%A XU Jiang; REN Xiaopeng; SU Hong %T The influencing factors of individualism/collectivism: A perspective of ecology %0 Journal Article %D 2016 %J Advances in Psychological Science %R 10.3724/SP.J.1042.2016.01309 %P 1309-1318 %V 24 %N 8 %U {https://journal.psych.ac.cn/xlkxjz/CN/abstract/article_3537.shtml} %8 2016-08-15 %X

Cultural construct of individualism/collectivism is particularly relevant cultural dimension. The value orientations of individualism and collectivism are poles apart. Individualism focuses on the self-distinctiveness, while collectivism focuses on the interpersonal relationships. So far many new theories have been proposed in order to explain the factors that influenced individualism/collectivism. There are four representative theories among those: modernization theory, pathogen prevalence theory, rice theory and climate - economic theory. The latter three theories are relatively new theories put forward in recent years, and they discuss the causes of individualism/collectivism from the perspective of distal factor. They provide a new way of thinking for researchers investigating the origins of individualism/collectivism. Future research should integrate different approaches to measure individualism/collectivism and/ or explore the influence factors of individualism/collectivism from the gene’s perspective.