Cultural Legacy Is a Double-Edged Sword—How Deep-Rooted Attitudes Shape Our Success and Failures

There’s a comfort in long-held customs—the way a family greets elders, tackles problems, or rallies around shared meals. Sometimes, these habits give us strength, driving perseverance or bonding communities during hard times. Other times, deep-rooted beliefs quietly hold us back.

Years after a catastrophic plane crash, investigators discovered the roots of the tragedy weren’t technical errors, but the invisible code of deference and indirectness inherited from a high “power distance” culture. In another example, generations of Appalachian families continued feuding and responding to perceived insults with force—a legacy born centuries earlier in the hills of Scotland.

The power of cultural legacy is that it operates almost unconsciously: shaping how we approach challenge, communicate disagreement, or even think about risk and reward. It can be a source of creative spark, resilience, or social harmony—or an invisible barrier when the environment changes. The trick isn’t to renounce your roots, but to notice when a familiar habit is out of sync with a new context.

Behavioral science and cross-cultural psychology teach us to “surface” these habits, thanking them for what they offer, but adapting them as situations change. Self-awareness creates the freedom to choose, rather than blindly repeat the past.

Start by jotting down the rules—spoken or not spoken—that you learned growing up: Are they about always respecting elders, avoiding conflict, or working twice as hard for half the reward? Next, think back to times these rules boosted your progress—and times they made things harder, like when a teacher misunderstood you or you found it difficult to ask for help. Pick one habit you want to adapt: maybe try being more assertive in a group project or more open to ambiguity at work. Just notice how it feels, and remember you don’t have to abandon your heritage to grow.