Individualism is usefully understood by contrast with its opposite: collectivism. A minimal definition is that in an individualist society the goals of the individual take precedence over the goals of the group, whereas in a collectivist society the goals of the society take precedence over the goals of the individual.11 But it is very important to note that societies are not simply individualistic or collectivist; rather, they are located on a spectrum, making them more or less individualistic,
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