The primacy of the individual versus the collective self: Evidence from an event-related potential study

► We embed the present study into a social theory of self-concept. ► The present study uses ERP measures to test the relative primacy of the selves. ► N2 amplitudes are smaller for individual self-relevant than for collective self-relevant stimulus conditions. ► P3 amplitudes are larger for individual self-relevant than for collective self-relevant stimulus conditions. ► The primacy of the individual self is supported at neurophysiologic levels.