MAT 101 - Composite Functions & Individualism

TUI University
MAT 101 Nov 2012
Module 5 - SLP
Professor: Dr. Karonika
1. The cost of getting new life insurance depends on how old
you are, and how old you are depends on what year you were
born. Provide an example of a composite function using these

variables.
2. The amount of time it takes to get to work depends on how
much traffic there is, and the amount of traffic there is depends
on what time of day it is. If we call the amount of traffic C and
the time of day t, then C is a function of t. If we call the time it
takes to get to work W, then W is a function of C. Provide an
example of a composite function using these variables.
3. Make up your own example of a composite function. Be sure
to explain (1) what your variables are, (2) how they are
represented in the function, and (3) which elementary functions
are combined to form the composite function.
4. Submit a one to two page paper describing which savings
instrument you would prefer and why by the end of the module.
What Is Individualism? Page 1 of 4
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Individualism is an idea that has operated in numerous
countries for several hundred years or more. It is most often
tied
to the United States, when Thomas Jefferson insisted the
government function as an entity that sought to serve the rights
and freedoms of the individual instead of to interfere with them
and provoked the authoring of the Bill of Rights. Jeffersonian
views were only partly individualist, however, since the Bill of
Rights did nothing to protect slaves or Native Americans. True
individualistic doctrine would oppose such a stance today.
Essentially, when a person endorses individualism, they believe
that the person's rights are far more important than the rights of
any collective group (government or society) provided those

rights are not exercised in a way that harms others. Exactly
what the definition of "harm" is, is a highly debatable issue. A
businessman who dumps pollutants into a lake might be viewed
as exercising harmful behavior or not, depending on
interpretation. Some individualists may argue against taxes
collected to serve the common good, the necessity of public
schooling, regulatory agencies established by governments, or
any laws that inhibit rights. They would especially oppose the
idea that society was a collective unit (often called
collectivism),
and that people needed legislation to be responsible or to take
care of each other.
Interestingly, individualism is frequently associated with the
extreme right in the US, but this is not an easy marriage. While
the extreme right frequently seeks lower taxes and less
regulation, it also seeks to regulate behavior, especially on
issues of abortion, sex education and gay marriage. These are
attempts to impose moral standards on other individuals, which
is not an individualistic stance. Typically, the true individualist
may be most comfortable associating themselves with the US
Libertarian Party.
On the opposite end of the spectrum to individualism is
totalitarianism. In totalitarianism, government is never limited
and can constantly infringe on the rights of the people, to any
degree it wants. Collectivist governments are often far more
limited, though this is not always the case. They may have set
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laws, invoke people's participation in the creating or
maintenance of laws, and make determinations of basic rights.
The US would be an example of a collectivist government (with
a number of people holding individualist views). It does view
society's needs over the individual's needs in some cases, but it
additionally sets down laws that dictate basic rights and it
works
to protect those laws. In a collectivist stance, the needs of the
many override the needs of a single person, though that person
can vote with each election and still enjoys significant freedom.
Striking a balance between maintaining individual and
collective
rights is very challenging. More strident collectivism minimizes
freedoms to which individuals are entitled because the whole is
greater than the sum of its parts.
People in the US are often identified as possessing highly
individualistic traits. This doesn't mean they hold consistent
views of individualism. However, US folks may be more
opinionated and have a stronger sense and feeling of
entitlement to what their rights might be, whether at home or
abroad. Such behavior may be contrasted to the behavior and
thinking of those in societies that are more strongly collective
or
totalitarian in nature.
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Individualism
Book Suggestions:
· The Myth of Individualism: How Social Forces Shape Our
Lives
· Essays on Individualism: Modern Ideology in Anthropological
Perspective
· Reconstructing Individualism: A Pragmatic Tradition from
Emerson to Ellison (American Philosophy)
· American Individualism (Classic Reprint)
· Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in
American Life
Individualism is generally understood to be a social context or
environment in which individuals are the focal operating units
as opposed to states or social groups; the social context has to
be sustained by the beliefs of the people within it. The term
individualism has also been used to describe individual
initiative and freedom of the individual in general.

