Reinterpreting individualism and collectivism. Their religious roots and monologic versus dialogic person-other relationship.
Examining the religious roots of individualism and collectivism and seeing them as defining alternative conceptions of the person-other relationship reveal a close link between Christianity and the former and between rabbinic Judaism and the latter. Comparisons between these 2 religious formations in the Western world expose a relationship between Christian individualism and an instrumental and monologic understanding of the person-other relationship and a contrasting rabbinic view that offers a formative and dialogic understanding of that relationship. Because the Christian view has been dominant, its understandings have framed the debates on individualism-collectivism and defined the options available for the person-other relationship, providing a somewhat distorted picture of the possibilities for humankind. The dialogic and formative perspective of the rabbinic tradition introduces an alternative portrait of human nature.
Sampson
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Department of Psychology, California State University, Northridge, USA. eesampson@mindspring.com
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002835:Christianity; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007207:Individuation; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007599:Judaism; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012938:Social Perception; D012945:Social Values