American college students (n = 63) scored higher on a Social Context Scale of decision-making than Japanese students (n = 50). The American students also scored higher on the Collectivism Scale, but the difference was not significant. These findings were not expected and were discussed both in terms of American and Japanese societal characteristics and a new conceptualization of collectivism and individualism as not mutually exclusive so individualism may coexist within the parameters of a more pervasive collectivistic culture.
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