On the role of the collective unconscious in the psychology of etiquette and the social, cultural, historical and psychological dimensions of etiquette

Etiquette is closely related to culture, as cultures provide the code of conduct and thus lay the foundation for the basic pattern of social interaction. Etiquette relates to what is socially appropriate and deeply rooted, while manners could be more general. Etiquette psychology has to analyze social customs according to psychological principles and how labels or codes of behavior have developed from the collective consciousness.

Psychologically, the label depends on

1. Culture and Customs of nations

2. Collective conscience of people

Culture and customs define the social appropriateness of the etiquette, and the collective unconscious provides the basis on which the etiquette could be developed or explained. The collective conscience is a deposit of emotions or experiences of the past and especially of the experiences of the ancestors or people who have lived within a society and these experiences are transmitted in some way to the present generation. Usually, collective consciousness is felt through a sense of shared time, shared past, shared emotions, shared history, and a sense of shared responsibility.

In psychoanalysis, the collective unconscious has referred to a part of the psyche of humanity and other forms of life that seem to organize collective experiences. Carl Jung suggests that along with our personal individual consciousness, there is a collective unconscious in the psyche that is universal and impersonal in nature. To understand etiquette, we have to understand how the collective unconscious helps shape our taboos, traditions, and perception of right and wrong. In fact, the label relates directly to perception and judgment, and while not morally derived, it could be based on moral beliefs deeply held in a culture. These moral residues have been passed down from generation to generation and have taken root in the collective psyche of nations. Customs develop out of these collective thoughts and perceptions, and these customs tend to create etiquette.

The label is related to behaving appropriately or following certain norms or patterns of behavior and is psychological in its manifestation, since the label is based on customs or traditions and perceptions that depend on the collective psyche and the unconscious. Jungian psychology, in fact, could explain many customs and patterns within cultural schemes or manifestations of taboos and cultural perceptions. Therefore, it could also form the basis of a cultural and etiquette psychology.

Etiquette psychology could involve understanding:

1. The collective unconscious in relation to the development of traditions and beliefs within a culture

2. The individual or personal unconscious in relation to the perception of beliefs and their use as the basis of behavior.

3. Individual behavior in relation to following certain perceived beliefs

4. Collective behavior as an aggregate of individual perceptions and formation of collective cultural norms and etiquette

The flowchart is given as:

collective unconscious – personal unconscious – individual behavior – collective behavior – culture and customs – etiquette

The label is, therefore, a product of culture and customs built through collective behavior and derived from the base of the collective unconscious. All of these elements seem to be interrelated in the psychology of etiquette.

Any label psychology will have to trace how the collective unconscious relates to the personal unconscious and leads to collective and individual behavior. This could be studied further to show how culture and customs are related to etiquette and rules.

The four main aspects of etiquette are social, cultural, historical, and psychological. In developing a theory of etiquette that should be closely related to cultural and social aspects, the historical and psychological dimensions should also be considered.

Social: Social dimensions in the development of etiquette refer to the study of social systems and how these affect the development and perception of traditions. For example, tribal societies thrive on collective action, and in some cases tribes work in groups for their basic livelihoods and basic needs. In individualistic societies, etiquette and customs may develop according to social systems, as in civilized societies consuming food without offering it to others is well within etiquette, although in societies that thrive on group activity, this may not be considered appropriate. Therefore, etiquette in general develops according to social systems and is based on the attitudes that people have and their belief systems. These aspects of the label are pervasive and can be found in many similar societies and are the basis for distinguishing civilized and uncivilized societies, tribal and non-tribal societies, Eastern and Western societies, etc. The social aspects of etiquette are therefore always the basis for broader generalizations.

Cultural: The cultural dimensions of etiquette are the next stage of etiquette development and, unlike the social aspects of etiquette, are less generalized and more specific depending on the cultural approach. For example, eating all the food on offer is considered acceptable and encouraged in Japanese and American cultures, but it is considered gluttony in Arab cultures. Tipping is almost expected in some Asian, Middle Eastern, and African nations, although in Japan it is considered impolite to leave a tip. These are specific forms of etiquette and cultural dimensions or aspects of etiquette that distinguish cultures and societies at narrower levels. These distinctions based on cultural aspects of etiquette are specific or narrow like the distinction between Japanese and Arabic etiquette or Chinese and Indian etiquette, French and Greek etiquette, etc. These specific cultural aspects of etiquette could be studied through understanding customs and cultures and would form a deeper level analysis that would highlight cultural dimensions and focus on issues such as dress code and eating habits. In fact, culture-specific etiquette is more about habit formation and less reliant on belief systems, which are more generalized, since belief systems could be common across cultures.

Historical: The historical aspects of culture are directly intertwined in the development of etiquette and this is where the collective psyche and collective behavior are important. Cultural and social history could be relevant in forming etiquette and determining attitudes and behavior. Social history could be relevant to broader regions and societies, as the history of a region determines the pattern of thought in a collective society and also suggests future direction. For example, the history of Great Britain has been marked by the reign of the British Empire and, consequently, has shaped patterns of behavior and etiquette more in keeping with a culture of monarchy. These behaviors and etiquette that were ingrained in people many years ago continue to this day.

Psychological: The psychological dimensions of the label would have to consider Jungian perspectives of the collective unconscious and the dynamics of collective behavior. What are the unconscious motivations for behaving in a certain way on a societal rather than an individual level? Why do people behave in a similar way when they encounter similar emotions? The psychological aspects of etiquette would involve the study of emotions in relation to culture and customs and how emotions shape customs and how customs generate emotions in subtle ways. The link between emotions and etiquette could be studied both at the individual/personal level and at the collective social level.