Why are Catholic countries more family orientated? (friendly, catholic church)

[Trimac20]

It seems to be that Catholic countries, most notably Italy, Latin America, Cuba, Ireland, Croatia, Poland, Spain and Portugal are more family-orientated than say the Protestant nations, like the US, UK, Netherlands.etc. They also seem more traditional with their beliefs about things like marriage or gender roles.

Was this pretty much the influence of the Catholic Church? Or is there something else going on? Perhaps it's just coincidence, since Southern European and Middle Eastern nations seem to have stronger family-ties even if they aren't Catholic, like Greece or Iran.

It also seemed Catholic nations had a more communal structure (piazzas, markets), while Protestantism combined with a sort of individualism that led to things like the Industrial revolution, the American revolution ad the nuclear family, which seems to have backfired as a 'familial institution' to bind society in contrast to the extent family.

[robertpolyglot]

Trimac, I think you hit something when you noticed that this is more experienced in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Or in the Caribbean. I don't know about Ireland or Poland, since I've never been there. Those two groups sure don't show emotionality within their families the way Italians and Greeks do. Part of it is the weather, in addition to the religion. Most of the Catholics that are this way are also socially and culturally very expressive, probably fostered by the perennial spring and summer, hence most of the ethnicities you listed. Throw the Greeks into the mix, too.

[Trimac20]

Originally Posted by robertpolyglot

Trimac, I think you hit something when you noticed that this is more experienced in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Or in the Caribbean. I don't know about Ireland or Poland, since I've never been there. Those two groups sure don't show emotionality within their families the way Italians and Greeks do. Part of it is the weather, in addition to the religion. Most of the Catholics that are this way are also socially and culturally very expressive, probably fostered by the perennial spring and summer, hence most of the ethnicities you listed. Throw the Greeks into the mix, too.

Yes, I think it's partly Latin culture too: it tends to be expressive, exuberant with a strong emphasis on relationships within the family structure.

Also the fact that birth-rates among Catholics used to be higher (partly due to the contraception thing, especially in places like Ireland and Brazil not so much among Catholics in say Australia) probably meant bigger families and more emphasis on child-raising.

[elnina]

What are the most family orientated modern societies?

[elnina]

Originally Posted by robertpolyglot

Trimac, I think you hit something when you noticed that this is more experienced in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Or in the Caribbean. I don't know about Ireland or Poland, since I've never been there. Those two groups sure don't show emotionality within their families the way Italians and Greeks do. Part of it is the weather, in addition to the religion. Most of the Catholics that are this way are also socially and culturally very expressive, probably fostered by the perennial spring and summer, hence most of the ethnicities you listed. Throw the Greeks into the mix, too.

How would you know if you never been there??

[robertpolyglot]

Originally Posted by elnina

How would you know if you never been there??

Customs carry across the ocean to the US. Who's more likely to pinch their kids' cheeks, the Italians/Greeks or the Irish/Polish? There's no need to answer that.

[Trimac20]

Originally Posted by robertpolyglot

Customs carry across the ocean to the US. Who's more likely to pinch their kids' cheeks, the Italians/Greeks or the Irish/Polish? There's no need to answer that.

Irish definitely a lot more so than English. The Irish seem more down to earth, less snobbish, more friendly, gregarious, and more likely to say what they think.

[elnina]

Not sure what "pinch their kids' cheeks" has to do with family oriented countries...

[Plutonium]

Originally Posted by Trimac20

Irish definitely a lot more so than English. The Irish seem more down to earth, less snobbish, more friendly, gregarious, and more likely to say what they think.

Doesn't in depend on the individual? It's not like all English people are snobby and all Irish people are friendly. People tend to exaggerate the difference between these two countries a lot. There are nice/nasty/outgoing/shy people in pretty much every country in the world.

As for the topic of the thread... there are still people who love their families in the US/UK/Netherlands. "Family-oriented" culture is still big in these countries. I don't know much about Catholicism but I'm guessing there's an emphasis that having a family is the main purpose of life, whereas in other places people might tend to have other goals in life alongside, but not necessarily replacing, having a family.

[irish_bob]

Originally Posted by Trimac20

It seems to be that Catholic countries, most notably Italy, Latin America, Cuba, Ireland, Croatia, Poland, Spain and Portugal are more family-orientated than say the Protestant nations, like the US, UK, Netherlands.etc. They also seem more traditional with their beliefs about things like marriage or gender roles.

Was this pretty much the influence of the Catholic Church? Or is there something else going on? Perhaps it's just coincidence, since Southern European and Middle Eastern nations seem to have stronger family-ties even if they aren't Catholic, like Greece or Iran.

It also seemed Catholic nations had a more communal structure (piazzas, markets), while Protestantism combined with a sort of individualism that led to things like the Industrial revolution, the American revolution ad the nuclear family, which seems to have backfired as a 'familial institution' to bind society in contrast to the extent family.

you answered your own question , catholics tend to be more collectivist , protestants tend to be more individualistic