Three Countries, the Food for One Body: A Psychohistorical Inquiry into the Modern Self

article

Kristina Vassileva

Abstract

The collapse of food traditions in modern Western societies fragments the self. Drawing on personal experience across Bulgaria, Italy, and the U.S., this essay examines how food rituals-once inherited, now self-managed-reveal the fractures in identity, memory, and belonging.

Keywords:

cultural continuity, cultural rhythm, food culture, identity, individualization, modern self, psychohistory, psychology of eating, ritual, scarcity, tradition, transnational experience

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About the author

Kristina Vassileva

Kristina Vassileva has a background in business psychology and is currently applying for a master’s program in psychology in Germany starting in October 2025. Kristina is originally from Bulgaria, has lived in Italy and Austria, and presently resides in San Francisco, California. Her experience across different cultural landscapes has made her strongly aware of the stark discrepancies and misunderstandings between American and European traditions. She can be contacted at .

How to cite this article

Vassileva, K. (2026). Three countries, the food for one body: A psychohistorical inquiry into the modern self. Clio’s Psyche, 33(1), 115-119.

https://doi.org/10.70763/78211247db84d96acf4e00092a7fba80