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A culture is a shared set of beliefs, traditions and practices that are common to a large group of people. Cultures can either be:
- Individualistic: where emphasis is on independence and autonomy
- Collectivist: where emphasis is on group membership and shared cooperation
Obedience
It is thought that those people who come from individualistic cultures (most prevalent in Western society) are less likely to obey, as they have been raised to value independence and individuality. As collectivist cultures work together, it is more likely that they will respect authority and therefore be more likely to obey.
This, however, is just a theory and as we saw from Milgram’s work, obedience could stem from personality or situational factors.
Conformity
Again, those people who are from individualistic cultures are less likely to conform because it is thought that there is less need to fit in, as group membership is not as valued as it is in collectivist cultures, where people will more likely go along with the majority.
Deindividuation
It is maintained that deindividuation can occur regardless of culture and that this is more likely dependent on the norms that come from groups within cultures. Deindividuation can be seen in members of the Ku Klux Klan who wear long robes and cover their faces so as not to be identified when carrying out their practices, which are widely and universally condemned.
Bystander effect
Unlike deindividuation, bystander effect can be affected by culture. Collectivist cultures are bound by group membership and so are much more likely to intervene when someone needs help. People from individualistic cultures are less likely to intervene as their culture does not place emphasis on cooperation in the achievement of collective goals, such as unity, and so will more easily think of themselves first, rather than others.
Activity – Social and cultural issues in society
Explain what is meant by the following terms:
Social issue
Culture
Bystander effect
Deindividuation
