Collectivism is a value that is characterized by an emphasis on cohesiveness among individuals and

prioritization of the group over the self. The term "in-group" is thought to be more diffusely defined for
collectivist individuals to include societal units ranging from the family to a religious or ethnic group.
One critical model of collectivism describes the collectivistic as fundamentally connected to the social
context. As such, one's sense of self depends on and is defined in part by those around them and is
primarily manifested in public behavior.

Sometimes this is confusing to international students from a collectivistic society who come to a
university in the United States. The collectivistic expectation is that if another student with whom you
have a personal relationship needs your help, then you provide that help. A collectivistic student has a
mandatory social obligation to help the other student succeed.

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.”