摘要人类进入21世纪后，过于国之间的文化交流越来越紧密，不同文化之间开始进行交流，从而促进国家间的发展与进步。

跨文化的交际也是一种普遍现象。

中西方在文化维度上存在着很大的差异。

美国人崇尚个人主义，而中国人崇尚集体主义。

美国人的个人主义文化认为人们应该关心他们自己和独立，自我意识很重要，个人可以做任何他们想做的事，他们崇尚自由和权利。

而中国人的集体主义强调集体，集体主义重视和谐而避免直接的冲突，他们强调与他人建立友好的关系.关键词：个人主义,集体主义AbstractSince human beings entered 21th century, cultural communication in different countries is more and more closely. Different cultures begin to communicate so that it can promote development and process of countries.International communication in business has been a common phenomenon. Culture between Chinese and Western has a great different. Americans have faith with individualism, Chinese have faith with collectivism. Individualistic culture of America believes that people are supposed to take care of themselves and remain emotional independence of groups, organizations or other collectives.Self-emphasis is important. Individuals can do whatever they want, and their freedom and rights are of necessary values. However, collectivist culture of China emphasizes the in group. Collectivists value harmony and avoid direct confrontation. They emphasize building friendly relationships with others.The key words: Individualism and CollectivismThe comparison between Americanindividualism and Chinese collectivism1.1 The concepts of individualism and collectivismSince the beginning of recorded time, people with the diffident cultural backgrounds have been in communication. They met to trade, marry or make war .Generally speaking, trading and cultural exchange have been their major aims.Where there is international business, there is intercultural communications .there is a famous saying: good ideals travel easily and far along trade routes.From the late 1960s to the early 1970s, the predict has been fact that the world became the Earth village. Different cultures begin to be communicated with by different countries.Starting in the 1960s, a new field of training intercultural communication was born .its primary goal was train people from different cultures to get along better ways one another ( Hofstede,002) Actually, the discipline of intercultural communication came into existence in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s. However, more and more scholars began to get themselves involved in this new discipline in the following years as a result of the fast changes in the fabric of world of social relationships. With more and more research results having been achieved published, many people have realized that it is both important and necessary for the people in the world to learn about intercultural communication for the sake of good communication and business.Today the need to develop intercultural awareness is more urgent than ever. The amazingly rapid development of science and technology in the areas of transportation and communication systems has brought about the economic globalization in a fast way. Because of the global boom, more and more businesses now get involved in international activities, which require the ability to communicate across cultures.For those who work in international business, it is sometimes amazing how different people in other cultures behave. This is cultural Dimensions, and individualism and collectivism are included.Individualistic culture believes that people are supposed to take care of themselves and remain emotionally independent of groups, organizations, or other collectives. Self-emphasis is important, even in budding friendships. Individuals can do whatever they want, and their freedom and rights are of necessary values. They build contracts to protect their rights from others and to protect their dignity. Their high level of self-respect does not keep them from enjoying a good time and an occasional adventure, even if they might feel guilty later. They judge others by how much they need them. Individuals are major units of social perception.However, collectivist culture emphasizes the in group, such as the organization or the extended family. Collectivists value harmony and avoid direct confrontation. They emphasize building relationships with others through rituals and politeness, and task accomplishment becomes and indirect or secondary goal.In a word, individualism and collectivism are very different. Different countries have different beliefs.1.2c haracteristic of individualism and collectivismIndividualism and collectivism have a great difference with each other, so their characteristics are also different.The characteristics of individual-oriented societies can be clearly shown as the follows.1. Others’ behavior is explained by personal traits.2. One’ success is attributed to his own ability.3. Self is defined as individual entity.4. One knows more about self than others.5. Achievement is made for one’s own sake.6. Personal goals are over group goals.7. Self-assuredness is valued.8. Autonomy and independence are valued.9. Dependence on others is avoided.10. One bears casual connections to many groups.11. Task completion is important.12. One has few obligations to others.13 Confrontation is acceptable.The characteristics of collective-oriented societies can be shown as the follows.1. Groups are major units of social perception.2. Others’ behavior is explained by group norms.3. Success is attributed to the help of group.4. Self is defined in terms of group.5. One knows more about others than self.6. Achievement is for the benefit of group.7. Ingroup goal is over personal goal.8. Modesty is valued.9. Independence is valued.10. Ostracism is feared.11. One has many obligations to others.12. One has strong connections to a few groups.13. Harmony is expected.14. Relations are important.1.3 The difference of individualism and collectivism.Hofstede defines the second dimension as “individualism pertains to societies in which the ties between individuals are loose: Everyone is expected to look after himself or herself and his or her immediate family. Collectivism as its opposite pertain to societies in which people from birth onward are integrated into strong, cohesive groups, which throughout people’s lifetime continue to protect them in exchange for unquestioning loyalty .’’Individualists prefer self-sufficiency while collectivists give more recognition totheir interdependent roles and obligations to the group.In America, proponents of individualism believe that self-interest is an appropriate goal. They think the individual is the source of moral power, totally competent to assess the effects of his own actions, and is expected to be responsible for those actions. Besides, family ties tend to be relatively unimportant .However, collectivism emphasizes common interests, conformity, cooperation, and interdependence. People tend to identify or define themselves primarily as members of a group rather than as individuals. Besides, collectivist societies have a strong sense of responsibility to the group, and there is considerably less privacy.1.4 Summary●Individualism and collectivism have a great difference.●As a member of society, I think we should have faith with collectivism.Because we need other help, and need to make friends with others. Besides, we need to communicate with others.●What’s more, we should value common interests, conformity,cooperation, and interdependence.●Globalization has brought about such an environment where people ofdifferent cultural backgrounds study or work together. Intercultural management of international business, which is the result of the fast economic development in the world, comes into existence. Take Microsoft for example , it’s the common case that five of the eight in one team are of five different nationalities , from China , India , France , Japan , or Italy . The leader of such a group has to learn something of the member s’ cultures and knows how to deal with their attitudes and behaviors, which will affect their performance in work to some extent.●To know about the difference means a smooth communication betweenpeople. Understanding culture norms and rules such as the way we are expected to greet others, dress, eat, and ask and answer question is important communication with people from other culture in international businessesBibliographies[1]PAULO’HAGAN How to manage your business 吉林科学技术出版社2002[2]黄任之 Adolescents individualism and collectivism: research onexternal and implicit character[3]汪福祥、马登阁 An analytical survey of cultural 石油工业出版社1999外国语学院商务交际课程论文The comparison between American individualism and Chinese collectivism 美国个人主义与中国集体主义的对比课程名称商务交际考试方式课程论文姓名冯衣静学号090120044指导老师王芳2011年12月29日。