Culture is a distinctive feature of the human experience. It consists of ideas, practices, and institutions that are transmitted socially and are derived from historical traditions. Culture shapes our development, our interactions with others, and how we experience and perceive the world. Culture is studied by comparing practices and ideals of people within different nations. The most significant difference that exists between cultures is that of individualism versus collectivism. These features tend to correspond with Western and Eastern nations, respectively. Individualistic cultures emphasize the individual and paint being unique as something desirable. By contrast, collectivist cultures tend to promote uniformity and emphasize following social norms. This distinction correlates with other cultural differences.
Individualistic Cultures
Independent model of self: individuals are independent and their actions are guided by personal preferences and needs
High Fundamental Attribution Error: attribute behavior to people's dispositions, rather than situations
More outwardly expressive emotionally, good or bad
Judgments of emotion based on mouth (smile versus frown)
Collectivist Cultures
Interdependent model of self: individuals are defined in the context of social network, actions are guided by social norms, personal needs are subordinate to the harmony of the group
Low Fundamental Attribution Error: attribute behavior to situational factors rather than disposition
Less outwardly emotive
Judgments of emotion based on eyes
Battle Royale (2000) and The Hunger Games (2012) have very similar, grim premises. Both films revolve around a "game" in which minors are forced to kill each other, with the sole survivor coming out as victor. Beyond this similarity, they differ vastly. Battle Royale emerged from Japan, a nation with a collectivist culture, while The Hunger Games emerged from the United States, a nation with an individualistic culture. In addition to vastly different levels of gore and violence, the biggest difference between this films stems from these differences in culture. While Battle Royale introduces all of the characters as a group and focuses on the conflict of having to kill your friends, The Hunger Games introduces Katniss as an individual and depicts the other players in the game as enemies to overcome. (Note: Battle Royale trailer contains some graphic violence)