COLLECTIVE AND SOCIAL MEMORY
Darío Páez - Elza Techio - José Marques - Carlos Martin Beristain (2007)
Summary:
DEFINITION OF COLLECTIVE MEMORY
Collective memory refers to the representations of the past that a group creates, preserves, elaborates, and transmits among its
members (Jedlowski, 2000). Not only does it record the traces of the past in the present, but it also involves what is built specifically
to be passed on to future generations. Current technologies make it possible to record and preserve these traces in a more
extensive but also more fragmented and circumstantial way, also facilitating a greater elaboration of memories and new dynami cs
of memory and forgetting, which are influenced by power structures.
However, the reconstructive activity of memory has limits, evidenced in the plurality of collective memories within a society and
in historiography (Rosa, Belleli, & Bakhurst, 2000; Jedlowski, 2000). For example, most Spanish interviewees in the 1990s
mentioned the Spanish Civil War as a significant collective event, regardless of their political position or generation (Valencia and
Páez, 1999).
Collective memories are not only representations, but also practical, cognitive, and affective attitudes that automatically prolong
past experiences in the present, as memory habits. These social habits, which connect past and present, are customs that
constitute social continuity, intertwined with meanings, values and narratives that give them a certain automatism.
MEMORY AS A COLLECTIVE PROCESS
Collective memory is a complex phenomenon that goes beyond the simple accumulation of individual memories. It refers to how
groups, whether family, ethnic, or national, interact to remember and pass on experiences from the past. This process not onl y
influences how individuals remember historical or cultural events, but also shapes their present attitudes and perceptions.
From a metatheoretical perspective, collective memory is opposed to methodological individualism, which tends to reduce
psychosocial processes to rational decisions and individual actions. Collective memory, on the other hand, recognizes the exi stence
of social constructions that emerge from group interactions and shared institutions. These constructions range from semiotic
objects such as monuments and works of art, to everyday social practices such as family rituals or public commemorations.
A fundamental aspect is that collective memory is not limited to the internal realm of the individual mind. It is a socially distributed
process, where information and memories are shared and constructed collectively. For example, within a family, differen t members
may remember and complement each other in their memories of past events, setting up a shared and ever-evolving family
memory.
In addition, collective memory has effects that transcend the individual. These effects can manifest themselves in social nor ms,
collective attitudes, or even in forgetting certain traumatic events that are considered taboo within a group. How a group
remembers its history not only affects collective identity, but also influences individual perceptions and behaviors within that
group.
Therefore, talking about collective memory implies considering not only the memories themselves, but also how these memories
are constructed, transmitted, and interpreted within broader social contexts. It is a dynamic and ever-changing process, influenced
by cultural, historical, and social factors that shape the way groups and societies understand and negotiate their common pas t.
SOCIAL PROCESSES OF MEMORY: ACTUALITY OF HALBWACHS' POSTULATES
Halbwachs's classic work on collective memory emphasizes that memory is inherently social and constructive. According to his
perspective, social processes are crucial for the formation and maintenance of memory, highlighting three main aspects.
First, the contents of memory are always imbued with social interactions, reflecting a past lived intersubjectively with others.
Second, memory relies on social frameworks such as rituals and events, which act as reference points for recalling specific events.
Third, memory is shared and co-constructed through language and communication, being a public act that has significant social
functions.
These principles underscore how our past experiences are integrated and shaped by our ongoing interaction with others in soci ety.
1
Made by MatyBuda
, INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION AND THE RE-EVOCATION BY THE MASS MEDIA
Research indicates that public recall, such as frequently talking about personal or collective events, is intricately linked to the
vividness of memories and the memory of major events. For example, the attack of March 11, 2003, in Madrid, known as "11-M",
is remembered most intensely when it is discussed publicly. This connection is related to the emotional activation that these events
awaken, which in turn drives the need to communicate them or expose oneself to the media.
Emotional expression generates cognitive and interpersonal processes, such as rumination and social sharing, which are common
in both personal and collective events. This social sharing, defined as the re-recalling of emotional experiences with others, has a
significant impact on memory and the way events are processed.
Communication and social sharing are crucial to maintaining collective memory. For example, in the case of the Spanish Civil War,
those who talk more about it tend to have greater knowledge. This supports Halbwachs' idea of the vital role of social activity in
memory.
However, social sharing and rumination can also intensify negative emotions associated with traumatic events, which in turn can
polarize attitudes toward the past and current society. These effects can vary depending on the culture and the time that has
elapsed since the traumatic event.
In short, the way we talk about and reflect on traumatic events, whether on an individual or collective level, has a significant impact
on our memory and how we perceive our society.
