Conformity, Cooperation and Group Relationship

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Interpersonal Relations

Conformity, cooperation and group relations:

Individuals across cultures may display conformity, cooperation and group relationship depending on whether they are individualists or if they display collectivism. There is a great cultural difference about cooperation. For example, the collective culture do not distinguish boundaries between other people and self because they encourage a sense of self. There is emphasis of cooperation, a good relationship among the members and conformity. The identification of individuals is through the type of group that one is in or is affiliated to in the culture of collectivism. People show a sense of self depending on how the members are united and if they have a good relationship (Matsumoto, 1996).

The collectivists are less cooperative compared to the individualists. The collectivists do not have individual goals and they therefore come up with the values, goals and behaviors as a group. On the other hand, the individualistic cultures come up with a sense of self that is different from others, is autonomous and independent. This culture encourages uniqueness among their members and therefore they encourage members to come up with their own behavior, values, self expression and goals (Matsumoto, 1996).

The collectivistic values may prevent innovation and creativity even though these values encourage cooperation and harmony. Whenever the collectivists are given instructions that are explicit, they may be more creative than the individualists because they respond and follow their norms strictly. The values of the individualist culture encourage opportunism and also encourage conflict whereas that of the communists promotes productivity and cooperation. ...