Identity construction between the individual and society: an examination of decision-making processes in the context of collectivism and individualism

Abstract

This study examines how individuals raised in collectivist family structures construct their identities and make major life decisions within the tension between individual autonomy and relational obligations. Moving beyond the conventional dichotomy of individualism and collectivism, the study conceptualizes these orientations as coexisting and dynamically negotiated processes embedded in specific socio-cultural contexts. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 22 participants aged 27-50 in T & uuml;rkiye, the study employs thematic analysis to explore how identity formation and decision-making unfold across different life stages. The findings reveal three key contributions. First, individualism and collectivism are not experienced as mutually exclusive orientations but as intertwined tendencies that are continuously managed in everyday life. Second, identity construction and decision-making processes vary across the life course, with identity exploration more prominent in earlier adulthood and choice-related constraints becoming more salient in later stages. Third, the Turkish context shapes these processes through strong familial norms, relational expectations, and socio-cultural structures, producing a distinct form of negotiated selfhood. The study contributes to the literature by offering a context-sensitive and process-oriented understanding of identity and choice, highlighting the need to move beyond static cultural categorizations toward a more relational and life-course-based perspective.