Societies and groups can differ in the extent to which they are
based upon predominantly "self-regarding" (individualistic and
arguably self-interested) rather than "other-regarding" (group-
orientated and group or society minded) behaviour. There is
also a distinction relevant in this context between guilt societies
(internal reference standard) and shame societies (e.g. Japan)
with an external reference standard and where people look to
their peers for feedback as to whether an action is acceptable.
The extent to which society or groups are individualistic can
vary from time to time and from country to country. For
example, Japanese society is more group orientated (e.g.
decisions tend to be taken by groups rather than individuals)
and it has been argued that "personalities are less developed"
(than is usual in the West). The USA is usually thought of as
being at the individualistic (it's detractors would say atomistic)
end of the spectrum, whereas European societies are more
inclined to believe in public-spiritedness, state spending, and
public initiatives.
J.K. Galbraith made a classic distinction between private
affluence and public squalor in the USA and private squalor and
public affluence in e.g. Europe and there is a correlation
between individualism and degrees of public sector intervention
and taxation. Such issues tie in with the theory of free markets
as set out e.g. by Adam Smith; they also tie in with theories of
liberty and development where it is generally argued that
excessive state intervention tends to reduce liberty and slow
development (see pluralism).
Individualism is often contrasted with totalitarianism and
collectivism, but in fact there is a spectrum of behaviours
ranging at the societal level from highly individualistic
societies (e.g. the USA) through mixed societies (a term the UK
has used in the post-WW2 period) to totalitarian.

Individualism, closely associated with some variants of the
ideals of capitalism, libertarianism and classical liberalism,
typically takes it for granted that individuals know best and that
public authority or society has the right to interfere in the
person's decision-making process only when a very compelling
need to do so arises (and maybe not even in those
circumstances). This type of argument is often observed in
relation to policy debates regarding regulation of industries.
At the time of the formation of the United States, many of its
citizens had fled from state or religious oppression in Europe
and were influenced by the egalitarian and fraternal ideals that
later found expression in the French revolution. Such ideas
influenced the framers of the U.S. Constitution (the Jeffersonian
Democratic-Republicans) who believed that the government
should seek to protect individual rights in the constitution
itself; this idea later led to the Bill of Rights.
Individualism has negative connotations in certain societies and
environments where it is associated with selfishness. For
example, individualism is highly frowned upon in Japan where
self-interested behaviour is traditionally regarded as a kind of
betrayal of those to whom one has obligations e.g. family and
firm. The absence of universal health care in the United States,
which traces back to a belief in individual (rather than societal)
responsibility, is widely criticised in Europe where universal
health care (usually funded in Europe through general taxation)
is seen as protecting individuals from the vagaries of health
problems; health care is seen in Europe as a classic case where
insurance at a societal level is right and sensible.
Capitalism and Individualism
Karl Marx argued that the structure of production (structure of
the economy) determined the structure of society, and there is

little doubt that evolving trends in society, many to do with the
evolution of industry and trade, influence society and the way
people interact. For example, the emergence of automobile and
air transportation, together with the speed of economic change,
has tended to fracture families in the West and to erode the
influence of the extended family. The opening of the Japanese
economy to international free markets has tended to erode its
ability to have consensus decision-making at a societal level.
It can be argued that capitalism is not based on individuals but
largely on firms and institutions, and that individuals' roles are
largely determined by institutions. However, compared to
socialist states, many of which have either collapsed or started
to convert to capitalism during the late 1980s and early 1990s,
capitalism is considered still individualistic. In capitalism,
individuals have choices with regard to institutional affiliation
(for which institution s/he works), whereas in many socialist
economies workplaces, as well as place of residence, spending,
and artistic and political expression, are heavily regulated or
determined by the state.
See: self purpose, tragedy of the commons,
References
· The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith
· The Open Society and Its Enemies, Karl Popper
The Importance of Individuality
· Mar 29, 2009
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All humans have a basic need to express themselves, to show
others who we are, what we believe in, and how we are
different. This is what make us individual, special and unique.
We choose to express ourselves differently based on our
personality. Some people express their creativity and
personality through creating art or music, others have special
hobbies that show off their skills and abilities. Choosing not to
make bold statements is also a way of expressing your
personality.
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Most common perhaps, is the way we present ourselves to the
world through clothing and appearance. This is why almost all
subcultures can be identified and recognised by their chosen
way of dressing or why teenagers seem to change fashion ideals
all the time in a period of their lives when personality is being
formed.
Individuality is what makes life and people interesting and
exiting!
It is also what makes people trust you. When we express our
individuality, we show people that we have nothing to hide and

