The relationship between individualism/collectivism constructs with human values has been previously suggested. However, the studies that try to empirically valiate this relationship are scarce. Thus, this study aimed to identify the human values that best describe the dimensions of these constructs (vertical individualism, horizontal individualism, prothoindividualism, expressive individualism, vertical collectivism and horizontal collectivism). Three hundred and four subjects, members of the general population, as well as high school and undergraduate students, took part in the study. Most of them were female (62.5%), with a mean age of 29 years old. They answered the Mult-Factorial Individualism and Collectivism Scale, and the Basic Values Questionnaire, a part from sociodemographic questions. The results indicated that individualism may be best characterized by personal values, while the collectivism expresses an emphasis on social values. Regarding specific dimensions of individualism and collectivism, they were differently correlated with certain basic values, allowing to identify specific types of this specific social orientation. These results were discussed based on Cross-Cultural Social Psychology literature, showing their importance for understanding the individualism and collectivism constructs.
Values; collectivism; individualism; prothoindividualism
