collectivism

1. the tendency to view oneself as a member of a larger (family or social) group, rather than as an isolated, independent being.

2. a social or cultural tradition, ideology, or personal outlook that emphasizes the unity of the group or community rather than each person’s individuality. Most Asian, African, and South American societies tend to put more value on collectivism than do Western societies, insofar as they stress cooperation, communalism, constructive interdependence, and conformity to cultural roles and mores. Compare individualism. —collectivist adj.

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Psychology term of the day

April 20th 2024

experimental neuropsychology

the use of empirical methods to study the physiological structures and processes of the nervous system and their relationships to cognition and behavior. For example, an experimental neuropsychologist might examine how different probes affect recognition memory performance in individuals with and without schizophrenia in order to identify which memory processes are most vulnerable to disruption in schizophrenia and to determine how people with the disorder can best remember. Experimental neuropsychology encompasses both healthy functioning and impairment in a variety of areas and relies on numerous techniques, such as laboratory research, neuropsychological tests, brain imaging, electroencephalography, and qualitative analysis.