The term collectivism has often been used comparatively
in relation to individualism as a means to understand
and contrast cultures and subcultures. These
contrasts, set in relation to individualistic ways of
knowing and being, have been examined along with
such variables as (1) idiocentrism where the interest is
centered on oneself, and (2) allocentrism where one
views oneself in relation to the group, with one’s group
and/or community at the center (Triandis, Bontempo,
Villareal, Asai, & Lucca, 1988). Collectivism is a term
often referred to in cultural psychology in relation to
people who are closely linked together, with these people
regarding themselves as parts of a greater whole
(Triandis, 1995). People with collective orientations are
intent on prioritized group goals and values over their
personal needs and desires.
Within sport psychology, the term ‘collectivism’ has
been used in relation to athletes from Latin American and
various indigenous populations (Kontos, 2009).
Understanding athletes’ and participants’ values in terms
of oneself and one’s cultural groups is meant to infuse
into sport psychology approaches, such as in the case of
goal-setting, where achievement becomes group level accomplishment. Within research, collective cultures are
often understood in relation to their communities of origin,
even drawing upon methodological approaches that
are group minded, such as community-based research
(Schinke, McGannon, & Smith, 2013). Within practical
approaches, collectively minded people might be motivated
through valued community support, and, in fact,
home communities might be the reason for engagement
and persistence, or alternately, self-deselection from sport
participation.
