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Fight or flight? Competing discourses of individualism and collectivism in runaway boys' interpersonal relationships in India

An examination of interpersonal relationships of runaway youth in varying cultural contexts provides an important glimpse into processes that help construct their personhood. Informed by Relational Dialectics Theory (RDT; Baxter, 2011), this ethnographic study explored competing discourses that animate the meaning of personhood in conflict communication of runaway boys in India. A discourse of individualism with accompanying themes of individual rights, fairness, and protection of self-worth dominated youths’ communications with peers, with secondary emphasis on interpersonal harmony. In contrast, a discourse of collectivism along with themes of respect for elders...

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Published By: Relationships - Journal of Social and Personal Relationships Issues - Thursday, 16 May