Collective memory is the idea that as a people we remember things through the experiences and influence of groups and social constructs.
One of the most common social groups which retain collective memories is the people who comprise a nation. Scientific American explains that citizens of the United States are likelier than members of other countries to recall Pearl Harbor attacks, bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and D-Day.
There are also a variety of circumstances and factors which can impact collective memories. Upbringing, perceptions, environments, and personal beliefs can impact the quality of collective memories.
Collective memories are often manipulated and extorted in politics when various people in certain social groups are told that they must vote for a certain party. This type of manipulation is nefariously common regarding socioeconomic groups.
Collective memory is further enhanced because we conserve history. For instance, religious symbols, historical buildings, and books are all references tying us to past generations and influencing our memory.
The History of the Theory of Collective Memory. The theory of collective memory went through a step-by-step process of development. Although one person coined the term, others contributed ideas that built up over time into a widely accepted definition of collective memory. The three largest contributors to this idea are:
The notion of collective memory later evolved into the theory of social memory by Emile Durkheim, who thought that memories are based on societal remembrance and experiences.
The three largest contributors to this idea are: Carl Jung - Carl Jung proposed a theory of collective unconscious. He believed that universal human leanings like fear of fire or desire for social status all spring from a collective unconscious each of us carries within us.
However, Carl Jung never called this collective memory, and his theory was controversial.
Collective memory is officially defined as "the shared pool of knowledge and information in the memories of two or more members of a social group.". Various individuals are members of various groups and therefore have different recollections. No two people will share the same collective memories, and that's OK.
There are also a variety of circumstances and factors which can impact collective memories. Upbringing, perceptions, environments, and personal beliefs can impact the quality of collective memories. Scientific American states that collective memories are extremely impactful and can affect worldviews, overall attitudes, ...
Nine times out of ten, collective memories are (at best) impacted and (at worse) manipulated by people in power who have an agenda. This agenda may involve selling a product or service, spreading a message, or getting a certain candidate elected.
For better or worse, memories are inherently influenced and impacted by the information which is fed to us. A great example of the link between teachings of different social groups and collective memories comes in the form of various perceptions of America.
One of the most common social groups which retain collective memories is the people who comprise a nation. Scientific American explains that citizens of the United States are likelier than members of other countries to recall Pearl Harbor attacks, bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and D-Day.
While each person will always fit into one social group or another, placing a stronger emphasis on unique experiences, thoughts, opinions, and actions is considerably healthier than lumping people together and making collective assumptions. Each is unique and has something to offer.
In and of itself, collective memory is neither good or bad, but an inherent part of life. Different social groups do share certain commonalities, but the problem comes into play when collective memories are manipulated or otherwise used to judge or control certain groups of people.