualism means individual initiative, responsibility and right. This notion has been acknowledged by the American society as the basic source of social progress. Individual interest is the foremost condition for an American to participate in any kind of activity and is widely recognized by the American culture. An individual in this respect is a part of the society he or she belongs to. American working places are all based on individualism, in terms of which people are paid and move forward in the career on the individual basis. Americans view groups of companies as voluntary associations that can be attended or left easily as long as it reflects the interests of an individual. This means that Americans can be united for a certain common goal, but remain autonomous acting according to their own personal interests.
However, Eastern countries and Japan in particular often consider individualism as a foremost threat to the society. Japan is a nation where a personality is not an independent unit, but the function of a group or corporation. Collectivism and group orientation both in everyday and business spheres are initially peculiar to the Eastern business culture. In this regard, the social unit is not represented by an individual as it is in the West, but it is a group of individuals that forms the social basis. A person first of all identifies oneself with a certain group and least of all perceives oneself as an independent personality. The promotion of individual interests in the Japanese business sphere is regarded as irrespective and not at all acceptable. Here is an example. The high quality of Japanese technical devices is known throughout the world, however, the names of scientists, inventors or business leaders who have ensured the technological leadership of Japan are practically not known to the world. Thus, collectivism in the Eastern culture is a foremost condition for the success in any sphere of life.
Western vs. Eastern Social and Business Values
Knowledge of the polar differences between the Western and Eastern cultures allows finding the right orientation in the situations of cross-cultural communication. In terms of stereotypes, it is much easier to define the typical features of business cultures in the West and East. From a wider perspective, there can be distinguished two poles. The peculiarities of the American and Japanese business cultures have historical, religious and cultural premises. Independence, individualism, self-esteem, precision, punctuality and mobility among others can all be evaluated as the specific distinguishing features of the Western business culture. On the other side, evasiveness, hierarchy, collectivism, rituality, dependence and respect to rank are usually perceived as the characteristics of Eastern culture. While individualism is considered by the American society as the most important condition for social and business progress, it is perceived as a threat to any social sphere by the Japanese people.
Hierarchy vs. Egalitarianism
The Japanese society is characterized by a deeply rooted hierarchy. It implies the major difference between the social and business structures in America and Japan. The Japanese society with its thousands year of Imperial history is organized strictly according to the hierarchical principles. The age and length of service in a company are traditionally more frequently rewarded than the qualification of a person. This is the basic peculiarity of hierarchical structure within the Japanese society. A young worker might not expect the promotion on the career ladder. The older employee even less qualified ones are likely to be promoted first.
A Japanese person identifies oneself with a group in a hierarchical manner. A worker of a Japanese company has to be loyal to the values and fully accept the vertical system of relations within a group. This system is expressed in subordination and benevolence towards those who occupy a higher position. The power in this regard is not based on some personal qualities of a person, but rather on the nature of the strict order peculiar to the Japanese society of the past and present. Americans are literally shocked by rudeness, abuse and disrespect from the side of the Japanese managers towards the subordinates. Loyalty of a Japanese person in relation to one’s group of company is highly valued by the Japanese society.
On the other hand, egalitarianism is a style of relations based on equality. It is peculiar to the Western culture and American culture in particular. America is known as a country of high social mobility, in which people occupy a higher social position according to one’s personal achievements. The difference in age or status can be considerable, but American corporate workers do not tend to pay much attention to the hierarchical position of their colleagues. These are the basic differences between Japanese and American societies in terms of individualism and collectivism.
Straightforwardness vs. Courtesy
The models of behavior in the East and West are drastically different. The behavior of Americans is often viewed as impudent. An American is never frustrated if he/she is not like anyone else. The right of a person to be different from others has long been acknowledged by the American culture. Here, it is considered that diversity and originality are the sources of new ideas and innovations leading to the progress and prosperity of the society. One of the aspects of the American culture is straightforwardness that may seem disrespectful and provocative to a Japanese person. Unlike Americans who tend to reject this or that uninteresting offer, the Japanese people very rarely use the word “no”. Japanese people consider it disrespectful to directly reject something. The sincerity of a person is viewed by the Japanese as a longing of a person to maintain harmonious relations without disrupting the comfort, benevolence and tranquility of the surrounding people.
In general, however, one should not perceive certain statements of an Eastern person literally as the real meaning of what has been said is in this case defined by the context. The Japanese people value courtesy and avoid being straightforward in the interrelations within a groups of people or in terms of a personal contact. All this is done so as not to spoil the relations with people. And for this reason, the Japanese society is often perceived as respectful and courteous.
Conclusion
To conclude, unlike collectivism, individualism is directly connected with independence and personal freedoms of an individual. Americans deeply value the rights of people, freedom of speech and information and independence of the mass media. The rights of a person represent the foundation of the American culture. Japan has other priorities. Rights and interests of a group, whether it is a family or group of coworkers, are much more important for the Japanese people than the rights of a single individual. The representative of the Eastern culture is in many respects committed to a range of groups; this deprives a person of the social mobility. On the other hand, Americans rigorously defend their own personal rights and personal lives feeling aversion towards any kind of outer interference into their personal affairs. The Eastern culture, however, condemns the longing of the West towards individualism. And this confrontation has deep historical and social roots.
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