The Cognitive Foundations of Decline Narratives in Human Societies

Abstract

In this paper, I examine the widespread phenomenon of decline narratives in human societies, where the past is idealized as a “golden age” characterized by extraordinary abundance, strength, longevity, and supernatural powers, in contrast to a flawed present. Drawing on ethnographic, historical, and psychological evidence, I explore the cultural manifestations and cognitive foundations of these narratives. The analysis highlights the roles of cognitive biases such as rosy retrospection and narrative inflation, as well as the strategic use of temporal distancing to rationalize fantastical beliefs by situating them in a distant, unfalsifiable past. By comparing decline narratives in traditional societies with progress narratives in post-Enlightenment, modern contexts, I explore how these frameworks shape cultural attitudes toward tradition and change, and consider their broader implications for understanding how cultural narratives influence human behavior.