Social attitudes and cultural traditions exert a decisive influence on the violation of the invisible moral contract, as manifested through ingratitude, by shaping the way individuals think and act regarding mutual responsibility, respect, and appreciation.

Social Roots of Ingratitude

Social attitudes and cultural traditions exert a decisive influence on the violation of the invisible moral contract, as manifested through ingratitude, by shaping the way individuals think and act regarding mutual responsibility, respect, and appreciation. First and foremost, cultivating proud attitudes and an inflated sense of self-importance in society contributes to individuals—especially those in high social positions—perceiving themselves as superior to others, which hinders the development of a sense of mutual gratitude. This is confirmed by the following excerpt from the source " link txt":

"It is dreadful to say, and we see it often, yet it should not be so: we must not incur the terrible apostolic words concerning the ungrateful...

And who is ungrateful?

All those who are proud, lacking humility. A wealthy person, a person in power, who holds a high position in society, is always predisposed to consider himself above all others, and therefore all those of lower status must serve him."

Thus, the predominance of pride and the absence of humility lead individuals to begin expecting special treatment and not perceive the help given as the basis for sincere responsiveness.

Furthermore, cultural traditions and family upbringing can lay the foundation for ingratitude by demonstrating a lack of love, compassion, and examples of genuine care. In another source, " link txt", it is emphasized that even in cases of material abundance or apparent wellbeing, the absence of emotional warmth in parental relationships—as well as the inculcation of a sense of personal interest instead of friendliness—results in children who later fail to exhibit natural gratitude toward their parents and loved ones. This excerpt illustrates that the hardness of heart and indifference, cultivated in childhood, become the basis for the violation of the moral contract in adulthood.

It can be concluded that when traditional views of one’s rights and personal priorities outweigh the ideals of mutual respect in society, the moral foundation of the community is undermined. The lack of gratitude—as a reflection of the lost connection between mutual support and responsibility—is becoming the norm, driven by social attitudes and traditions in which personal interest is prioritized over the collective good.

Supporting citation(s):
"It is dreadful to say, and we see it often, yet it should not be so: we must not incur the terrible apostolic words concerning the ungrateful...

And who is ungrateful?

All those who are proud, lacking humility. A wealthy person, a person in power, who holds a high position in society, is always predisposed to consider himself above all others, and therefore all those of lower status must serve him." (source: link txt)

"Here one can encounter even those whose children are more than provided for, but who are either too busy to care for their parents, or whose spouse refuses to live with the mother-in-law (or father-in-law)... in short, they were taught under any circumstances to boldly and decisively prefer their own selfish interests over generosity and friendship." (source: link txt)