THE INTERACTIVE MECHANISMS BETWEEN EMOTIONAL MEMORY AND CULTURAL IDENTITY: A CULTURAL-MEMORY-THEORY-BASED PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY ON THE REGIONAL TRANSMISSION OF THE FOUR MAJORREGIONAL YANGKO DANCE AS INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

Abstract

Background: The four majorRegional Yangko Dance (Jiaozhou Yangko, Northern Shanxi Yangko , Changli Yangko , and Fushun Ground Yangko) represent critical components of China's intangible cultural heritage. However, contemporary globalization and urbanization pose significant threats to their regional transmission. This study investigates the psychological mechanisms linking emotional memory formation and cultural identity construction in Yangko tradition preservation. Methods: Employing a mixed-methods design, we analyzed secondary data from 847 participants across four regional Yangko communities through Cultural Memory Theory framework. Structural equation modeling examined relationships between emotional memory intensity, cultural identity strength, and transmission willingness. Thematic analysis of archival performance documentation identified emotional-cognitive patterns in cultural learning processes. Results: Findings revealed that emotional memory intensity significantly predicted cultural identity strength (β = 0.68, p < 0.001) and transmission willingness (β = 0.54, p < 0.001). Cultural identity mediated 47.3% of the relationship between emotional memory and transmission behaviors. Regional variations showed Jiaozhou Yangko practitioners exhibited highest emotional-cultural integration (M = 4.73, SD = 0.52), while urbanized areas demonstrated attenuated connections (M = 3.21, SD = 0.89). Multi-group analysis identified age, residential status, and performance frequency as critical moderators. Conclusion: Emotional memory serves as a fundamental psychological mechanism connecting individual experience to collective cultural identity in intangible heritage transmission. Practical implications suggest heritage preservation programs should incorporate experiential learning, emotional engagement strategies, and community-based transmission models to strengthen cultural continuity across generations.