LT, I think that balance is what the trendy buzzword "interdependence" is meant to describe. Or even what is considered secure attachment.

Also definitely agree that the US culture is particularly individualistic - in fact I realized after quite a few years of staying here that it is a large part of why it ended up being the country where I decided to immigrate, after wandering around many places in my youth. The overblown individualism very much plays into my natural tendencies. Of course the whole thing has many both good and not-so-good elements.