Individualism is a normative and descriptive doctrine that places the moral worth, autonomy, and agency of the individual at the center of social and political life. At its core lies the belief that individuals are the primary units of value and analysis, and that social institutions derive legitimacy from their capacity to protect and promote individual freedom. This emphasis on personal dignity and self-direction has shaped modern democratic thought and liberal political theory. A salient feature of individualism is the primacy of personal autonomy. Individuals are regarded as capable of making choices about their own lives, guided by reason, preferences, and aspirations. Political arrangements are therefore expected to respect freedom of thought, expression, and lifestyle. Thinkers such as John Locke grounded this autonomy in natural rights, arguing that life, liberty, and