While reading more about the collectivist and individualists cultures, I cam across an interesting new study from Northwestern University. The study suggests that people who live in Western culture may get depressed more than South Asian cultures because Westerners don't have the cultural support that can protect them from a genetic vulnerability.This means this is because Western culture is more individualistic and more concerned with "me" while South Asian culture is more collectivistic and focused on "we".
"Those from more collectivist cultures are more likely to value social harmony over individualism and support behaviors that increase group cohesion and interdependence", says psychologists Joan Chiao, the study's lead author. She says more collectivist cultures may give individuals who are genetically susceptible to depression an implied or expressed social support which buffers them from depressive episodes.
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