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In an article, “The World at Your Door: Working with Culturally Diverse Children,” in High/Scope Extensions (November/December 2005; www.highscope.org), Polly Neill observes…

“While it is imperative that we avoid oversimplifying something as complex as human behavior, anthropologists, educators, and sociologists believe that the majority of the world’s cultures may be categorized either as individualist/independent or collectivistic/interdependent . . . . These differing views can have a profound effect on how we as educators respond to children from cultures other than our own. Examining these [differences] can help us work more effectively with both children and parents.”

The following list of characteristics from the Neill article illustrate some of the differences between the two world views:

Collectivism/Interdependence

• Promotes group consensus and success, adherence to norms, respect for authority/elders, and hierarchical roles
• Emphasizes criticism (to achieve normative behavior), social skills, and listening to authority
• Sees socialization as a part of teacher’s role

Individualism/Interdependence

• Promotes individual achievement, self-expression, personal choice, and flexibility in roles (such as upward mobility)
• Emphasizes praise (to promote self-esteem), cognitive skills, and oral expression
• Views teaching as part of the parent’s role

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