Abstract: The most frequently used frames to explain cultural differences in psychological functioning between Americans and Asians have been individualism-collectivism and, more recently, independent-interdependent self-construals. The conceptualization and assessment of these two frames as well as the empirical evidence for and against their validity and utility in cultural comparisons are reviewed. Also discussed is how the two frames are related to each other, what are the limitations of these frames as they are currently conceptualized and assessed in capturing both similarities and differences in psychological functioning between Americans and Asians, and future directions for refinement of these frames as well as for theoretical and methodological advances in cultural research.