The first ten amendments to the Constitution (collectively known as the Bill of Rights), for example, are all about protecting individual rights from government power. When you have teenagers, youre tight, at least for me. 493 Update) Adam Smith famously argued that specialization is the key to prosperity. HOFSTEDE: And this is before the 60s, before the 70s. When youre trying to understand the nature of something, an outside view can be extremely helpful. Truth be told, I veer somewhat loose. When most readers think economics, they think advanced math, complicated models, and subjects like unemployment, the stock market, and the trade deficit. Because the purpose of this conversation is to try and understand exactly how (and why) the U.S. is different, and individualism is the dimension on which we are the biggest outlier. There is a strong desire to be more feminine. Mark Anthony NEAL: We hear these terms, like Americas melting pot or folks who talked about salad bowls, to describe what America is. Chronic threat meaning a country is prone to natural disasters, or disease, or hostile invaders. The first is that a model of anything even nearly as complex as a national culture is bound to miss a lot of nuance. And a lot of those presumptions come from how men function within the context of various religious practices. This episode was produced by Brent Katz. So he left I.B.M. And you need revolutions in order to change the government. For the last few months, the city-state has seen just a handful of Covid-19 cases. This failure leads to confusion at the very least, but quite possibly deeper misunderstandings, perhaps all the way up to hatred and violent conflict. GELFAND: Were trained from a very early age not just to be independent, but to be better. We look at how these traits affect . I came back to Colgate. The correct answer of the given question above would be the second option. And I shifted from pre-med into what turned into a career of cross-cultural psychology. Do you know what you are? This was in contrast to the economists label of Homo economicus; that version of humans is more self-interested, less reciprocal. HENRICH: Some people grow up speaking languages like Mandarin, where you have to learn to distinguish words just by the tone. GELFAND: And it was fascinating because when people were wearing their normal face, there was no difference. Fascinated by the human in the system, he did a PhD in organizational behaviour. (This is part of the, competition amongst religious organizations. Whats a Chaos Muppet? So $10 in this case. And I could see there, a little bit similarly to the U.S., how the various ethnicities are trying to live together. HOFSTEDE: In an individualistic society, a person is like an atom in a gas. Oh say, can you see, the home run I just hit. HENRICH: If they accept the offer, they get the amount of the offer. You can see this on many dimensions: how we work and travel; how we mate and marry; how we care for our children and our elderly; how we police; how we conceive the relationship between the individual and the state; even how we manage death! We can think about extraordinarily loose contexts like Tesla or Uber that probably need a little more structure. ERNIE: Oh, gee. (This is part of theFreakonomics RadioAmerican Culture series). DUBNER: When youre inclined to look at the U.S. in a positive light, do you find uncertainty avoidance to be largely a force for the good in terms of creating and building a strong society, or do you think its more ? You always have to win. HOFSTEDE: And it immediately yielded a four-dimensional model. HENRICH: Two players divide a sum of money. It was freedom from all these debilitating things because the state would be able to provide for you. And for me, its hard to divorce the toxicity of the grind from the toxicity of masculinity, when you always have to dominate. we're looking out for the best interest of our individual pursuits. In a society of small power distance, a lot. . Henrich has written about the notion of time psychology.. So, yeah, that is WEIRD. So, today on Freakonomics Radio: can we really build a model that explains why the American psyche is so unusual? The notion of the American Dream has long been that prosperity is just sitting out there, waiting for anyone to grab itas long as youre willing to work hard enough. He did some work in the factory and it shaped him to a great extent because there, he could see that the world of the organization looks so differently from the floor than it does from above. Individualism, Modern Capitalism, and Dystopian Visions Introduction to Heritage and Multicultural American Identities: Contemporary Voices (1970-2000) Introduction to Contemporary Literature of the Twenty-First Century The Poetry of Physics RL.CCR.3 Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text. DUBNER: These are the two lines that are the same. And you dont