A Cuban psychologist sparked a debate on social media with a reel posted on Instagram in which she draws a clear line between two concepts: "cubanía," which she proudly defends, and "cubaneo," which she outright rejects. The video has garnered hundreds of comments, becoming a focal point of intense discussion among her Cuban followers.
The author, who manages the account @guapaspordentro_psicologia, didn't mince words: "I love Cuban identity, I hate the Cuban mentality. I've said it, I've said it, I've lifted a weight off my shoulders. I hate the lack of values in our society. And I feel that a large part of this is the result of 60 years of communism."
For her, those six decades of communist rule would have pushed the population to prioritize survival above anything else, causing respect for others and basic civility to take a backseat: "60 years where people have focused on surviving and certain things have been relegated to the background. Certain things like respect for others and being a good citizen."
The psychologist wonders in the video at what point it stopped seeming necessary to treat others with basic courtesy: "At what moment did it seem acceptable to not treat others with respect? Like 'ma'am,' 'sir,' 'good afternoon,' 'thank you very much,' 'would you be so kind?'"
Her criticism is not directed solely at those who remain on the island. In the description of the reel, the author clarifies that she is referring "especially to many Cubans who have already left the island and yet still bring with them bad manners," an observation that sparked a particularly intense reaction in the comments among Cubans in the diaspora.
At the same time, the psychologist makes it clear that her rejection does not extend to Cuban cultural identity as a whole: "I love Cuban-ness, I even love that we speak loudly, that we are extremely cheerful, I love that we dance, I love our sense of humor. But I hate the human degradation that Cuban society is in."
"Cubaneo," in its interpretation, is not a geographical issue but a cultural one, and it travels with those who emigrate. This idea garnered the most comments and turned a video of less than a minute into an uncomfortable mirror for Cubans both inside and outside the country.
Among those who supported the proposal were followers who expressed feeling fully identified with it. "You put words to what I feel. I love being Cuban, I can't stand the foolishness," wrote one person. Another stated, "I have never identified so much with another Cuban. One hundred percent in agreement." There were also those who directly linked the decline in manners to decades of crisis: "People think that removing the homeless from power will solve everything, but what Cuba really needs is a complete social and cultural reconstruction," noted another comment.
Not everyone, however, agreed that the phenomenon can be solely attributed to the Cuban system. "The lack of values is not just characteristic of communism; it is a part of being human," pointed out one user, while another person warned, "You have a serious misconception. The Cuban way of life has nothing to do with Castroism." There were also those who introduced nuances, such as the comment that stated, "The anthropological damage of communism involves the loss of values, but the issue is more complex," reflecting that even among those who agree with the diagnosis, there is debate about its causes.
The video appears at a time when the deterioration of Cuban social fabric is being documented from various angles. Doctor of Psychological Sciences Roxanne Castellanos Cabrera warned in July 2026 that aggression is becoming normalized in Cuba "as a way of managing life," a phenomenon she directly linked to the everyday survival logic imposed by the crisis.
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