that what you see is what you get.
Most people though, do not have the opportunity to express
themselves as freely as they may like to because they have
certain obligations. Generally this means work responsibilities.
After all some jobs do not lend themselves to outrageous
dressing or bold statements of individuality. Customers would
be somewhat concerned if their accountant or bank
representative decided to show up for work in flip flops and
shorts even if they were passionate surfers in their free time. In
many ways society 'pigeon holes', or attempts to, in order to
enable us to not only conform but be instantly recognisable to
others.
But conforming to certain ideals and stereotypes in order to be
taken seriously doesn't have to imply curbing all expressing of
individuality. In businesses there are many leaders whose
personalities often play a big part in the publics perception of a
company such as Donald Trump or Richard Branson.
Small things such as your businesses card can say a lot about
you. What font is your name written in? What colour paper have
you chosen? How big are the letters and where are they placed
on the card?
Classy, hand written fonts show style and sophistication. Big,
bold letters show a healthy ego and drive. Rounded and soft
letters show creativity and an easy going personality. Font is
important!
Colours are important. Simple white paper with black letters,
shows unpretentiousness and seriousness. Bright colours and
coloured text shows something else entirely. Is the letters
written in all capitals? Is the company logo big and dominant or
subtle?

There are many ways of expressing you own or your companies
individuality on your businesses card. As such, it is a good idea
to think about what you are trying to communicate to your
target audience. After all, when your clients or people you meet
look at your business card they are going to associate that with
you and your company. Therefore you need to ensure that it
makes a good impression and portrays the correct façade.
Custom businesses card printing is available many places
online. Many online business printing services offer customised
solutions that you can choose from or work from your own
design. The quality of is usually high, delivery times fast and
prices very competitive.
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Vol. 7, No. 1
This article is from TOS Vol. 7, No. 1. The full contents of the
issue are listed here.
Individualism vs. Collectivism: Our Future, Our Choice
Craig Biddle
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The fundamental political conflict in America today is, as it has
been for a century, individualism vs. collectivism. Does the
individual’s life belong to him—or does it belong to the group,
the community, society, or the state? With government
expanding ever more rapidly—seizing and spending more and
more of our money on “entitlement” programs and corporate
bailouts, and intruding on our businesses and lives in
increasingly onerous ways—the need for clarity on this issue
has never been greater. Let us begin by defining the terms at
hand.
Individualism is the idea that the individual’s life belongs to
him and that he has an inalienable right to live it as he sees fit,
to act on his own judgment, to keep and use the product of his
effort, and to pursue the values of his choosing. It’s the idea
that the individual is sovereign, an end in himself, and the
fundamental unit of moral concern. This is the ideal that the
American Founders set forth and sought to establish when they
drafted the Declaration and the Constitution and created a

country in which the individual’s rights to life, liberty,
property, and the pursuit of happiness were to be recognized
and protected.
Collectivism is the idea that the individual’s life belongs not to
him but to the group or society of which he is merely a part,
that he has no rights, and that he must sacrifice his values and
goals for the group’s “greater good.” According to collectivism,
the group or society is the basic unit of moral concern, and the
individual is of value only insofar as he serves the group. As
one advocate of this idea puts it: “Man has no rights except
those which society permits him to enjoy. From the day of his
birth until the day of his death society allows him to enjoy
certain so-called rights and deprives him of others; not . . .
because society desires especially to favor or oppress the
individual, but because its own preservation, welfare, and
happiness are the prime considerations.”1
Individualism or collectivism—which of these ideas is correct?
Which has the facts on its side?
Individualism does, and we can see this at every level of
philosophic inquiry: from metaphysics, the branch of
philosophy concerned with the fundamental nature of reality; to
epistemology, the branch concerned with the nature and means
of knowledge; to ethics, the branch concerned with the nature of
value and proper human action; to politics, the branch
concerned with a proper social system.
We’ll take them in turn.
Metaphysics, Individualism, and Collectivism
When we look out at the world and see people, we see separate,
distinct individuals. The individuals may be in groups (say, on a
soccer team or in a business venture), but the indivisible beings
we see are individual people. Each has his own body, his own
mind, his own life. Groups, insofar as they exist, are nothing

