The Effects of the Western Individualistic Culture on the Youth

I grew up in New York City, and one thing that is very apparent about walking around the city is that no one speaks, waves, or even looks at another passerby. This was very different from my experiences in other places of the world, where there seemed to be a strong sense of community. They tend to help neighbors out, wave to strangers, and put family first. I found this observation very interesting, especially after growing up in a society that stresses individualism.

In an individualistic society, people tend to behave in a way that puts their own interests first, and as a result, people tend to focus mainly on themselves. On the other hand, in a collective society, the wellbeing of the community comes before the wellbeing of oneself. My family pushed for more collectivist values, but school, friends, and social media pushed ideas such as “every man/woman for themselves”. 

When my grandparents grew ill, every doctor they went to pushed my mother to place them into a care home. Assisted living facilities and nursing homes are not as popular in other countries as they are in America because collectivistic cultures handle aging and illness for family members differently from individualistic cultures. For the most part, collectivistic countries will move in with their parents when they need support, and have the expectation of caring for elderly relatives later in life. The sense of community and taking care of family has been instilled for years amongst these other cultures and countries.

So what exactly is this effect that the Western individualistic culture has on Americans, and specifically the youth?  Studies have shown that millennials typically have more individualistic values than other generations. They have goals oriented to their own success and do not think of others as much. Most parents in America are raising their children with the individualistic values society has encouraged. This philosophy teaches the youth that they are in charge of their own success and happiness. This can put on a lot of pressure, not only on younger children, but on adults as well. There has also been a clear decline in mental health in Generation Z,  specifically. From this, it can be inferred that some of these individualistic values may have a negative effect on the youth here in America.

There is no such thing as a “right” or “wrong” culture, but it is important to take a moment to think about how you were raised. Were you raised to live in a collective or individualistic society? Both of them have their pros and cons. Caring about your family, community and the people around you is an important step in the development of younger children. However, if you do not think about yourself enough, how will you be able to succeed and nurture personal growth? I challenge you to adopt the other viewpoint for a week and see what effect it has on your thinking. Do you feel you can focus on being the best you can be, and rely only upon yourself?  Is that alienating?  Do you feel more supported?  Do you feel good helping those you care about?  Perhaps the best answer is one where you find the balance between giving of yourself for the great good while maintaining your sense of self care.  

1 Humphrey, Ashley, and Ana-Maria Bliuc. “Western Individualism and the Psychological Wellbeing of Young People: A Systematic Review of Their Associations.” MDPI , Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 22 Dec. 2021, www.mdpi.com/2673-995X/2/1/1.