Individualism-collectivism in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. Individualismo-colectivismo en el estado de Guanajuato, México.

Abstract

Capacity of new knowledge acquisition and its transmission for the next generations through symbols is the base of the culture. Understanding culture as values, beliefs and attitudes that share a group and are transmitted generation to generation, is one of the main determinants of the human behavior. Culture can be analyzed by Individualism-Collectivism syndrome proposed by Triandis and its horizontal vertical bifurcation. That construct help us to study the importance that the culture and individuals gives to personal goals over group goals and vice versa. Based on social importance and impact of the construct, the objective of the present research was to know the grade of Individualism-Collectivism and the effects of population density, gender and formal education in itself. 144 males and 202 females from three different cities of Guanajuato State (Mexico) participate in this study. Results show upper grade of individualism and horizontal components of the construct. We found differences between cities, gender and higher education. Results were discussed by density of population of each city and its impact in the personal relationships; by gender roles and the impact of the formal education has in distance towards the traditional culture, taking to the immersed individuals in this socio-cultural group to guide their self, more by means of norms and individual values, than by those that favor the group.