Distinguishing between fundamental dimensions of individualism–collectivism:: relations to sociopolitical attitudes and beliefs

This study examines the relations between individualism–collectivism and key sociopolitical attitudes (viz. social dominance orientation, pro-Black, anti-Black, Protestant ethic and humanitarianism–egalitarianism) among 332 undergraduate college students. In accord with [Triandis, H. C. (1995). Individualism and collectivism. Boulder, CO: Westview Press], the concept of individualism–collectivism was measured across four dimensions, reflecting the combinations of horizontal (everyone is the same) versus vertical (everyone is different) and collectivistic ( focus on the group) versus individualistic ( focus on the individual). Results of computing Pearson correlations among the present measures provided some support for the construct validity of the four individualism–collectivism dimensions. Implications of the present findings for conceptualizing individualism and collectivism are discussed.