‘Cultural continuity’ hypothesis suggests we’re all wired to keep traditions alive

Each human culture consists of a unique set of values, beliefs and practices. However, a common thread across cultures is the apparent importance of preserving aspects of those cultures throughout generations.

In a new paper published in the journal Psychological Review, Cory Cobb, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Health Behavior at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, and colleagues from the University of Texas at Austin, proposed a cultural continuity hypothesis stating that humans are universally motivated to retain and preserve key parts of their cultures across time and space.

“These cultural aspects likely give people within that culture a sense of belonging and identity,” Cobb said. “This is similar to the way people create internal narratives about themselves that inform different aspects of their lives.”

The researchers reviewed literature in sociology, psychology and anthropology to support their hypothesis and explore factors influencing varying cultural preservation efforts. Extensive research has shown that virtually all cultures share a need to preserve those aspects of the culture that people see as important.

The cultural continuity hypothesis also notes that which parts of a culture are preserved and to what degree vary widely across populations and generations. Such variations are apparent in immigrant populations where younger generations often identify more closely with the host country’s culture than that of their group’s country of origin. Studies have found that children placing different importance on cultural features than their parents is a common occurrence.

Similarly, some elements of culture are more likely to be preserved over time than others. This depends on factors like the perceived value of those cultural traits and whether they are beneficial in daily life. The perceived status of those working to preserve cultural aspects also plays a role in the degree of cultural transmission.

“This evolving process means that cultural values can shift over time, and also that perceived threats against a population’s cultural heritage often lead to greater efforts to retain important cultural aspects,” Cobb said.

Although cultural retention practices vary widely, Cobb and colleagues indicate that cultural continuity itself can be seen in all cultures. Evidence for preference toward familiar faces, language and music in infants, the universal presence of customs and rituals to preserve culture, and efforts by immigrant families to retain cultural aspects in new efforts all support cultural continuity being something common to all cultures.

Efforts to preserve important cultural aspects also appears to be crucial to psychological and social well-being. Multiple studies have identified an association between successful cultural retention and positive mental health in many populations.

In contrast, wide cultural differences between older and younger generations are associated with negative mental health and behavioral outcomes in youth such as higher rates of depression, family conflict and poor academic performance.

Cobb and colleagues state that they welcome further testing and development of their cultural continuity hypothesis. In their study they identified several areas in need of further exploration. These include exploring how culture retention might satisfy psychological needs beyond those already identified, determining which cultural aspects are most worthy of retention in different populations, and digging into the many factors that influence cultural continuity’s effects.

Although all cultures are unique in their practices, this study indicates people are compelled to preserve the aspects they consider most important.

“Preserving culture across time and space appears to be a nearly universal human practice,” Cobb said. “Although cultural features and efforts to preserve them across generations vary, successful continuity seems to play a crucial role in a population’s well-being.”