more than individuals who have come together to interact for
some purpose. This is an observable fact about the way the
world is. It is not a matter of personal opinion or social
convention, and it is not rationally debatable. It is a perceptual-
level, metaphysically given fact. Things are what they are;
human beings are individuals.
A beautiful statement of the metaphysical fact of individualism
was provided by former slave Frederick Douglass in a letter he
wrote to his ex-“master” Thomas Auld after escaping bondage
in Maryland and fleeing to New York. “I have often thought I
should like to explain to you the grounds upon which I have
justified myself in running away from you,” wrote Douglass. “I
am almost ashamed to do so now, for by this time you may have
discovered them yourself. I will, however, glance at them.” You
see, said Douglass, . . .
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_1419767732.unknown
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BUSI 340
Discussion Board Instructions
The learning theories, upon which this course is based, are
actualized in the Discussion Board Forums. At the beginning of
each module/week, you will choose a key term to research. You
will be required to write a thread of at least 400 words on the
topic, complete with page references and specifics to document

the response, and post it to the corresponding Discussion Board
Forum. Correct use of English and grammar are required.
Additionally, you will be required to post a substantive written
reply of a minimum of 200 words to at least 3 classmates’
Discussion Board threads.
To complete your thread:
1. Select a key term from assigned chapters.
2. Terms cannot be duplicated; therefore, reserve it as a topic on
the Discussion Board Forum by posting a thread with only the
term in the subject line. Topics can be reserved beginning at
12:01 a.m. (ET) on Monday of Modules/Weeks 1, 3, 5, and 7.
Topic reservations posted earlier will be deleted.
3. Conduct an Internet search to find and read 3 recent articles
that relate to the term.
4. Select the 1 article that you wish to discuss.
5. Post a new thread that contains the following information in
the following format, using the headers so that you ensure that
all aspects of the assignment are completed as required. Failure
to follow these instructions will result in a 1-point deduction.
a. Definition: Give a brief definition of the key term followed
by the APA reference for the term; this does not count in the
400-word requirement.
b. Summary: Give a brief summary of the selected article, in
your own words.
c. Discussion:
i. Give a brief discussion of how the article relates to the
selected chapter key term. This gives you the opportunity to add
value to the discussion by sharing your experiences, thoughts,
and opinions. Draw your peers into discussion of topics by

asking questions. This is the most important part of the posting!
ii. Include the complete URL of each article (use a persistent
link for articles from the Liberty University Online Library) in
APA-reference format of each article read. These do not count
toward the 400-word requirement.
6. Threads are due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of the
assigned module/week.
7. Click here for assistance with APA formatting.
To complete your replies:
1. Read the postings of your peers and the articles which are
referenced (This is why it is imperative that the articles be
accessible via working URL links). Expect to spend some time
each day reviewing all threads and replies, even those in which
you are not involved.
2. Write at least 200 words to 3 or more classmates’ threads.
You should expect to answer questions posed within each
discussion thread. Student interaction is key to success in this
course.
3. Replies are due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) Monday of every assigned
module/week, except Module/Week 8, in which assignments
must be completed by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.
Grading
Consult the accompanying document to see a rubric for how
your instructor will grade this assignment. Note that late
postings will receive zero credit. Also, any form of plagiarism,
including cutting and pasting, will result in zero points for the
entire assignment, plus a required 500-word written paper on
the topic of plagiarism in order to receive credit for this

assignment.
Tips
Articles may be found in the Wall Street Journal, Financial
Times, the Economist, or any other reputable website that deals
with business. You will be performing academic research, which
utilizes reliable sources of information from reputable
magazines or newspapers that are available in electronic format
or hard copy.
Sites that are absolutely not acceptable are:
· Wikipedia
· About.com
· Commercial sites (usually a consultant's web page, but may
take other forms)
· Blogs (be careful, some look very convincing)
· Education sites (these usually do not contain articles, but
rather lecture notes or student papers)
You can utilize the Liberty University Online Library portal for
research, but note that some articles may not offer persistent
links. If you utilize articles found in LexisNexis or other sites
that are behind security walls, you will need to make the
articles available to classmates by copying and pasting into a
Word document and attaching the document to the thread. If this
is done, be sure that you include the APA-formatted references
included at the bottom of the Discussion Board posting. This is
easily accomplished by saving all articles to a folder and then
making the folder a zip file. The zip file can then be attached to
the Discussion Board submission. Here is a link to the Liberty
University Online Library.

