Individualism rests on independence, uniqueness, and achievement as its core value triad.

Evidence

While collectivistic cultural frames focus attention on groups, individualistic cultural frames focus attention on the individual. Three core belief systems constitute the value basis of individualism: valuation of personal independence and freedom of choice, personal uniqueness, and personal achievement (Hsu, 1983; Markus & Kitayama, 1991; Triandis, 1995). Given these core values, individualism promotes the importance of knowing one’s beliefs and values and behaving in accordance with these no matter what the context. — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide, 1035

Categorization

• DEFINE: Gives the operational definition of individualism’s three core belief systems needed to contrast with collectivist frames.
• XREF: connects to: Modern individualism shifted from freedom-as-such to the value of being this specific irreplaceable self — Georg Simmel, The Sociology of Georg Simmel, 2844; In narrow circles individuality requires leadership or complete inner independence — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 621

Broader Connections

• Modern individualism shifted from freedom-as-such to the value of being this specific irreplaceable self #expands (0.85) — Georg Simmel, The Sociology of Georg Simmel, 2844
• In narrow circles individuality requires leadership or complete inner independence #qualifies (0.75) — Georg Simmel, on individuality and social forms_…, 621