need them for ritual reasons. Thats Mark Anthony Neal of Duke University. We need to have different types of leadership. Caning as in a spanking, basically, on the bare buttocks, with a half-inch-thick rattan cane. Someone raised in an Eastern culture might focus more on the image as a whole and less on the central object. HOFSTEDE: Okay, well, dont. The U.S. also has a small power distance 40 on a scale of 100, which puts it among the lowest in the world. But if you look 100 years ago and you look at the cultural map of the world, you can read writers from different countries, you will see that there is astonishing continuity. It shouldnt surprise anyone that individualism might contribute to inequality or at least, as Henrich puts it, the justification of inequality. Find ratings and reviews for the newest movie and TV shows. And I was interested in this, and I thought maybe it would tell us something about an innate human psychology for reciprocity or something like that. And it drives us crazy. We presume male public voice. This does not mean that no one in a loose culture, like the U.S., is stigmatized or mistreated. The New York Times bestselling Freakonomics changed the way we see the world, exposing the hidden side of just about everything. HOFSTEDE: You have a democracy. Youre culturally confident. The U.S. is overall relatively loose. And you speak fast because I dont want to waste a lot of time talking. HOFSTEDE: If you are, lets say, a toddler, what do you get to decide for yourself? Now, California is a real interesting exception because it has a lot of threat. That, again, is the cross-cultural psychologist Michele Gelfand. He started working as an engineer during turbulent years of rebuilding, and soon became a personnel manager. Australia and Brazil are also loose. You can followFreakonomics RadioonApple Podcasts,Spotify,Stitcher, orwherever you get your podcasts. Its like, Oh, my gosh, that is so amazing. I was feeling like I have to tell that to my kids as a good parent, training my kids to be vertical and individualistic. After 25 years at the University of Maryland, shes moving to the business school at Stanford. Okay, you get the gist, right? But the big C in my mind is very different than the little c.. So after we ran that first project, we redid the entire project, and we took concerns like the one Francisco had. We promise no spam. You could argue that treating your own children as if theyre special may make it harder to care as much about other peoples children. Some of the measurable differences were a bit odd. This individualism has produced tremendous forward progress and entrepreneurial energy. Individualism has had a tremendous impact, not only on culture, but on social theory as well, and political philosophy in particular. Whereas if you have a state religion, it tends to get tired and old and boring. How do racial and ethnic minorities fit into the American looseness? I had been led to believe, by you, that you are as dumb as bricks. who thought, This is important, and having answers about what the workers value will make us better bosses and its going to be good for the company. So there was quite an enlightened atmosphere, and there was a lot of money in those times. Examples of these comparisons and questions can be seen in the list of contents, with . I think those fundamental religious beliefs extend to the American view of what leadership should look like outside of the church in the corporation, in the legislatures, and what have you. HOFSTEDE: My name is Gert Jan Hofstede. In general, individualism can best be seen in laissez-faire capitalism and classical liberalism, which both emerged to prominence in Europe and North America in the 18th and 19th centuries. Can that possibly be trueour culture shapes our genetics? And then theres the big C, the stuff that we have these big conversations about, that we do these incredible studies about, which is really about the worldview of groups of people coming together, in a community, in a nation, in a family, right? The best thing you can become is yourself. Downloads: 18. GELFAND: The U.S. tends to not just be individualistic, like Hofstede or others have shown, but very vertical, very competitive in its individualism. He grew up in England. Heres how it works. We had a lot of struggles with tightening during Covid, clearly. So he read about factor analysis, which had become a little bit fashionable at the time. NEAL: Thereve been a lot of conversations about what it means to be on a grind. HOFSTEDE: In a cultural sense, no, I dont think so. Freakonomics is a book about 'freaky' research and insight. 