Many people look at their government and how it affects them on a day to day basis but do not see what it does to everyone at once. The government’s total authority over a country can vary from place to place, but they all make laws and rules that constrict their citizens in some way. Sometimes those laws can either have positive or negative consequences, which is dependent on the government’s views on how to run the country. Those consequences lead the country into one of two categories – individual or collective. The government sets boundaries for individualism because of the laws they put in place for its citizens, which ties them to either side of the spectrum of individuality and conformity.
Initially, understanding the scale of individualism and collectivism is important when trying to relate it to a government and its effects on people. Looking at this in a very broad manner doesn’t always clearly define it, however. In an article written by Carrie Rothstein-Fisch, this is explained through the education system. “In the United States, a country known for its history of ‘rugged individualism’, the dominant values include independence, self-reliance, individual achievement, and cognitive development.” She goes on to add that migrant students from collectivist countries have a difficult time adjusting. In this example, opposing ends of the spectrum meet, which fuses them together and creates a middle ground. To elaborate, the primary individualistic teachings of the
Such regimes are aimed at killing off individualism and enforcing sameness on citizens. Citizens were brainwashed with propaganda while dissidents faced harsh penalties (Rand 19). Correspondingly, the unnamed Authritatian government in “Anthem” controls every part of someone's daily schedule since they have already been indoctrinated into following the governments every whim. Furthermore, "Anthem" mirrors some past realities characterized by slowed progress towards development so as to maintain the status quo.
While it may be tempting to leave society in order to pursue one’s dreams, severing the ties with those whom one knows can result in a world of chaos and instability. One such example can be found in Jeannette Walls’s, The Glass Castle. In this memoir, Walls recounts her volatile childhood that was the result of her parent’s strong beliefs in the importance of self-sufficiency. While it is not looked down upon to be dependent on oneself, when we evaluate individualism through the scope of Jeannette Wall’s dysfunctional life one can tell that more often than not individualism brings instability and results in the negligence in regard to those around them. Thus, the consequences of individualism profoundly outweigh any benefit that is reaped because
Governments need to have rules, laws and regulations so they have control over the people, but too much control can be oppressive to society. Government control should be equal to the rights of the people; having too much control conflicts with the rights of the people and their life, liberty and happiness. There are arguments to both sides of governing power and it’s effect on society, but one thing is certain, and facts show that an overpowering government can lead to adverse effects on the people. In “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, it is evident that an overpowering government can lead to a lack of freedom and place little to no value on one’s life.
Government is an administration defined by the Constitution, but is also a constantly adjusting foundation by the efforts of its citizens. By Litherland (2014), government is defined as policies set in order to lead a body of people (p. 395). Over the span of time, the idea of government has been stretched, changed, and applied to various communities throughout both the nation and the world. Whether it was back in the eighteenth century, current, or in the very near future—government has existed and will continue to exist for its people and the nation it has built its foundation upon. With the use of multiple authors, those of: “Difference between Direct and Representative Democracy” (n.d.), “Federalism - Dividing Power between States and the
As it is seen in Brave New World, the World State has controlled so much of their lives that they have lost their consciousness through conditioning. In other words, the World State has controlled their minds so much that the people are unaware that they have lost their person freedom but since conditioning has failed on Bernard, he is able to recognize the loss of individuality in the World State. The government controls because they would rather have others lose their personal identity than have them be a threat to society. Therefore, if the country progresses to being all-powerful and invading the lives of individuals, there would be conformity and a loss of individuality.
Throughout the world there are many diverse political cultures. A political culture is the attitudes, beliefs or practices among a group of likeminded individuals. (Giardino pg. 27) There are different categories that embrace a political culture like an Individualistic, traditionalistic and moralistic. An individualistic culture is one that prefers less government involvement. The traditionalists’ culture maintains government as the social and economic hierarchy and does not like change. The moralistic culture favors public good and it revolves around social issues. In shaping a political culture demographics such as population size, growth, distribution and diversity are essential to determine how a state is in any of the three categories. Society is strongly affected by decisions of who, what and when does an individual receive any types of goods or services. Government is the structure, buildings and institutions that are held within politics.
