Cultural mindsets shape what grounded procedures mean: Cleansing can separate or connect and separating can feel good or not so good

Authors: Daphna Oyserman

Published: 2021-02-18

DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x20000503

Abstract

AbstractAre grounded procedures such as cleansing value-neutral main effects? Culture-as-situated-cognition theory suggests otherwise. Societies differ in how frequently they trigger membership and individualizing cultural mindsets and their linked mental-procedures – connecting and separating, respectively. Commonly triggered mindsets (and their linked mental-procedures) feel fluent. Fluency feels good. Cleansing can separate from but also connect to others in the form of membership-based rituals.