Let us take the case of how we look at progress in school in Sweden as an example of this. The whole gets focused more on than the individual’s progress and level in today’s school system. Instead of dividing up an age group into A, B and C classes for math, English and Swedish for example, the general procedure is to have all students study together regardless of the difference in levels. It is seen as more important to value team work and social competence instead of tangible achievements and memorizing.
In another area of Swedish life you will find a similar occurrence, that is to say, in the workforce. At work there are what is called ‘collective labour unions agreements’ so that the whole workforce in general has decent working conditions. It is seen as negative to try to exclusively advance yourself because it may be a threat to the collective. If everyone is average then noone is of lesser standard.
