Independent vs. Interdependent

I read a research article called Inidividuality or Conformity? The Effect of Independent and Interdependent Self-Concepts on Public Judgments by Carlos Torelli. In this article Torelli discusses the two perceptions that people have of their relationship to others (2006). The two concepts he mentions are the "independent self-concept" and the "interdependent self-concept" (Torelli 2006). He goes on to explain that an independent self-concept "includes mental representations of one’s own traits, attitudes, and preferences and is associated with the motivation to withstand undue social pressure and to be independent” (2006). Contrasting that is interdependent self-concept, which Torelli writes, “includes mental representations of social norms, group memberships, and others’ opinions and is linked to the motivation to adjust to the demands of others and to maintain harmony” (2006). One focuses on one’s individual thoughts and opinions, while the other focuses more on what other people think. A lot of times in our lives we do not want to stir up the dust too much, so often we will “tailor” our messages to correspond with the assumptions we make about the opinions of others (Torelli 2006). Sometimes we are too afraid to actually speak up about what we think and know. The Asch conformity experiment is a good example of this. Torelli goes on to write that, “when people expect to explain their judgments to others, they must often choose whether to tailor their messages to perceived attitudes of their audience. When people are motivated to seek approval from their audiences, they often try to conform to the judgments they anticipate others will make” (2006). This is the interdependent self concept. Continuing on, he writes,” In contrast, when people lack this motivation, or when they are motivated to disassociate themselves from others, they often base their judgments on their own previously formed beliefs or attitudes rather than on those of their audience” (Torelli 2006). Torelli is not saying that someone possesses one self-concept or the other rather he is saying that these self-concepts are situational. If we know that we will have to share with others our judgments on something, we will often time take on more of the interdependent self-concept in order to just blend in. When we know we will not have to openly share what our opinions or judgments are, it makes us less shy about what we think. The individual, however, takes on more of the independent self-concept and does not worry about what others think, but just thinks for himself.

I think this research article was a really interesting study to conduct because it helps reveal to us how we conform and why we conform in certain situations. It helps us understand ourselves better. How often are we in similar situations as the subject in the Asch conformity experiment and just conform to what other people are saying or doing in order not to stand out? I am thankful for the leaders of social movements who were not afraid to answer correctly and who did not let the opinions and judgments of others to slow them down. They thought critically and for themselves, not allowing other people to think for them, which produced a lot of character and gave hope for many others.


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Torelli, Carlos. Individuality or Conformity? The Effect of Independent and Interdependent Self-Concepts on Public Judgments. Journal of Consumer Psychology (2006)16(3), 240-248.