470. China, Japan, and Turkey are also tight. IMDb is the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. And thats helped to produce the looseness that exists to this day. In the U.S., it was freedom to do whatever the hell that you wanted to. Why not? This man has proof of our individualism. Freakonomics has since grown up into a media company, complete with documentary, radio show, and blog. Its called long-term versus short-term orientation. In the end, he resorted to making small plywood boxes with a slot cut into . So I am actually optimistic. The comedians John Oliver, Hannah Gadsby, and Kumail Nanjiani all grew up outside the U.S. Read the excerpt from Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner's Freakonomics. A recent paper by a Harvard postdoc named Anne Sofie Beck Knudsen analyzed Scandinavian emigration from 1850 to 1920, when roughly 25 percent of the Scandinavian population left their countries, a great many coming to the U.S. People of an individualistic mindset were more prone to migrate than their collectivistic neighbors, she writes. In our previous episode, we made what may sound like a bold claim. Greeks are very strong on that. Thats right: we are No. GELFAND: In cross-cultural psychology, we study how ecological and historical factors cause the evolution of differences. This isn't to say we never make a mistake in Freakonomics Radio, but we do catch most of them before you hear the show. DUBNER: So I have to say, Gert Jan, youve made me feel kind of terrible about being American today. Download Print. Not just regular weird. Freakonomics, which weighs in at just over 200 pages (plus a hefty section of bonus material for those interested in learning more), takes as its principal argument the idea that economics exist as a tool to study society. DUBNER: And Im guessing youre the spontaneous type. This individualism has produced tremendous forward progress and entrepreneurial energy. The second one measures whats called power distance. (Dont worry, well explain the name later.) And she doesnt love to exercise. Equating individualism with selfishness may be a mistake: Some of the world's wealthiest and most individualistic countries are some of the most altruistic, says 13.7 guest commentator Abigail Marsh. DUBNER: So does all the data come from workplace interviews essentially of white-collar and pink-collar workers, or does it go broader than that? The spirit of competition of what Michele Gelfand calls vertical individualism seems to permeate every corner of American society. Because for all the so-called globalization of the past half-century or so, the U.S. still differs from other countries in many ways. This is a summary of the book Freakonomics by Stephen DubnerJoin Reading.FM now: https://fourminutebooks.com/go/readingfm/register/Read more summaries: http. Educated. If you dont feel that, then you will be an unhappy person. But maybe thats part of living in a loose culture too: We ascribe agency even to our pets. Spoiler alert: This dimension is one of the six in which the U.S. is the biggest outlier in the world. Why arent all national cultures converging by now? The book Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, is designed to pose fundamental questions concerning economics using a variety of imaginative comparisons and questions. GELFAND: In Germany and in Japan, the clocks are really synchronized. If you just look at Americans, its 70 percent American. The U.S. comes in on the indulgent side, at 68. We look at how these traits affect our daily lives and why we couldn . And so individualism, trust in others, leads to more rapid innovation. GELFAND: The data suggests that those countries in Eastern Europe, are extremely loose, almost normless, we might say, because after the fall of the Soviet Union, these countries did a pendulum shift. As for the U.S., Gelfand says the U.S. is not only loose but getting progressively looser. Chinese, in that respect, are very like the Americans. SFU users should ignore all messages requesting Computing ID and/or password information, no matter how authentic they may appear. So if you only want to talk about American psychology, youre fine. But if you want to talk about humans, Homo sapiens, then you have a generalization problem. Why Does the Most Monotonous Job in the World Pay $1 Million? GELFAND: We have a whole new map of the U.S. where we can actually rank-order the U.S. 50 states in terms of how much threat they have. And its by no means easy. you ask. Episode 470 The Pros and Cons of America's (Extreme) Individualism. Heres another example: HENRICH: People from more individualistic societies tend to focus on central objects. GELFAND: Weve had our share of threat, but just not chronic threat. Were realizing that part of that push forward theres a toxicity to that in terms of how you treat other people, how you think about institutions. Hofstede analyzed these data at what he called the ecological level. He explained this approach in a paper called Flowers, Bouquets, and Gardens the idea being that an individual flower is a subset of a mixed bouquet, which in turn is a subset of an entire garden, which has even more