is defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organizations within a country expect and accept that power is distri… - Geert Hofstede

Cross-cultural studies presuppose a systems approach, by which I mean that any element of the total system called ``culture’’ should be eligible for analysis, regardless of the discipline that usually deals with such elements. At the level of (national) cultures, these are phenomena on all levels: individuals, groups, organizations, or society as a whole may be relevant. There is no excuse for overlooking any vital factor because it is usually treated in someone else’s department at the university.

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.

Individualism implies a loosely knit social framework in which people are supposed to take care of themselves and of their immediate families only.