Collective/Social Identity

As a result of globalization and increasing influence of mass media and communication, individuals around the world have the ability to come into contact with diverse others. Increased intergroup contact has led to a greater focus on how people construe their identity as individuals seek to define and know themselves. Two perspectives are commonly used to illustrate how individuals construe their identities: individualist and collectivist views.

On one hand, individuals tend to think of themselves as independent of relationships. They ...