literature as a vehicle for cultural transmission

Passing cultural patterns from one generation to another

Cultural transmission refers to the process by which knowledge, beliefs, practices, and values are passed from one generation to another within a society. It involves the transfer of information through social learning, imitation, and communication, shaping the cultural norms and traditions of a community over time.

Cultural transmission is not possible in the absence of language.

By language in this sense, I mean complex communication between two or more people. Clearly, there is still cultural transmission among those who cannot participate in spoken language.

According to the cultural transmission theory, deviance is learned through interactions with others, particularly within social groups and through communication. This theory suggests that individuals acquire deviant behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs from their environment, such as family, peers, and media influences. Cultural transmission theory emphasizes the role of socialization and the transmission of norms and values in shaping deviant behavior.