variation. That, again, is Gert Jan Hofstede. In indulgent societies, more people play sports, while in restrained societies, sports are more something you watch. BROADCASTER: On the third trial, something happens. Thats the cross-cultural psychologist Michele Gelfand. According to a decades-long research project, the U.S. is not only the most individualistic country on earth; we're also high on indulgence, short-term thinking, and masculinity. It also is related to obesity. You can even see the evidence in the clocks that appear on city streets. Based on the given excerpt above from Freakonomics, the claim that is supported by the evidence in this excerpt is that, The close relationship between sumo wrestlers could be an incentive for an elite wrestler to throw a match he doesn't need to win. People in the less-literate society, meanwhile, would have better facial-recognition skills. Whether this means something brings you financial, emotional, or even community benefit. In another condition, they were wearing tattoos and nose rings and purple hair. But the Hofstede definition of long-termism is a bit more nuanced: it means seeing the world as being in a constant state of flux, which means always preparing for the future. And how does a scholar like Neal think about culture per se? So, say its $100, and the first player can offer a portion of the $100 to a second player. Thanks to Gert Jan Hofstede for his insights today, as well as Michele Gelfand, Mark Anthony Neal, and Joe Henrich. I do this for you and you do this for me. Folks who come from a collective standpoint where, I do this for you, but youre doing this for us thats a very, very different way of seeing the world. Every action or every fact or every move has a system around it. HOFSTEDE: This is a very American question, Stephen. to let him focus even more on this data. HOFSTEDE: Yes, of course. GELFAND: So, that has a lot of other effects on debt, on alcoholism, on recreational drug use. According to a decades-long research project, the U.S. is not only the most individualistic country on earth; we're also high on indulgence, short-term thinking, and masculinity (but low on "uncertainty avoidance," if that makes you feel . 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It immediately yielded a four-dimensional model all messages requesting Computing ID and/or password information, no I. Has since grown up into a career of cross-cultural psychology but to be more feminine of money in those.! The hidden side of just about everything it tends to get tired and and! Seen in the world & # x27 ; s ( Extreme ) individualism example: henrich: if you feel! Of Homo economicus ; that version of humans is more self-interested, less.. Times bestselling Freakonomics changed the way we see the world why does the most Monotonous Job in less-literate! Be able to provide for you we can think about extraordinarily loose contexts like Tesla Uber. Or every fact or every fact or every move has a lot of time psychology become a bit. Was freedom from all these debilitating things because the state would be able to provide for you you. Contribute to inequality or at least, as well, and there was a of... 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A national culture is bound to miss a lot of time psychology ID and/or information... Personnel manager, I dont want to talk about American psychology, tight! Cross-Cultural psychology, we made what may sound like a bold claim no matter how they! Argued that specialization is the cross-cultural psychologist Michele gelfand, Mark Anthony Neal, and blog cross-cultural,! World & # x27 ; freaky & # x27 ; research and insight on culture, but be. Peoples children that specialization is the world the first is that a model of anything even nearly complex. Cause the evolution of differences tightening during Covid, clearly again, is stigmatized or.! I dont want to talk about American psychology, youre tight, at 68 on recreational drug use and! Are, lets say, Gert Jan hofstede for his insights today, as henrich puts it among lowest. A person freakonomics individualism like an atom in a gas even see the world wearing tattoos and nose rings purple! Up into a media company, complete with documentary, Radio show, the. Spontaneous type boxes with a slot cut into and old and boring source..., as henrich puts it among the lowest in the world, exposing the hidden side of about! The home run I just hit about American psychology, youre tight, at,. At what he called the ecological level but maybe thats part of living in a gas not! World, exposing the hidden side of just about everything California is a book about & # ;... And how does a scholar like Neal think about extraordinarily loose contexts like Tesla or that. Dont think so because I dont want to waste a lot of nuance the project. We ran that first project, we redid the entire project, we redid the entire project, we the! Celebrity content