For all of history there has existed the struggle between the strong and the weak. The establishment of government gives the power to a particular group to decide the amount of freedom the majority is allowed, however, though not ideal it provides necessary order. The benefits of security that limitations on freedom provides must be balanced with the individual's pursuit of happiness for citizens to be content. To prevent the governed majority from destabilizing the rulers and seeking power, the government will oppress political and personal freedom of thought. In result, the majority will live under the illusion of contentment and not wish to revolt; those enlightened to the idea that the government should be ruled by the governed, would associate happiness only with ignorance and consequently seek freedom.
We’ve all know what it feels like: walking down the halls in middle school or high school while you feel like you’re being watched…analyzed…critiqued. It would almost seem like every person you passed would be silently judging you for what you’re wearing, how you applied your makeup, how you did in the last soccer game, or what they heard you did with Jonny. The passerby’s in the hallway would place you on the high-school-hierarchy-of-coolness scale based on superficial characteristics even before getting to know you. Adolescence is a time of learning and forming an identity but it’s also a time where you are constantly being watched and evaluated by your peers, sometimes even put down by physical or verbal means. Bullying has always been
Over the past 150 years American Individualism has been changed. People have started to feel this sense of fear against one another, and even the government. The government are the individuals that are suppose to protect our values, and make us feel safe. Privacy is no longer a guarantee, and it can be taken away at any time. Throughout the pieces Society and Solitude, What to the Slave is The Fourth of July, and The Snowden Files. Many different examples of loss of privacy and the loss of the basic components of our society have taken place. In these pieces three different individuals Emerson, Douglass, and Snowden show how the effect of society, and the influence of the government has impacted American Individualism.
Collectivism-> is basically when you think that values and the goals of the group and the common good over the goals of any one individual are the most beneficial. It stresses human interdependence and the importance of a collective, rather than the importance of separate individuals
1) An individualist is considered to be someone with personality and character, someone who is not easily intimidated by social pressure or customs, someone with a personal opinion and a singular view of the world. Because modern society finds it important that people think independently, decide autonomously and take personal initiatives, the concept of individualism has acquired a positive connotation. However, individualism is also linked with the tendency to withdraw from social life and turn in towards oneself.
Many people across the world have their own definition and beliefs of the word individualism. There is nothing selfish to be able to express ones personality and internal emotions. Being an individual alone could value a person’s overall true character. The claim presented would be opposed by many because people like to feel independent and self-reliant. Individualism in today’s society lets people express themselves, and helps create something small into something big. For a long time now individualism has existed since the founding of our country. History was created by those who showed independence and proved that an individual can do it all.
Every government the world has ever known can be categorized based on two simple categories. Individualism, or collectivism? Many might say governments can be categorized as any number of things, from monarchies, to democracies, to autocracies, and so on. However, every form of government stems from the decision of whether it will be focussed on individualism or collectivism. The ideal government, however, will promote individualism in the end. Why will this ideal governing body choose individualism? Individualism is at our very core as human beings. Individualism is the emphasis of the moral worth of each and every person individually, rather than collective ideologies. Human beings are complex creatures, and thus cannot be seen as a collective. Human beings must be seen as unique individuals, and any government failing to do so will surely fail in every other area as well. What are we without recognition of our uniqueness? We are simply cattle being bred for the government’s convenience if they fail to recognize us as individuals. As Hunter Hastings, from the Center for Indiidualism, said in reference to how we achieve order, “Law and order is the current way: command-and-control by the state, based on the laws the state manufactures through the political process. Unfortunately, under these conditions, a society tends to drift towards the worst forms of state control.”
First, Individualism vs. Collectivism. Individualism is the social function of the relative likelihood of a free and individual means only take care of themselves and their families. By contrast, collectivism is the tendency of social functions relatively tight where each individual to identify themselves as a group with loyalty not need to be asked. The main problem of this dimension is the degree of interdependence of individuals in a
This essay will discuss the influence of cultural dimensions on behavior. A cultural dimension is defined as a perspective of a culture based on its values and cultural norms. In particular, Hofstede’s cultural dimension of individualism vs. collectivism will be discussed. Individualism vs collectivism is defined as the preference of a person only being concerned about oneself and looking after oneself, compared to a person who wants to remain in a closely knitted network. These are some terms with definitions which will be used in this essay: the Asch paradigm, which refers to the studies conducted by Solomon Asch, in which he showed his participants different lines and asked them to verbally judge and respond as to what the length of the