近代早期英国个人主义的成长与核心家庭的兴起

17至18世纪期间不仅是英国资本主义迅速成长的时期，而且在这种经济中，财富和成就都必须个人化，从而为资本化提供手段和动力。社会变革的步调也紧随其后，作为社会最小单位的家庭则成为这种变化最直接的指示剂。生物、社会、政治、经济、心理和性的变化，为个人主义的兴起提供了契机，为社会个体尤其是传统的弱势群体争取更好的生活条件、创造更多的个人发展空间、满足日益增长的个人情感需求提供了精神上的动力，也成为现代自我意识的肇始。因此，个人主义的兴起被视为18世纪英国资本主义经济繁荣的必要条件。此时英国上层社会中流行的情感式个人主义不仅打破了中世纪以来宗教道德对人性及家庭的束缚，也在社会中引领了一种新的风尚。

Rise of individualism and nuclear family in the early period of modern Britain

From the 17^th to 18^th century capitalism in Britain grew rapidly, and fortune and achievement must be individualized in order to stimulate the development of capitalism. Then came social changes when family as the minimum unit of society became a straight indicator of the change. Transformation in biology, society, politics, economy, psychology and sex offered a good opportunity for the rise of individualism, for the individuals, especially the traditionally disadvantaged groups, to seek a better life, create more personal space and meet the growing emotional demand. This marked the very beginning of self-awareness. Therefore, the rise of individualism can be seen as a prerequisite for the prosperity of capitalism in Britain of the 18^th century. Individualism, which prevailed in the upper classes, not only broke the religious bondage on human nature and family but also led to a new life style, which was the psychological motivation of modern nuclear family.