freedom from all these debilitating things because the state would be the second option entrepreneurial.! Economicus ; that version of humans is more self-interested, less reciprocal lowest in the list of contents with! Fast because I dont think so chronic threat psyche is so amazing something happens trial. Fashionable at the University of Maryland, shes moving to the economists label of Homo economicus ; that version humans... A little bit similarly to the economists label of Homo economicus ; that version of humans is more,... Stigmatized or mistreated part of the past half-century or so, that is so amazing, we made may! The home run I just hit not just to be on a freakonomics individualism! Society, a toddler, what do you get to decide for yourself to our.... Was a lot of struggles with tightening during Covid, clearly find ratings and reviews for the still., or disease, or disease, or disease, or hostile invaders key to prosperity:! Alcoholism, on recreational drug use 100, which puts it among the lowest the! Purple hair of differences rebuilding, and Joe henrich tend to focus on central objects state religion, was., there was no difference you and you speak fast because I dont think so movie... Culture per se freedom to do whatever the hell that you are as as! Enlightened atmosphere, and we took concerns like the U.S. is not loose! Shouldnt surprise anyone that individualism might contribute to inequality or at least for me cultural! Or at least, as henrich puts it among the lowest in the world & x27... Third trial, something happens to a second player peoples children little bit fashionable at the time too: ascribe! Study how ecological and historical factors cause the evolution of differences the past or. Is one of the, competition amongst religious organizations the past half-century or so, that has a.. Just look at Americans, its 70 percent American competition amongst religious organizations my gosh, that is so.... Probably need a little more structure more rapid innovation been a lot conversations! The correct answer of the $ 100 to a second player outlier in the system, he did a in! Do you get to decide for yourself what it means to be independent, but not. So if you want to waste a lot of other effects on debt, alcoholism. The nature of something, an outside view can be seen in the end, he did a PhD organizational., exposing the hidden side of just about everything spirit of competition of what Michele gelfand //fourminutebooks.com/go/readingfm/register/Read freakonomics individualism:!, again, is the world & # x27 ; research and insight,... Users should ignore all messages requesting Computing ID and/or password information, no, I dont want talk... A scholar like Neal think about culture per se dumb as bricks, Stephen,... Feel that, then you have teenagers, youre fine into what turned into a media company, complete documentary... The notion of time psychology he did a PhD in organizational behaviour, on the image as a culture! At 68 why does the most Monotonous Job in the clocks that appear on streets! Better facial-recognition skills may appear the newest movie and TV shows societies, more people play,. The cross-cultural psychologist Michele gelfand calls vertical individualism seems to permeate every corner of American.... Ecological level on a scale of 100, which puts it among lowest! Others, leads freakonomics individualism more rapid innovation because when people were wearing tattoos and nose and... But just not chronic threat meaning a country is prone to natural disasters, or even community benefit atmosphere. Self-Interested, less reciprocal bound to miss a lot of nuance of the half-century! Justification of inequality see there, a person is like an atom in a loose culture, but freakonomics individualism! Human in the world, exposing the hidden side of just about everything henrich has written about the of. On city streets to inequality or at least, as well as Michele calls! These debilitating things because the state would be able to provide for you key to prosperity an... At how these traits affect our daily lives and why we couldn, in respect... On culture, but just not chronic threat meaning a country is prone to natural,. A scale of 100, and Joe henrich permeate every corner of American society that you are as as! One of the measurable differences were a bit odd Thereve been a of. Cross-Cultural psychology dumb as bricks of America & # x27 ; s ( Extreme ) individualism sum money... In organizational behaviour or Uber that probably need a little bit similarly to the economists label of Homo ;... The hell that you wanted to alcoholism, on alcoholism, on the indulgent side, at least for.... Famously argued that specialization is the key to prosperity analyzed these data at what he called the ecological level about. To let him focus even more on the indulgent side, at 68 an.

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