Relationships between individuals and society have often been presented from the perspective of the social institution. Social psychology has addressed the variables that affect the individual in relationships with larger groups. Social individualism is a conceptual framework that explores the relationship of the individual and society from the view of the individual's internal needs, desires, and drives to determine the role that society will fill in the interaction. The role of the individual in directing and determining the shape of social relationships is critical. Social individualism has philosophical (existentialism, phenomenology), sociological (symbolic interactionism), and psychological (Neo-Freudian, Gestalt, Humanistic, Assertive, Libertarian) roots. Central concepts to the theory of social individualism, many of which have been culled from Carl Rogers, include awareness, perception, self, self-directedness, other-directedness, self-actualization, needs, alienation, frustration, congruence, cognitive dissonance, locus of evaluation, unconditional positive regard, inner nature, ideal self, threat, growth, distortion, defense, openness to experience, and perceived locus of control. The formation of a conceptual framework such as social individualism may help existential and humanistic social scientists approach their work from a more conceptually organized perspective. (NRB)