The availability of the articles that you research regarding the
topic is important because classmates must be able to read the
articles to form their own opinions and gain further insight into
the topic. Students need to understand not merely the key terms
but also how to research reliable sources. This is not only to
further their education, but also for their professional use.
Discussion Board Example
Groupthink
Definition: Organizational Behavior notes, “Groupthink is the
tendency of highly cohesive groups to value consensus at the
price of decision quality” (McShane & Von Glinow, 2008, p.
257).
Summary: The article entitled “The Turn to Online Research is
Narrowing the Range of Modern Scholarship, a New Study
Suggests” written by Rebecca Tuhus-Dubrow discusses how the
internet has made accessing research and other things on the
internet extremely easy. By using search engines this has caused
groupthink for many students conducting research. (Instructor
Note: This is a shorter summary. Do not feel like you have to
limit yourself to this length in the summary section.)
Discussion: The internet has made performing research for
students a matter of seconds. Students used to have to go to the
library and conduct research out of textbooks and other
publications but now by simply typing your subject in a search
engine a variety of choices are at your fingertips. “Millions of
journal articles are available online, enabling scholars to find
material they never would have encountered at their university
libraries” (Tuhus-Dubrow). A recent study by James Evans, a
sociologist at the University of Chicago, has “determined that
as more journal issues came online news papers referenced a
relatively smaller pool of articles which tended to be more
recent, at the expense of older and more obscure work” (Tuhus-
Dubrow).

The internet just like everything else has it costs as well as
benefits. Just like the article states the internet has started to
dominate people’s lives. People rely on the internet for
everything for both work and personal use. “Our daily
experience- what we watch, listen to, and read; the people we
date and the friendships we maintain—is increasingly shaped by
the vast information landscape of the internet, and how it is
filtered for personal use” (Tuhus-Dubrow).
The internet is considered to be a new form of groupthink
because when searching for articles students are not highly
selective in the choices they make and they tend to pick one of
the few search choices that comes up. Also, the other
alternatives of research are now not used due to the convenience
of the internet. “Search engines must present results in some
kind of order and most sites rely on tools that rank results
primarily in two ways: in reverse chronological order and by
popularity” (Tuhus-Dubrow). If a search engine filters results
by popularity then this is groupthink because others are
succumbing to the will of the group by choosing the same
articles that show up first as results.
Do you feel that internet search engines cause groupthink? If so,
elaborate on why you think this. Do you feel that this is why
many professors at Liberty University want students to not
choose the same discussion board topics? I personally feel that
the reason professors want us to chose different topics is so that
we will not reflect the same views and chose the same articles
which would therefore be groupthink.
References
Adler, S. (2009). At davos, beware the tide of groupthink.
Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved from:
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/feb2009/
db2009021_878209.htm
McShane, S., & Von Glinow, M.A. (2013). Organizational

behavior (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Mulrine, A. (2008). The army trains a skeptics corps to battle
groupthink. US News. Retrieved from:
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/world/2008/05/15/the-
army-trains-a-skeptics-corps-to-battle-groupthink.html
Tuhus-Dubrow, R. (2008). Group think: The turn to online
research is narrowing the range of modern scholarship, a new
study suggests. Boston.com. Retrieved from:
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2008/11/23/g
roup_think/
The below definition is from our book.
INDIVIDUALISM AND COLLECTIVISM
Of the many values studied across cultures, the five summarized
in Exhibit 2.7 are by far the most popular. This exhibit also lists
countries that have high, medium, or low emphasis on these
values. Two seemingly inseparable cross-cultural values are
individualism and collectivism. Individualism is the extent to
which we value independence and personal uniqueness. Highly
individualist people value personal freedom, self-sufficiency,
control over their own lives, and appreciation of the unique
qualities that distinguish them from others. Americans,
Chileans, Canadians, and South Africans generally exhibit high
individualism, whereas Taiwan and Venezuela are countries
with low individualism. 9°
Collectivism is the extent to which we value our duty to groups
to which we belong and to group harmony. Highly collectivist
people define themselves by their group memberships,
emphasize their personal connection to others in their in-groups,
and value the goals
LO6

individualism
A cross-cultural value describing the degree to which
people in a culture emphasize independence and personal
uniqueness. Chapter Two Individual Behavior, Personality, and
Values
• connections 2.1
55
Infosys Bridges the Cross-Cultural Divide 89 Infosys
Technologies, a technology outsourcing firm in India, was
prepared for cross-cultural differences when it acquired an
Australian company. Sean Fernando, Infosys general manager
of human resources in Australia, provides a vivid example of
one of these cultural differences: When asked to travel on
business, Infosys employees in India would pack their bags
without hesitation and be ready to go even though they lacked
details about the trip. Australian staff, on the other hand,
wanted to know about the accommodation, allowances, and
project specifics before they felt at ease. In other words,
employees
from India had noticeably lower levels of uncertainty
avoidance. Another difference was that staff in India expect the
boss

