Session Summary

Session Number:233
Session ID:S1319
Session Title:New Developments regarding Vertical and Horizontal Individualism-Collectivism: Applications to the Workplace - A Panel Discussion
Short Title:OB-HR Theme: Ind./Collectivism
Session Type:Division Joint Symposium
Hotel:Swiss
Floor:LL3
Room:Gball I
Time:Monday, August 09, 1999 4:10 PM - 5:30 PM

Sponsors

HR  (Lynn Shore)mgtlms@langate.gsu.edu (404) 651-3038 
OB  (Robert Liden)bobliden@uic.edu (312) 996-4481 

General People

Chair Van Dyne, Linn  Michigan State U. vandyne@pilot.msu.edu 517-432-3512 
Chair Ang, Soon  Nanyang Technological U. asang@ntu.edu.sg 011-65-790-4717 
Discussant Erez, Miriam  Technion, Israel Institute of Technology merez@ie.technion.ac.il 972-4-294461 

Submissions

Vertical and Horizontal Individualism and Collectivism 
Presenter Triandis, Harry C.  U. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign htriandi@s.psych.uiuc.edu 217-333-1894 
Differentiating and Integrating Individualism and Collectivism 
Presenter Chen, Chao C. Rutgers U. chaochen@andromeda.rutgers.edu 973-353-5425 
Ontological Individualism-Collectivism: A Suggested Direction for Future Research 
Presenter Wagner III, John A. Michigan State U. wagner@pilot.msu.edu 517-355-1878 
Integrating Sociological and Psychological Perspectives on Individualism- Collectivism 
Presenter Earley, P. Christopher Indiana U. pearley@indiana.edu (812) 855-7335 

Abstract

The expansion of global business has increased emphasis that researchers and practitioners place on culture and cultural differences. In response to this, scholars have developed several new conceptualizations of the cultural syndrome of individualism and collectivism. Although these approaches are exciting and have the potential to enrich our understanding of culture and the consequences of culture, the ideas are new and still in the developmental stage. In addition, although the new conceptualizations are similar in some ways, they also differ. This symposium is a panel discussion among five scholars actively involved in developing theory and conducting research on individualism-collectivism. In the session, panelists will share their most recent ideas on individualism and collectivism, and they will relate their work to Triandis' recent work which emphasizes vertical and horizontal aspects of both constructs. Traditionally researchers have used independent versus interdependent self-construals as the key underlying dimension that differentiates individualism from collectivism. Triandis now proposes that both individualism and collectivism can be further refined into horizontal (emphasizing equality) or vertical (emphasizing hierarchy) subtypes and that the distinction is viable and important. Horizontal cultures assume that the self is similar to others. In contrast, vertical cultures assume that the self is different from others. The session has three objectives: to present current ideas of key researchers known for their expertise regarding individualism-collectivism, to initiate discussion among panel members and the audience, and to stimulate ideas for future research and practical application of individualism-collectivism.