The socio-demographic correlates of individualism and collectivism were investigated in three Brazilian cities (Joao Pessoa, Brasilia and Sao Paulo) and in three Spanish cities (Pontevedra, Madrid and Barcelona). A sample of 471 Brazilian and 476 Spanish undergraduates, from a wide variety of socio-demographic contexts, provided data for the study. The majority was female (76%) and unmarried (91%), with an average age of 22 years (range from 16 to 55). They answered the Individualism-Collectivism Questionnaire and the Socio-Demographic Questionnaire. The results indicated that the following variables are consistently correlated to the individualism-collectivism dimension: degree of friendship, index of identification with in-groups and gender, in this order. It was also observed that some variables are more adequate in one country than another; for example, religiosity in Brazil and the number of close friends in Spain. The findings were discussed in the light of those present in the literature.
Individualism; Collectivism; Attitudes; Values; Culture
