Motivational underpinnings of intergenerational transmission. The role of need for cognitive closure on salience of perceived norms

This commentary discusses Tam’s contributions concerning the perceived norms perspective on the study of intergenerational cultural transmission; its aim is to provide insights into the impact of human cognition on the emergence of a culture and the normative structure of society. To that end, we elaborate the implications of parents’ goals for interaction between perceived norms, personal orientation, and intergenerational cultural transmission. Our focus is on the epistemic motivation to reduce uncertainty (Need for Cognitive Closure [NfCC]) as it interfaces with intragroup dynamics and resistance to change in guiding norm selection for cultural transmission in different cultural contexts.