Romania took hold of my heart in 2015 and since then has consumed my mind and soul. As with any genuine commitment, my relationship with this beautiful, complex country has grown and deepened over time as I have learned of its many tragedies, as well as its many triumphs. I have surrendered myself to Romania. [...] As I continue my Romanian journey, I marvel over the resiliency and fortitude of the people. I am fortunate to have developed close relationships, familial in many ways, with many Romanians. And I am eternally grateful to have been granted a Fulbright and honored to become part of this amazing community.
Psychology and Historical Origins of Individualism
Fulbright U.S. Student Researcher Rebecca Patachi gave a guest lecture at Ovidius University in Constanța on May 26, 2026, organized in collaboration with the American Corner Constanța. The presentation explored how American individualism developed over time and how it compares cross-culturally to more collectivist societies.
The lecture began with an interactive QR code activity in which participants answered selected questions from the Communal Orientation Scale, an established psychological measure used to examine collectivist and individualistic tendencies. This was followed by a discussion of psychological frameworks and historical influences that contributed to the development of American individualism, including Puritan religious beliefs emphasizing direct relationships with God, as well as Enlightenment ideals surrounding liberty and personal autonomy.
The second half of the presentation focused on comparing individualism and collectivism across different world regions. Participants correctly guessed that many Asian and African societies would fall more toward the collectivist end of the spectrum, but many were surprised by the high individualism scores found in Nordic countries. This led to an engaging discussion about how strong social support systems can still coexist with highly individualistic cultural values. Romania’s position near the middle of the spectrum in a recent 2026 cultural values study was also discussed and did not come as a surprise to the audience, which Rebecca Patachi found particularly interesting.
The lecture concluded with a group activity in which participants explored how cooperation and competition function differently within collectivist versus individualistic social structures. Students remained highly engaged throughout the session, and many reflected on whether they preferred the collectivist or individualist simulation, and why.