The American Island of Individualism

Individualism is a cornerstone of contemporary American culture. At an early age we are encouraged to be strong independent citizens. By definition American society is an egocentric culture, as compared to Japan's sociocentric culture. Simply stated, the emphasis and attention is put on the individual self. To many, this may be the most taken for granted cultural theme within American society. Looking at this fundamental aspect of our society one has to ask - how is this ideology serving us, both individually and collectively?

Can you see the isolation that is a direct consequence of individualism?

Taken to its extremes, does this egocentric perspective go against the laws of nature that rule a group of social beings?

Is this individualistic phenomenon a form of defiance against the responsibility to the commons?

These are some tough questions, especially to those of us that pride ourselves in being the individual self. However tough they may be, I believe that we as a society must ask these types of questions. One does not need to look any further than capitalism to see why individualism is so fundamental to this society's structure of hierarchy. Speaking critically of capitalism in this manner, in this culture, often gets one labeled as a socialist or even worse, a communist; I am none of these. I do not construct my identity through an economic perspective. I do however believe that as long as individuals need any external social, political, or economical system to tell them how they should treat their fellow humans, we are avoiding the truth and destined to continue to struggle.

Social scientists that study aging and the elderly in different cultures, often come to the same basic conclusion that within egocentric cultures the elderly are seen as liabilities and within sociocentric cultures they are seen as assets. Apply this observation to your own life and experience. How do you see yourself as an aged person? Do you see yourself as an elder, one that has a lot to offer to the younger generations, or do you see yourself as elderly, one who is dependent on others and cannot function as a strong individual?

Please remember that my intentions here are to get us all asking very tough questions. Questions that threaten what we call reality.

It has been said that it is the quality of questions that one is willing to ask that defines one's life. It has also been said that a society should be valued by how it values its weakest members. How would you summarize the collective value of this social experiment, known as the American cultural phenomenon?