Living in two cultures
Living in two cultures
Everyone is born into a society and a culture. In this culture, we learn how to live together, the difference between right and wrong, and how we see our place in the world. Children learn from their parents and from society around them. Different cultures have different takes on the role of the individual. In order to make it a little easier to understand these differences, we can divide the cultures into two main groups. We call these two groups individualist and collectivist cultures.
In an individualist culture, the individual is most important. Positive values include independence, equal status and equality. In a collectivist culture, the group as a whole is most important. Positive values include obedience, respect and good relations.
Children who grow up with two cultures may sometimes have to relate to one set of rules at home and another outside the home. There may be different opinions about what is polite or correct, and there may be different expectations of the child’s behaviour.
Talk together
- Discuss the differences between individualist and collectivist cultures. Are they entirely distinct from one another?
- Is the Norwegian culture a collectivist culture, an individualist culture or something in between?
- What dilemmas will someone from a collectivist culture face in relation to an individualist culture?
- What dilemmas will someone from an individualist culture face in relation to a collectivist culture?
- Discuss bringing up children in an individualist culture and a collectivist culture.
Select the right answer
Who and what do children learn from?
Select the right answer
In order to make it a little easier to understand cultural differences, we can divide the cultures into two main groups. What do we call the two groups?
Select the right answer
What characterises collectivist cultures?
Select the right answer
What is typical of individualist cultures? You can select more than one answer.
Select right or wrong
Read the statements. What is right? What is wrong?