Final answer:
In individualistic cultures like Australia and the U.S., individualism is valued, promoting independence and personal success, whereas collectivism is more common in cultures like Japan and China, emphasizing community and group welfare. The correct option is a.
Step-by-step explanation:
Differences between Individualistic and Collectivistic Cultures
In individualistic cultures like Australia and the United States, individualism is common, where there is a strong emphasis on independence, personal achievement, and competition. These cultural values prioritize personal freedom and individual responsibility. People in these cultures tend to believe in self-reliance and personal success, often measured by their achievements and possessions. Social psychology reveals that this focus on the self can impact various aspects of behavior and motivation, as seen in how people from such cultures would explain their own success, such as winning an important sporting event, by highlighting personal effort and skill.
Conversely, in collectivistic cultures like Japan and China, collectivism is more common. Here, the emphasis is on community cohesion, relationships, and the well-being of the group over the individual. People are more likely to engage in cooperative activities and prioritize family and community needs. An example of this is how individuals from collectivistic cultures might explain their success by attributing it to the support and effort of the group or team.
Cultural influences also extend to perceptions and attentiveness to context, as found in studies like those by Masuda and Nisbett, where Japanese individuals exhibited greater sensitivity to context in visual scenes compared to their American counterparts. Such cultural differences underscore the divergent values and behaviors that are promoted and reinforced within each society.