to give them instructions on what to do, whereas Australian
employees expect to be consulted. In other words, Australian
employees have much lower power distance. Fernando recalls an
incident where an Australian project manager met
with a project team from India. He described the project and
then suggested that they share ideas about how to successfully
complete the project. "They didn't know what he meant," says
Fernando. "Then one of the people just said:
'We were wondering when you are going to tell us what the plan
was. —
To minimize cross-cultural conflict, Infosys Australia holds
three-hour sessions in which employees from both countries
learn about their cultures and discuss how they can manage
employees with these different values. Infosys is training its
managers to be aware of cross-cultural differences when
working with employees from other countries. and well-being of
people within those groups. 9' Low collectivism countries
include the United States, Japan, and Germany, whereas Israelis
and Taiwanese have relatively high collectivism. Contrary to
popular belief, individualism is not the opposite of collectivism.
In fact, an analysis of most previous studies reported that the
two concepts are unrelated. 92 For example, cultures that highly
value duty to one's group do not necessarily give a low priority
to personal freedom and uniqueness. Generally, people across
all cultures define themselves by both their uniqueness and their
relationship to others. It is an inherent characteristic of
everyone's self-concept, which we discuss in the next chapter.
Some cultures clearly emphasize uniqueness or group
obligations more than the other, but both have a place in a
person's values and self-concept. Also note that people in Japan
have relatively low collectivism. This is contrary to many cross-
cultural books, which claim that Japan is one of the most

collectivist
countries on the planet! There are several explanations for the
historical misinterpretation, ranging from problems defining and
measuring collectivism to erroneous reporting of early cross-
cultural research. Whatever the reasons, studies consistently
report that people in Japan tend to have relatively low
collectivism and moderate individualism (as indicated in
Exhibit 2.7)." a connect
How much do you value individualism and collectivism? Go to
www.mcgrawhillconnect. corn to assess your individualism and
collectivism, as well as assist your learning about the topic of
cross-cultural values. collectivism
A cross-cultural value describing the degree to which people in
a culture emphasize duty to groups to which they belong and to
group harmony.
High: United States, Chile, Canada, South Africa Medium:
Japan, Denmark
Low: Taiwan, Venezuela Defines self more by one's uniqueness;
personal goals have priority; decisions have low consideration
of effect on others; relationships are viewed as more
instrumental and fluid. Individualism
VALUE REPRESENTATIVE BELIEFS/BEHAVIORS IN
"HIGH" CULTURES SAMPLE COUNTRIES
Uncertainty Avoidance High: Belgium, Greece Medium: United
States, Norway
Low: Denmark, Singapore Prefer predictable situations; value
stable employment,

s rict laws, and low conflict; dislike deviations from normal
behavior.
High: Austria, Japan Medium: United States, Brazil Low:
Sweden, Netherlands
Focus on outcomes (versus relationships); decisions based on
contribution (equity versus equality); low empathy or showing
emotions (versus strong empathy and caring). Achievement
Orientation Collectivism High: Israel, Taiwan
Medium: India, Denmark Low: United States, Germany, Japan
Defines self more by one's in-group membership; goals of
selfsacrifice and harmony have priority; behavior regulated by
in-group norms; in-group memberships are viewed as stable
with a strong differentiation with out-groups. Power Distance
High: India, Malaysia Medium: United States, Japan Low:
Denmark, Israel Reluctant to disagree with or contradict the
boss; managers are expected and preferred decision makers;
perception of dependence (versus interdependence) with the
boss. EXHIBIT 2.7 Five Cross-Cultural Values uncertainty
avoidance A cross-cultural value describing the degree to which
people in a culture tolerate
ambiguity (low uncertainty avoidance) or feel threatened by
ambiguity and uncertainty (high uncertainty avoidance).
achievement—nurturing orientation
A cross-cultural value describing the degree to which people in
a culture emphasize competitive versus cooperative relations
with other people.
56 Part Two Individual Behavior and Processes Sources:
Individualism and collectivism descriptions and results are from
the meta-analysis reported by D. Oyserman, H. M. Coon, and M.
Kemmelmeier,

"Rethinking Individualism and Collectivism: Evaluation of
Theoretical Assumptions and Meta-Analyses:' Psychological
Bulletin 128 (2002), pp. 3-72. The
other information is from G. Hofstede, Culture's Consequences,
2d ed. (Thousand Oaks, CA:
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