Document Type

Project

Publication Date

Spring 1996

Keywords

Individualism

Abstract

American society places an increasing value and emphasis on individualism. Irene Thomson, in her 1989 study "The Transformation of the Social Bond: Images of Individualism in the 1920's Versus the l 970's," looks at the importance of individualism and its changing nature. In the l 920's, individuals were rebelling against societal expectations such as duty and responsibility. The strict moral codes were beginning to weaken, but society as a whole still had a strong influence over its members. Selves were "embedded in society" and completely defined by it. By the l 970's, the situation had changed. The biggest threat individualism posed was a self-absorption unhindered by institutionalized constraints. Society called individuals to create their own self identity, not allowed to accomplish this by role playing (Thomson, 1989). The attitudes originating in the l 970's have increased in their intensity since that time.

Department

Sociology

Subjects - Topical (LCSH)

Individualism--United States; Self--United States; Self-reliance--United States

Geographic Coverage

United States

Genre/Form

student projects; term papers

Type

Text

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.

Rights Statement

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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Included in

Sociology Commons

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