Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
These are societies where the interests of the group are prioritized over those of the individual. People in these societies tend to value cooperation, harmony, and interdependence.
Related terms
Social Harmony: This refers to peaceful interactions among members of a society. In collectivistic cultures, maintaining social harmony within groups is often emphasized over asserting individual opinions or desires.
Interdependence: This means relying on others for support and success. Interdependence is highly valued in collectivistic cultures because it fosters unity and cooperation within groups.
This involves changing one's behavior or beliefs to match those of other people within a group. Conformity tends to be encouraged in collectivistic cultures as it promotes cohesion and stability within groups.