Perceived Collective Continuity Predicts Enhanced Willingness to Inherit Traditional Culture: The Mediating Role of Awe in Culture

Yang Lei; Yu Zhaoliang; Chen Weiyang; Zhong Nian

doi:10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20260116

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Journal of Psychological Science ›› 2026, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (1) : 168-179. DOI: 10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20260116

Social，Personality & Organizational Psychology

Perceived Collective Continuity Predicts Enhanced Willingness to Inherit Traditional Culture: The Mediating Role of Awe in Culture

Yang Lei¹, Yu Zhaoliang², Chen Weiyang³, Zhong Nian¹

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Abstract

Cultural inheritance is recognized as an essential element of traditional cultures, encompassing the intergenerational transmission of core values, norms, and traditions. It contributes to the formation of national consciousness and creative adaptation of cultural elements, which are both crucial for societal progress and the ongoing development of civilization. With the increasing globalization and modernization of today, there is an urgent need to look into the factors contributing to sustainable cultural inheritance to prevent the loss of valuable cultural elements and foster greater cultural adaptations and preservations among future generations. Hence, the present study focuses on the psychological antecedents of one's willingness to engage in cultural inheritance. We explored whether perceived collective continuity would lead to willingness to inherit traditional culture, and how it influences cultural inheritance intentions through the potential mediating role of awe in one's culture.
The current study consists of five sub-studies, with a total of 1,324 Chinese participants. Study 1a (N = 317) employed a cross-sectional survey method to examine the correlational relationship between perceived collective continuity and the willingness to inherit traditional culture among university students. Employing a similar cross-sectional design, Study 1b(N = 475)further tested the correlational relationship between parents' perceived collective continuity and their willingness to transfer traditions directed towards their children. Aiming to demonstrate the causal relationship between the aforementioned variables, Study 2(N = 185)employed a single-factor, two-level experimental design to examine whether induced perceived collective continuity leads to intentions for cultural inheritance. Using cross-sectional survey and experimental methods, Studies 3(N = 185)and 4(N = 162)tested the mediating role of awe in culture in the relationship between perceived collective continuity and the willingness to inherit traditional culture.
The results across these studies consistently indicated that perceived collective continuity positively predicts the willingness to inherit traditional culture. Moreover, the effect of perceived collective continuity on willingness to inherit traditional culture was found to be mediated by awe in culture. Specifically, Study 1a revealed a positive correlation between perceived collective continuity and the general willingness to inherit traditional culture among university students. Study 1b showed that perceived collective continuity among parents is positively correlated with both general and specific willingness to transfer traditions directed towards their children. The causal link between perceived collective continuity and willingness to inherit traditional culture is empirically supported by Study 2. Furthermore, Study 3 found that experiencing awe in culture mediated the relationship between perceived collective continuity and the willingness to inherit traditional culture. Specifically, perceived cultural and historical continuity predicted an enhanced sense of awe in culture, which in turn predicted increased willingness to engage in traditional inheritance-related activities. Study 4 replicated the main findings of Studies 1 to 3, and found that induced perceived collective continuity promoted both general and specific willingness for cultural inheritance. Interestingly, awe in culture was found to mediate the relationship between perceived collective continuity and general willingness to inherit traditional culture but not specific willingness to inherit traditional culture.
This study not only elucidates the specific socioemotional mechanisms that could foster willingness to inherit traditional culture, but also broadens our understanding of the prosocial effects of awe in a cultural context. It extends examination of awe subtypes beyond nature-related experiences and further explores the effects of perceived collective continuity, expanding this area of research from the intergroup-related domain to the cultural domain. Integrating these psychological insights into the framework of cultural transmission offers valuable theoretical contributions to the understanding of cultural sustainability. Furthermore, this research contributes to practical implications for policymakers and educators in better preserving and revitalizing traditional culture to enrich the lives of future generations.
In summary, the present research found that individuals' perceptions of cultural and historical continuity predict greater intentions to engage in activities related to the inheritance of traditional culture, and this predictive relationship is mediated by individuals' experiences of awe in culture.

Key words

perceived collective continuity / inheritance of traditional culture / awe / cultural psychology

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Yang Lei, Yu Zhaoliang, Chen Weiyang, Zhong Nian. Perceived Collective Continuity Predicts Enhanced Willingness to Inherit Traditional Culture: The Mediating Role of Awe in Culture[J]. Journal of Psychological Science. 2026, 49(1): 168-179 https://doi.org/10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20260116

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