The Problem of Hyperindividualism and its Impact on American Life

“Hyper” – from the Greek “huper,” meaning over, beyond. “Individualism” – the stance or philosophy that values the moral worth of the individual as well as independence and self-reliance.

In the US, individualism generally has a positive meaning and often (or at least should) lead to the development of each person’s fullest potential. Hyperindividualism, on the other hand, is individualism in the extreme, and by definition unethically supersedes the common good. The concept appears to be so new that a definition does not even appear in Wikipedia, and only a short definition appears in Wiktionary – “A tendency for people to act in a highly individual way, without regard to society.” In this post, I argue that a positive form of individualism and self-reliance has been overshadowed in American society by an insidious hyperindividualism and thus must be carefully considered in our current social context.

If we look again at our discussions of the common good, social capitalism, European workfare, and how millions of dollars are made off the suffering of others, we can begin to draw contrasts between what helps foster the common good – benefits for most citizens, if not all – and what enhances only an individual or a small group of individuals. We can begin to see how an excessive focus on “me, mine and ours” – often a subconscious focus buried in concepts of American exceptionalism and patriotism – has wide-ranging ramifications for us personally and as a nation.

Some everyday examples of hyperindividualism to ponder:

A person who strives to better him- or herself, with education, a career, family life, civic involvement, and so on, can be seen as exercising a healthy individualism. This striving for betterment veers into hyperindividualism when his votes consistently prioritize self-gains or self-advantage over the good of the community; when she knowingly purchases non-essential goods that have been made by oppressed peoples; when a family routinely wastes energy, water, food and other non-renewable resources without concern or care.

Cheating in college (approximately 75 percent of students surveyed admitted to cheating at least once in college) is hyperindividualistic. It may appear to the student that s/he is hurting no one and will get a grade advantage in the course, but cheating erodes trust in the overall system (the common good) and is unfair to students who do not cheat.

Many advertisements – on television, on the Internet, in newspapers – are hyperindividualistic: they promote a product or service that purports to make the individual’s life better, more fulfilling, more attractive, sexier. While advertising in and of itself is not necessarily bad or unethical, it is important that we become discerning about possibly deceptive, fraudulent or misleading “propaganda.”

o Does the product being advertised truly make people’s lives better, or does it serve primarily to enrich the head of the product’s company?

o Will purchasing that product be a beneficial use of the buyer’s money – which is a finite resource – or will it enhance the profits of an entity that may be generally irresponsible toward its employees, its community and/or the environment?

The deliberate violation of a traffic law when it’s not necessary – such as running a red light when the driver can easily stop – is another example of hyperindividualism. While many times there are no immediate negative consequences of such an infraction, it often does have repercussions – by blocking the flow of traffic for other drivers, or by placing pedestrians in jeopardy. Even more importantly, the particular traffic law has been made for a “common good” reason, so the driver operating under the influence of hyperindividualism is flaunting the concern for the common good that undergirds the law.

Similarly, texting or answering emails while driving – even when stopped at a stop light – is not only illegal in some jurisdictions, and dangerous, but a further example of hyperindividualism. The behavior not only potentially puts others in danger but also signals that the individual is only thinking of him- or herself and his or her own needs, not the needs or concerns of the wider society (or even the child in the car that might be injured if the driver causes an accident).