Since I'm all about posting my homework lately....

We are doing practice GRE Analytical Writing essays in my PSY 497 class. We have 45 minutes to review the statement, and write and review our reply. Here is one of the essays I've worked on tonight.

I really lucked out. You choose one of two statements, and this one happened to be something we regularly discuss in my Senior Seminar class.

Enjoy!

(Don't be too harsh! Remember, only 45 minutes!!!!)

"People today are too individualistic. Instead of pursuing self-centered, separate goals, people need to understand that satisfaction comes from working for the greater good of the family, the community, or society as a whole."

The statement provided argues that people are too individualistic versus collectivistic. It is going to be my argument that individualism depends on the culture you associate yourself to. 

America stands out from other countries in its’ values of freedom. Being a mostly individualistic culture is part of what makes America so beautiful. Having independent upbringings is a custom of most families in America. Children are taught to be self-sufficient and to live out their own dreams at any cost. In non-Western cultures such as China and India, children are raised with a more interdependent model that says children should be as best as they can be so that they can support their families, communities, and affiliations. 

Neither of these models are better or more effective than the other, it is just a part of culture. It is important as Americans that we understand and value all types of culture - no matter what our positions. Understanding culture can be beneficial in our workplace. For instance, a teacher explaining to a collectivistic mother would have trouble explaining that her daughter could be very successful in life if she practiced her reading. The teacher would have better luck encouraging the mother to let the daughter read to her siblings at night before bed to improve her reading, because this would be beneficial to more than just the daughter. 

There are some advantages and disadvantages to both models. For instance, in a collectivistic culture, it is difficult for people to advance. Since bettering the group as a whole is priority, people are less likely to advance for fear of taking away from someone else. For instance, a non-Westerner living in a collectivistic society may not apply for a promotion for fear of taking the opportunity away from someone who was more deserving. With little conflict, there is little need for disagreement, and with little disagreement there is less discussion of ideas and less development and improvements. 

As for the individualistic cultures, while people are constantly advancing and improving ideas, competition is so strong that many people are unable to advance themselves. Also, families are not as close are as strongly bonded. 

Perhaps the best solution is to be a part of and implement practices from both models. America is one of the top nations of the world for a reason. If we could incorporate collectivistic culture into our individualistic culture, perhaps we would already have a cure for cancer or a solution for our diminishing ozone layer. America is the land of the free, but we could all benefit by learning from our collectivistic brothers and sisters. Understanding cultures could be the key to unbounded success.