Taboo

A taboo is a custom, tradition, or belief that strongly forbids or restricts a behavior, relationship, word, food, or other item. Depending on the nature of the taboo and the society that holds it, violating a taboo results in consequences ranging from legal or physical punishment to social ostracism.

Although nearly all societies have them, taboos vary from one culture to another, and they can change over time. Few taboos are shared universally by all cultures. The concept of taboo originally applied to behavior related to religious beliefs and implied punishment from a divine being for violating the taboo. Over time, however, the concept has been generalized to apply to various ways of bringing offense to different groups.

Origins

British navigator and explorer Captain James Cook (1728–1779) is credited with introducing the word taboo to the English language. During a voyage in the South Pacific in the early 1770s, Cook encountered the Polynesian people known as the Tonga. The Tonga had a number of rules called tapu (or tabu). Tapu had several meanings. It could refer to something sacred or something that belonged to a god. It could refer to something that was forbidden because it was considered profane. Tapualso applied to both the thing that was prohibited and to the prohibition itself. In other words, a forbidden act would be called taboo, and performing the act would be said to be a taboo behavior.

Cook described the concept of tapu—changing the word to taboo—in his second book about his travels, A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1785). He later noted that many other island inhabitants of the Pacific, including those Indigenous to Hawaii, had similar strong prohibitions against certain actions that they also referred to as tapu or tabu.

While Cook is credited with giving the modern name to the idea of an extremely prohibited behavior, the concept has existed since ancient times. Ancient Greeks and Romans believed that certain actions were forbidden because they were unclean or violated the sacredness of the gods in some way. Similarly, ancient Hebrews had prohibitions against certain actions and the consumption of certain foods, also based on what they believed would displease the divine. Muslims and Hindus likewise have dietary restrictions based on religious beliefs.

Several theories have tried to explain why taboos come into being in a society. From a psychological standpoint, taboos are behaviors or practices that have been strongly opposed for so many generations that they become subconsciously ingrained. The original reason for the opposition may be lost to history, but the taboo against it remains. Researchers theorize that some food taboos may have developed this way; at some point in the past, people living in an area where a certain food caused health issues created rules against eating it, and those rules were stated and enforced so much that the food remains prohibited even though the origin of the rule has been forgotten. Prohibitions against consuming shrimp, which can sometimes cause extreme allergic reactions, may be an example of such a taboo.

Anthropologists view taboos as a shared cultural experience that comes from being part of a group. The desire to be part of a community means that what is unthinkable to the group becomes unthinkable to all. For example, in a society that deems pornography taboo, even a person who is alone while looking at pornography may feel acutely uneasy because they know that others would strongly disapprove of their actions.

Taboos in Modern Times

As the concept of taboo was introduced to Western cultures, the idea changed somewhat. Taboos related to various religions remain; for instance, many followers of Islam and some sects of Christianity oppose drinking alcohol so vehemently that the act has reached taboo status. The majority of Western taboos, however, carry a moral connotation and are more related to relationships, behaviors, and language. For instance, having a sexual relationship with a member of one's birth family, such as a parent or sibling—incest—is taboo. The act carries not only the possibility of personal and legal consequences but also a high probability of moral disapproval from society; while some may believe a deity will punish the act, this belief is not the principal reason it is considered taboo.

Particular words are considered profane and inappropriate, and using them in certain environments, such as around young children or in a professional work environment, is taboo. The consequences for violating this taboo may include strong disapproval or a negative opinion of a person's character. In some instances, more drastic consequences may result. For example, using taboo words in the workplace could lead to one’s unemployment. Although taboos against the use of certain words likely have existed since the beginning of language, words that are considered taboo change over time. Taboos have also appeared in the context of the Internet and social media. Committing a social media taboo or saying or doing the wrong things on the Internet is a modern form of a taboo.

The Impact of Taboos

Taboos are based on the culture and customs of a society and vary greatly. In some cases, taboos are helpful. For example, the nearly universal taboo against cannibalism is generally so strong that even thinking about it is inappropriate. This taboo could be essential to public safety in times of extreme food scarcity. Taboos against behaviors such as underage sex and organ trafficking can help lead to strict punishments for these acts, potentially protecting potential victims.

Sometimes, obeying a taboo can have negative consequences. For example, discussing menstruation is considered taboo in parts of India. As a result, many girls leave school rather than face the embarrassment of having a period during the school day. In this case, a taboo can limit a girl's opportunities for a lifetime.

Bibliography

Dale, Paul W. The Tonga Book. Fideli Publishing, 2008, pp. 363–365.

Fershtman, Chaim, Uri Gneezy, and Moshe Hoffman. "Taboos and Identity: Considering the Unthinkable." American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, vol. 3, no. 2, 2011, pp. 139–164.

George, Rose. "The Taboo of Menstruation." The New York Times, 28 Dec. 2012, www.nytimes.com/2012/12/29/opinion/the-taboo-of-menstruation.html. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.

Jay, Timothy. "The Utility and Ubiquity of Taboo Words." Perspectives on Psychological Science, vol. 4, no. 2, 2009, pp. 153–161.

Joseph, John Earl. Language and Politics. Edinburgh University Press, 2006, pp. 86–104.

Knight, Ethan. “18 Modern Taboos that Were Once Acceptable.” Boomer Insight, 31 July 2024, theboomerinsight.com/18-modern-taboos-that-were-once-acceptable. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.

Meyer-Rochow, Victor B. "Food Taboos: Their Origins and Purposes." Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, vol. 5, 2009, p. 18, doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-5-18. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.