Are Americans more individualistic and less collectivistic than members of other groups? The authors summarize plausible psychological implications of individualism-collectivism (IND-COL), meta-analyze cross-national and within-United States IND-COL differences, and review evidence for effects of IND-COL on self-concept, well-being, cognition, and relationality. European Americans were found to be both more individualistic-valuing personal independence more-and less collectivistic-feeling duty to in-groups less-than others. However, European Americans were not more individualistic than African Americans, or Latinos, and not less collectivistic than Japanese or Koreans. Among Asians, only Chinese showed large effects, being both less individualistic and more collectivistic. Moderate IND-COL effects were found on self-concept and relationality, and large effects were found on attribution and cognitive style.

Using two multilevel analyses of residents in 12 (1992 Eurobarometer; N = 3,902) and 22 (2006 European Social Survey, N = 38,867) European societies, respectively, we examined loneliness as a function of dominant cultural values. Levels of loneliness were higher in collectivistic compared with individualistic societies, but societies differed in terms of their predictors of loneliness. In collectivistic societies, the absence of interactions with family was more closely linked to loneliness than was the case in individualistic societies. Conversely, in individualistic societies, the absence of interactions with friends and having a confidant was more closely linked to loneliness than in collectivistic societies. Findings are consistent with the notion that autonomy and choice with regard to interaction partners have greater implications for well-being in individualistic societies whereas traditional social bonds are more potent in collectivistic societies.

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Using data provided by the 1993 International Social Survey Programme, the authors examine the relationship between economic factors, values, and environmental attitudes both at the societal level and the individual level. They tested the hypothesis derived from Inglehart that postmaterialist values mediate the relationship between economics and support for the environment. In a multilevel analysis, they also explored whether the relationship between individuals’ income and their attitudes toward the environment varies as a function of societal-level indicators. Results demonstrate that economic factors predicted proenvironmental attitudes at the societal level and less so at the individual level, but at neither level was the influence of economic factors mediated through postmaterialist values. Further, a society’s recent economic growth, but not current levels of economic development, predicted to what extent individuals’ proenvironmental views were linked to their personal economic resources.

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