COLLECTIVE IDENTITY AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONS OF MEMORIES
Halbwachs argues that memory is social because of its functions. By joining a group, we embrace and internalize their shared
traditions and representations, which involves sharing the collective memory of the group. This contributes to our social
identification both individually and as a group. Collective memory leads us to retain key aspects for the social identity of certain
events, as well as to adapt the image of the past to the current needs of the group, thus building a positive image of the past.
Regarding the retention of facts from the collective past, research on flash memories has shown the influence of group belong ing
on memory. For example, events central to national social and political identity are remembered more vividly. This trend is reflected
in cases such as the assassination of important political leaders and the resignation of prominent figures, where memories are
clearer in those who share the same social identity.
In short, collective memory plays a crucial role in the construction and maintenance of social identity, both individually an d as a
group.
THE GLOBAL FUNCTION
The nostalgic function of collective memory is reflected in the perception that the society of the past was a "Golden Age", providing
a positive and stable image on which to add new elements. This nostalgia often idealizes aspects such as family cohesion and the
perception of social security. However, historical research has challenged these myths, showing that some perceptions, such as
the existence of three-generational families in North America, are exaggerated.
In addition, studies such as Schuman and Scott's (1989) on the memory of World War II highlight how later generations idealiz e
and reinterpret past historical events. For example, those who lived through the Vietnam War in the 1960s show a more positiv e
and victorious view of World War II than their own contemporaries of that time. This historical reinterpretation illustrates th e
nostalgic function of collective memory, where a past perceived as less conflictive and more heroic compared to contemporar y
realities is idealized.
THE GROUP FUNCTION
The second social function of collective memory according to Halbwachs involves adapting the image of the past to the current
beliefs and needs of the group. For example, Israeli society has reinterpreted the Massada episode, a previously ignored rebellion
against the Romans, as a historical precedent for the current Israeli army, Tsahal, to legitimize the nation (Schwartz, Zeruzabel, &
Barnett, 1986).
At the individual level, research such as that reviewed by Ross (1991) indicates that people tend to remember and reinterpret their
past actions according to current attitudes and beliefs. For example, African Americans in the 1970s "remembered" voting for
Democrats before the 1930s, even though they historically supported the Republican Party because of the association with Lincoln,
as this coincided with the welfare and racial equity policies subsequently promoted by Democrats under F. D. Roosevelt. This review
2
Made by MatyBuda
Darío Páez - Elza Techio - José Marques - Carlos Martin Beristain (2007)
Summary:
DEFINITION OF COLLECTIVE MEMORY
Collective memory refers to the representations of the past that a group creates, preserves, elaborates, and transmits among its
members (Jedlowski, 2000). Not only does it record the traces of the past in the present, but it also involves what is built specifically
to be passed on to future generations. Current technologies make it possible to record and preserve these traces in a more
extensive but also more fragmented and circumstantial way, also facilitating a greater elaboration of memories and new dynami cs
of memory and forgetting, which are influenced by power structures.
However, the reconstructive activity of memory has limits, evidenced in the plurality of collective memories within a society and
in historiography (Rosa, Belleli, & Bakhurst, 2000; Jedlowski, 2000). For example, most Spanish interviewees in the 1990s
mentioned the Spanish Civil War as a significant collective event, regardless of their political position or generation (Valencia and
Páez, 1999).
Collective memories are not only representations, but also practical, cognitive, and affective attitudes that automatically prolong
past experiences in the present, as memory habits. These social habits, which connect past and present, are customs that
constitute social continuity, intertwined with meanings, values and narratives that give them a certain automatism.
MEMORY AS A COLLECTIVE PROCESS
Collective memory is a complex phenomenon that goes beyond the simple accumulation of individual memories. It refers to how
groups, whether family, ethnic, or national, interact to remember and pass on experiences from the past. This process not onl y
influences how individuals remember historical or cultural events, but also shapes their present attitudes and perceptions.
From a metatheoretical perspective, collective memory is opposed to methodological individualism, which tends to reduce
psychosocial processes to rational decisions and individual actions. Collective memory, on the other hand, recognizes the exi stence
of social constructions that emerge from group interactions and shared institutions. These constructions range from semiotic
objects such as monuments and works of art, to everyday social practices such as family rituals or public commemorations.
A fundamental aspect is that collective memory is not limited to the internal realm of the individual mind. It is a socially distributed
process, where information and memories are shared and constructed collectively. For example, within a family, differen t members
may remember and complement each other in their memories of past events, setting up a shared and ever-evolving family
memory.
In addition, collective memory has effects that transcend the individual. These effects can manifest themselves in social nor ms,
collective attitudes, or even in forgetting certain traumatic events that are considered taboo within a group. How a group
remembers its history not only affects collective identity, but also influences individual perceptions and behaviors within that
group.
