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 defends proudly, and "cubaneo," which she outright rejects. The video garnered hundreds of comments, becoming a focal point for intense discussion among her Cuban followers.
The author, who manages the account @guapaspordentro_psicologia, didn't mince words: "I love Cuban identity, I hate Cuban behavior. 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, to a large extent, that is the legacy of 60 years of communism."
For her, those six decades of communist rule had driven the population to prioritize survival above all else, leaving respect for others and basic civility in the background: "60 years where people have focused on surviving and certain things have taken a back seat. Certain things like respect for others, 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 aimed only 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 who still bring with them poor manners," an observation that sparked an especially 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 the Cuban cultural identity as a whole: "I love being Cuban, I even love that we speak loudly, that we are incredibly joyful, I love that we dance, I love our sense of humor. But I hate the human degradation in which Cuban society is."
"Cuban identity," in its interpretation, is not a geographical issue but a cultural one, and it travels with those who emigrate. This idea was the one that generated the most comments, and it 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, there were followers who expressed feeling fully understood. "You put into words what I feel. I love being Cuban; I can't stand the nonsense," wrote one person. Another said, "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 by removing the homeless from power, everything will be solved, but what Cuba really needs is a complete social and cultural reconstruction," noted another comment.
Not everyone, however, accepted that the phenomenon can be attributed solely to the Cuban system. "The lack of values is not exclusive to communism; it is inherent to human nature," noted one user, while another person warned: "You have a serious misunderstanding. Cubaneo 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 a 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 perspectives. The doctor in Psychological Sciences, Roxanne Castellanos Cabrera, warned in July 2026 that aggressiveness is becoming normalized in Cuba "as a means of managing life," a phenomenon she directly linked to the everyday survival logic imposed by the crisis.
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