Preserving Cultural Legacies: A Common Human Motivation Spanning Ages
Every human culture harbors a distinct collection of values, beliefs, and traditions. Yet, a common theme found across cultures is an apparent emphasis on preserving essential aspects of these cultures for future generations.
In a recently published paper in the journal Psychological Review, Cory Cobb, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Health Behavior at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, and researchers from the University of Texas at Austin, have put forward the cultural continuity hypothesis. This hypothesis proposes that humans possess an inherent motivation to conserve and maintain crucial aspects of their cultures over time and space.
"These cultural aspects offer individuals within that culture a sense of belonging and identity," Cobb explained. "This resembles the way people create narratives about themselves that shape various aspects of their lives."
The researchers delved into literature from sociology, psychology, and anthropology to back their hypothesis and delve deeper into the factors shaping varying cultural preservation efforts. Extensive research has demonstrated that nearly all cultures share an intense desire to conserve elements of their culture that they deem significant.
The cultural continuity hypothesis also acknowledges that the parts of a culture that are preserved and the extent to which they are preserved differ significantly across communities and generations.
Examples of these variations are evident in immigrant communities where younger generations often resonate more strongly with the host country's culture than their ancestral culture. Studies have shown that children may attach different importance to cultural aspects than their parents.
Similarly, certain cultural elements are more likely to be sustained over time than others. Factors such as the perceived value of these cultural traits and their applicability in daily life influence this. Additionally, the perceived standing of those advocating for cultural preservation plays a crucial role in the degree of cultural transmission.
"This ever-evolving process implies that cultural values may shift over time, and that perceived threats against a population's cultural heritage may propel greater efforts to preserve important cultural aspects," Cobb added.
Despite the varying methods used for cultural preservation, Cobb and colleagues argue that cultural continuity itself is present in all cultures. Studies involving infants, the universal presence of customs and rituals to preserve culture, and the efforts undertaken by immigrant families to maintain cultural aspects in their new environments all support the notion of cultural continuity being common to all cultures.
Initiatives aimed at preserving important cultural aspects appear to be essential for psychological and social well-being. Numerous studies have documented an association between successful cultural retention and better mental health outcomes in many populations.
Contrarily, wide cultural divides between older and younger generations are associated with negative mental health and behavioral issues in youth, such as higher rates of depression, family conflicts, and poor academic performance.
Cobb and colleagues propose that they welcome further examination and development of their cultural continuity hypothesis. In their study, they identified several areas in need of additional exploration, including:
- Investigating how cultural retention might serve psychological needs beyond those already identified.
- Determining which cultural aspects are most resort-worthy in various populations.
- Delving into the numerous factors that influence the effects of cultural continuity.
Despite the unique practices of each culture, this study suggests that humans have a compelling drive to preserve the aspects they deem most valuable.
"Preserving culture across time and space seems to be a nearly universal human impulse," Cobb concluded.
"Although methods for cultural preservation and the aspects preserved may vary, successful continuity appears to play a key role in a population's overall well-being."
About this Culture and Psychology Research News
Author: Lesley Henton\Source: Texas A&M\Contact: Lesley Henton - Texas A&M\Image:** The image is credited to our website
Original Research: Closed access.
Abstract
A compelling drive to preserve our cultures: Understanding cultural continuity and its impacts on mental health
In this study, we propose the cultural continuity hypothesis, suggesting that the retention of heritage cultures entails an essential psychological motivation and serves as an important factor behind numerous societal behaviors, fostering positive psychosocial functioning.
Cultural continuity is characterized by the intentional conservations of salient features of one's heritage culture over time. This drive for continuity serves multiple functions and provides a strong adaptive advantage.
By integrating diverse bodies of literature across various disciplines, we provide compelling evidence supporting the presence of a consistent and universal value in the goals that address the need for cultural continuity and their psychological and social benefits.
We also elucidate the mechanisms by which these needs may be satisfied, underscoring the importance of cultural preservation for mental health and overall well-being.
Lastly, we provide explicit criteria to rigorously test the cultural continuity hypothesis, laying the foundation for future research into heritage culture retention.
In summary, this research elucidates the powerful psychological drive for cultural continuity and its potential influence on human behavior and mental health across cultures.
- The cultural continuity hypothesis, proposed by Cory Cobb and colleagues, suggests that humans possess an inherent motivation to conserve and maintain crucial aspects of their cultures over time and space, which provides them with a sense of belonging and identity.
- Studies have shown that practically all cultures share an intense desire to conserve elements of their culture that they deem significant, with variations seen in immigrant communities and across generations.
- Initiatives aimed at preserving important cultural aspects appear to be essential for psychological and social well-being, as numerous studies have documented a positive association between successful cultural retention and better mental health outcomes in various populations.
- Further examination and development of the cultural continuity hypothesis are necessary, particularly in investigating how cultural retention might serve psychological needs beyond those already identified, determining which cultural aspects are most resort-worthy in various populations, and delving into the numerous factors that influence the effects of cultural continuity.
