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You are chatting with a stranger in a coffee shop. Every time you ask him something about himself, he talks about associations to which he belongs and clubs he has joined. He rarely talks about his own attributes. Which of the following best describes him?

a) He is an introvert.
b) He is highly individualistic.
c) He has a collectivist orientation.
d) He lacks self-awareness.

User Vigrond
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Final answer:

The man in the coffee shop demonstrates a collectivist orientation, as he prioritizes his group affiliations over his individual qualities when discussing himself, which is characteristic of collectivist cultures.

Step-by-step explanation:

The man described in the scenario seems to exhibit behaviors that align with a collectivist orientation. This is evident from his tendency to discuss the groups to which he belongs rather than focusing on his personal attributes or boasting about his individual achievements.

In collectivist cultures, the focus is on social harmony, respectfulness, and the prioritization of group needs over those of the individual. This contrasts starkly with individualistic cultures, which emphasize independence, competition, and personal success. As the man avoids speaking about his own attributes and instead chooses to talk about his associations and clubs, he appears to place more importance on his group identities than his individual qualities.

Avoiding discussion about oneself and instead highlighting group affiliations is a characteristic behavior of individuals from collectivist societies. It depicts the value they place on relationships and interconnectedness rather than individualism or self-centeredness.

User WayneSan
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