There are traces of fixedness in our culture

“Repetition becomes our habit. Habits over a period of time became Tradition. Tradition became part of Culture. ‘Fixedness’ will become an integral part of that culture”. I told a friend about this hypothesis that I have generated. He was intrigued and asked me to expand and explain this fact in detail.

On close observation, one can trace an interesting progression of how human behaviors calcify into cultural norms. Let me expand on each step of this chain:

When we repeat actions or behaviors, our brains form neural pathways that make these actions easier and more automatic - these become our habits. It's like wearing a path through the grass by walking the same route repeatedly.

Over time, when habits are shared across families and communities and passed down through generations, they transform into traditions. These might be ways of celebrating festivals, preparing food, or conducting social rituals. As these traditions become deeply embedded in a society, they merge with other elements like values, beliefs, and social norms to form culture. They become "just how things are done" within that group. “My Dad did it that way. So did my grandfather. And also my Great Grandfather”.

It is interesting to probe in detail and discover that ‘Fixedness’ has slowly crept in - it refers to how these cultural practices often become resistant to change, even when the original reasons for them may no longer apply. This rigidity can serve to preserve cultural identity and provide stability, but it can also sometimes hinder adaptation to new circumstances.

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The way fixedness hinders adaptation to new circumstances is quite fascinating and can manifest in several important ways:

Decision-making limitations: When people are deeply rooted in fixed cultural patterns, they often struggle to see alternative solutions or approaches. For instance, a company might stick to traditional hierarchical management even when more flexible structures would better suit modern remote work environments.

Resistance to technological change: Many industries have suffered from this - like traditional taxi services initially resisting app-based ride-sharing platforms, or businesses clinging to paper-based systems despite more efficient digital alternatives being available.

Social progress barriers: Fixed cultural norms can slow down necessary social changes. Consider how deeply ingrained gender roles have made it difficult for societies to adapt to changing workplace dynamics, or how traditional educational methods might persist despite evidence showing newer approaches are more effective.

Economic implications: Fixed mindsets about certain professions or business practices can prevent communities from adapting to economic shifts. For example, coal mining communities often struggle to transition to new industries despite the declining coal market, partly due to cultural identity being strongly tied to this traditional occupation.

Environmental challenges: Traditional practices that were once sustainable might become harmful as circumstances change, but fixedness makes it difficult to adopt new, more environmentally friendly approaches. Consider traditional farming methods that may no longer be suitable for changing climate conditions.

The key challenge is that ‘Fixedness’ often provides a sense of security and identity, making it emotionally difficult for people to embrace change even when it's clearly beneficial. This creates a tension between preserving cultural identity and adapting to new realities.

Hailing from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Patric Rozario has the ability and knowledge to rekindle the creative flame in others. Successful artists, authors, musicians, and composers have learned to tap into this powerful source of creative energy.? But for most people, the ability to use this power was either never learned or trained out of them.?That free, creative spirit resides in all of us, and is just waiting to be mastered.??Everyone needs it. Creativity is a Muscle: Use it or Lose it. Patric Rozario is available for workshops on FIXEDNESS and CREATIVITY.