>It's clear to me that parents can pass on behaviors.
Absolutely.
Check out: https://www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com/pdf/j.1467-9477....
That paper is fascinating. Have you read any of Putnam's books? Are there any you'd recommend?
In the context of civic engagement the only work by Putnam I could suggest is Bowling Alone. I also recommend Pew Research.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowling_Alone
https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2014/06/12/political-po...
https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2021/10/05/rising-...
I agree... the decline of traditional culture means that there's nothing to ground these people.