ABSTRACT
Americans hold the view that the ultimate social reality resides with the individual personally, rather than with the community, the family, or the broader society. Ideas about individualism hold that individuals are unique, have special talents and abilities, and if they work hard enough, they can be successful in life. Life has very little meaning apart from social relations. Self-estrangement is situational in character and refers to a low degree of correspondence between one's own standards for intrinsically rewarding experiences and the assessment of the course of action that is currently pursued. Social isolation is also reflected in the sense of a "loss of community", or the absence of firm connections to a set of social relationships having a high degree of permanence and durability. Civic engagement has many levels, including being well informed about the consequential current events in one's neighborhood, community, state, and nation.
