Does American Individualism Obstruct Progression in Times of Crisis?

Individualism is defined as the political and social philosophy that emphasizes the moral worth of the individual over that of society. Publications like The Brown Political Review and  Psychology Today indicate that Americans have no shortage of it.

But is this individualistic mentality hindering America’s growth, particularly during times of adversity? According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the answer is straightforward, yes! Many American’s choose not to wear a mask because it infringes on their individual freedoms and are unwilling to change their behavior for the benefit of others.

The United States has surpassed 300,000 deaths and 17 million infected persons. In contrast, the first reported cases of COVID-19 occurred in Wuhan, Hubei province, in late December 2019. By Feb. 2020 China had reported a daily peak of 6,905 cases. One month later, China was reporting daily cases of less than 100. How exactly did this happen? Well, first China sealed its borders to the outside world. Then, authorities went door to door, “sealing off apartments and warning residents to stay inside.” A culture of widespread mask wearing also contributed to their reduced infection rates, according to The NewYorker. 

As a collective, China was able to reduce the rate of new infections and focus on the recovery of it’s already infected citizens. But is this approach an aberration? There are several real-world examples that indicate that cultures that emphasize the collective over individualism, may outperform countries that do not. The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and the ensuing tsunami may confirm this narrative.  

According to the Scientific American, in 2011 Japan experienced a 9.0 magnitude earthquake which triggered a large tsunami. As a result of the Tsunami, the Fukushima nuclear powerplant suffered a meltdown. Several essential pumps stopped working; this prevented the cooling of the nuclear reactor. This accident was a “Level 7” nuclear event, the worst ever in the world. In the ensuing weeks, employees of the power plant volunteered to restore the plant. The high levels of radioactivity at the plant meant that workers willingly endangered themselves to help their immediate community. Some of these volunteers became sick and even died in the aftermath. 

Is it possible to see this level of self-sacrifice in the U.S.? According to The Atlantic magazine the simple answer is no… not right now. But that could all change. The pandemic provides a unique opportunity for Americans to speed up this shift.

When the pandemic began, the U.S. experienced what is arguably a huge breakthrough. Tens of thousands of people from all walks of life volunteered to participate in the COVID-19 vaccine trial. According to Jack McGettiagn, a MD overseeing Moderna’s trial, he considers trial participants “medical heroes because they are willing to take a risk.”

A plethora of volunteers were interviewed, and they all expressed feelings of “moral duty” and optimism. 

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has given us examples of how some Americans are being more morally conscious, is this a pattern that the rest of Americans are willing to embrace? Let’s wait and see!

Article by Kennedy Nieves of Winston Churchill High School

Graphic by Naomi Fox of Walter Johnson High School