Summary
In the present chapter, the authors examine culture and ethnicity as influences on close relationship processes. Using Beck and Beck-Gernsheim’s (1995, 2002) construct of individualization and Mead’s (1934/1967) theory of social behaviorism as conceptual points of departure, the authors focus primarily on the cultural value of individualism as a potential predictor of relationship processes. The authors’ review of the available literature from the perspectives of interdependence theory (Kelley, 1979; Kelley & Thibaut, 1978; Thibaut & Kelley, 1959), attachment theory (Bowlby, 1969/1997, 1973/1998, 1980/1998), theory of natural selection (Darwin, 1859/1950, 1871/1981), and self-theory (W. James, 1890/2010, 1902/1982) indicates that, although the “me-value” of individualism might be expected to exert a negative impact on pro-relationship personality characteristics and behavior, surprisingly little evidence has been published that would directly support such an assumption (in fact, evidence to the contrary has been published on occasion). In general, these results regarding individualism are not moderated by individuals’ ethnicity (operationalized in terms of race religion, and country of origin). In contrast, putting aside the issue of moderation, an emerging body of evidence suggests that less-scrutinized “we-values” such as collectivism, familism, spiritualism, and romanticism show promise as positive predictors of pro-relationship personality characteristics and behavior.