The emphasis you place on individual rights and responsibilities versus the well-being of the group.
What the two poles mean
Individual
A score toward 0 means you lean strongly toward individual. On this axis, positions near this pole reflect the priorities described above.
Collective
A score toward 100 means you lean strongly toward collective. On this axis, positions near this pole reflect the priorities described above.
A common misconception
A collective-leaning score does not mean you oppose individual rights. It measures the emphasis placed on individual agency versus group well-being when the two pull in different directions.
The individual-collective axis is often confused with selfishness versus generosity. In reality, many people who score high on individualism are deeply generous and community-minded; they simply believe people flourish most when treated as free, responsible agents rather than as members of groups. Collectivists, in turn, often care intensely about individual dignity — they just believe that dignity is best secured through strong communities and shared institutions.
The axis also matters for how problems are framed: is poverty an individual challenge or a structural one? Is success a personal achievement or a communal product? Where you lean shapes which policies feel fair — not how much you care about others.
How it relates to the other axes
Individualism correlates with free markets and self-reliance, and usually sits opposite to strong welfare.
Where you stand
Find out where you stand on this axis — and the other 15 — by taking the 16 Values Test. It is free, anonymous and takes about five minutes.