ABSTRACT
As cross-cultural psychologists began to explore cultural dimensions of human behavior, individualism and collectivism were identified as useful constructs for theory and research concerning different cultural values about the self and relationships. Miller argues that Gilligan's concept of a caring orientation reflects individualistic assumptions because it is based on individual choice, in contrast to the social duty orientation that is characteristic of collectivism. The T-Shirt scenario also reveals that interpersonal interactions and relationships are ideally structured in terms of individual choices and goals in the individualistic framework. It also elucidates how material possessions can serve to facilitate relationships rather than serve as a source of conflict among individuals. Individualism and collectivism are both value systems for the structuring of independence and interdependence, and the differences between them lie in how values regarding social relationships are conceptualized, prioritized, and enacted in everyday contexts.