Therefore, talking about collective memory implies considering not only the memories themselves, but also how these memories
are constructed, transmitted, and interpreted within broader social contexts. It is a dynamic and ever-changing process, influenced
by cultural, historical, and social factors that shape the way groups and societies understand and negotiate their common pas t.
SOCIAL PROCESSES OF MEMORY: ACTUALITY OF HALBWACHS' POSTULATES
Halbwachs's classic work on collective memory emphasizes that memory is inherently social and constructive. According to his
perspective, social processes are crucial for the formation and maintenance of memory, highlighting three main aspects.
First, the contents of memory are always imbued with social interactions, reflecting a past lived intersubjectively with others.
Second, memory relies on social frameworks such as rituals and events, which act as reference points for recalling specific events.
Third, memory is shared and co-constructed through language and communication, being a public act that has significant social
functions.
These principles underscore how our past experiences are integrated and shaped by our ongoing interaction with others in soci ety.
1
Made by MatyBuda
, INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION AND THE RE-EVOCATION BY THE MASS MEDIA
Research indicates that public recall, such as frequently talking about personal or collective events, is intricately linked to the
vividness of memories and the memory of major events. For example, the attack of March 11, 2003, in Madrid, known as "11-M",
is remembered most intensely when it is discussed publicly. This connection is related to the emotional activation that these events
awaken, which in turn drives the need to communicate them or expose oneself to the media.
Emotional expression generates cognitive and interpersonal processes, such as rumination and social sharing, which are common
in both personal and collective events. This social sharing, defined as the re-recalling of emotional experiences with others, has a
significant impact on memory and the way events are processed.
Communication and social sharing are crucial to maintaining collective memory. For example, in the case of the Spanish Civil War,
those who talk more about it tend to have greater knowledge. This supports Halbwachs' idea of the vital role of social activity in
memory.
However, social sharing and rumination can also intensify negative emotions associated with traumatic events, which in turn can
polarize attitudes toward the past and current society. These effects can vary depending on the culture and the time that has
elapsed since the traumatic event.
In short, the way we talk about and reflect on traumatic events, whether on an individual or collective level, has a significant impact
on our memory and how we perceive our society.
COLLECTIVE IDENTITY AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONS OF MEMORIES
Halbwachs argues that memory is social because of its functions. By joining a group, we embrace and internalize their shared
traditions and representations, which involves sharing the collective memory of the group. This contributes to our social
identification both individually and as a group. Collective memory leads us to retain key aspects for the social identity of certain
events, as well as to adapt the image of the past to the current needs of the group, thus building a positive image of the past.
Regarding the retention of facts from the collective past, research on flash memories has shown the influence of group belong ing
on memory. For example, events central to national social and political identity are remembered more vividly. This trend is reflected
in cases such as the assassination of important political leaders and the resignation of prominent figures, where memories are
clearer in those who share the same social identity.
In short, collective memory plays a crucial role in the construction and maintenance of social identity, both individually an d as a
group.
THE GLOBAL FUNCTION
The nostalgic function of collective memory is reflected in the perception that the society of the past was a "Golden Age", providing
a positive and stable image on which to add new elements. This nostalgia often idealizes aspects such as family cohesion and the
perception of social security. However, historical research has challenged these myths, showing that some perceptions, such as
the existence of three-generational families in North America, are exaggerated.
In addition, studies such as Schuman and Scott's (1989) on the memory of World War II highlight how later generations idealiz e
and reinterpret past historical events. For example, those who lived through the Vietnam War in the 1960s show a more positiv e
and victorious view of World War II than their own contemporaries of that time. This historical reinterpretation illustrates th e
nostalgic function of collective memory, where a past perceived as less conflictive and more heroic compared to contemporar y
realities is idealized.
THE GROUP FUNCTION
The second social function of collective memory according to Halbwachs involves adapting the image of the past to the current
beliefs and needs of the group. For example, Israeli society has reinterpreted the Massada episode, a previously ignored rebellion
against the Romans, as a historical precedent for the current Israeli army, Tsahal, to legitimize the nation (Schwartz, Zeruzabel, &
Barnett, 1986).
At the individual level, research such as that reviewed by Ross (1991) indicates that people tend to remember and reinterpret their
past actions according to current attitudes and beliefs. For example, African Americans in the 1970s "remembered" voting for
Democrats before the 1930s, even though they historically supported the Republican Party because of the association with Lincoln,
as this coincided with the welfare and racial equity policies subsequently promoted by Democrats under F. D. Roosevelt. This review
2
Made by MatyBuda
