Comparative Analysis on the Influence of Individualism and Collectivism on the Prevention of Covid-19 Pandemic

DOI

10.2991/assehr.k.211220.136How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Covid-19; individualism; collectivism; China; the United States

Abstract

Western people are faithful guardians their political ideology individualism. Individualism empowers them freedom and human rights and takes care of personal benefits among that of the group. However, it is apparent that the western world, which is the representative nations of individualism, has been suffering from Covid-19 pandemic, while collectivism countries such as China, where the first cases were officially and openly reported, controlled the pandemic in two months. According to the Chinese people’s experience in fighting SARS, quarantine, keeping social distance and wearing masks are the most effective ways to control the epidemic. The Chinese strictly abide by the regulations, while Westerners have organized large-scale demonstrations against the blockade of cities, shopping malls, restaurants, beaches, and entertainment venues and facilities. It is also questionable to some people that why western people do not have the common knowledge that masks can prevent the spread of viruses. On the other hand, individualism is still the most prevalent ideology among all the world, and it is still desirable in some aspect. Nevertheless, individualism, which is mainstream western political ideology, must mix with some ideas of collectivism on some aspects, so that it would be more effective to empower human rights and freedom.

Based on literature review and theories, this paper took China and the US as an example to compare the influence of individualism and collectivism on containing the pandemic. In addition, suggestions are proposed at the end of this paper. According to the research result, individualism has to mix with ideas of collectivism to cope with public health affairs such as pandemic.

Copyright

© 2021 The Authors. Published by Atlantis Press SARL.

Open Access

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Jiadong Deng
PY  - 2021
DA  - 2021/12/24
TI  - Comparative Analysis on the Influence of Individualism and Collectivism on the Prevention of Covid-19 Pandemic
BT  - Proceedings of the 2021 4th International Conference on Humanities Education and Social Sciences (ICHESS 2021)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 793
EP  - 797
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.211220.136
DO  - 10.2991/assehr.k.211220.136
ID  - Deng2021
ER  -