How Does Cultural Transmission Work?
Cultural transmission is the process by which knowledge, values, norms, beliefs, and behaviors are passed from one person or group to another.
Cultural transmission fundamentally works by passing concepts from one culture down from generation to generation and also cross-culturally. This process is constantly occurring as people mingle with each other and pick up on cultural cues.
According to the provided reference, cultural transmission is how the concepts from one culture are passed down from generation to generation. This valuable information can also be passed cross-culturally. This process is constantly occurring as people mingle with each other and pick up on cultural cues.
This means that culture is not static; it's a dynamic system learned and shared through interaction. It's distinct from biological inheritance, focusing instead on the social learning process.
Mechanisms of Transmission
Cultural transmission occurs through various mechanisms, primarily involving social interaction and observation:
- Vertical Transmission: Passing down cultural traits from parents to children (e.g., language, family traditions, religious beliefs). This is a key part of the "generation to generation" aspect mentioned.
- Horizontal Transmission: Learning from peers, siblings, or other individuals of the same generation (e.g., slang, trends, social norms within a peer group).
- Oblique Transmission: Learning from non-parental adults in the community, such as teachers, elders, or mentors (e.g., school curriculum, community history, specialized skills).
The reference highlights that the process "is constantly occurring as people mingle with each other and pick up on cultural cues." This emphasizes the ongoing, often informal, nature of horizontal and oblique transmission, where individuals learn through observation, imitation, and participation in social life.
How it Happens in Practice
The act of "mingling" and "picking up on cultural cues" involves several practical ways we learn and transmit culture:
- Observation and Imitation: Children and adults learn by watching others and copying their behavior.
- Instruction: Formal teaching in schools or informal guidance from elders or parents.
- Storytelling and Narrative: Passing down history, values, and lessons through stories, myths, and literature.
- Rituals and Ceremonies: Reinforcing shared beliefs and practices through collective actions.
- Media and Technology: Spreading cultural information and trends through books, television, internet, and social media.
Examples of Cultural Transmission
| Mechanism | Example | How it's Passed On |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical (Generation) | Learning family recipes | Parent teaching child in the kitchen |
| Vertical (Generation) | Adopting parental religious practices | Attending religious services with family |
| Horizontal (Cross-Cultural/Peers) | Adopting popular slang terms | Learning from friends at school |
| Horizontal (Cross-Cultural/Peers) | Sharing fashion trends | Seeing what peers are wearing; social media influence |
| Oblique (Cross-Cultural/Community) | Learning historical facts | Teacher instructing students in a classroom |
| Oblique (Cross-Cultural/Community) | Learning craft skills from elders | Community members teaching traditional techniques |
These examples illustrate how culture is a learned behavior, acquired and shared through constant interaction and learning across generations and communities.
