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A Cultural Psychological Analysis of Collective Memory as Mediated Action: Constructions of Indian History
Mukherjee, Sahana Adams, Glenn E. Molina, Ludwin E.
Mukherjee, Sahana
Adams, Glenn E.
Molina, Ludwin E.
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Abstract
The present research applies a cultural psychological perspective on collective memory as mediated action to examine how
constructions of a national past serve as tools that both reflect and shape national identity concerns. We employ a
situation-sampling method to investigate collective memory in a series of studies concerning intergroup relations in the Indian
context. In Study 1, participants (N = 55) generated three historical events that they considered important/relevant for Indian
history. In Study 2, participants (N = 95) rated the importance and relevance of these events in a within-participant design.
Illuminating the psychological constitution of cultural reality, frequency of recall (Study 1) and ratings of importance/relevance
(Study 2) were greater for nation-glorifying events celebrating ingroup triumph than for typically silenced, critical events
acknowledging ingroup wrongdoing. Moreover, these patterns were stronger among participants who scored higher in national
identification. In Studies 3 (N = 65) and 4 (N = 160), we exposed participants to different categories of events in a
between-participants design. Illuminating the cultural constitution of psychological experience, participants exposed to typically
silenced, critical events reported lower national identification and greater perception of injustice against marginalized groups
than did participants exposed to nation-glorifying events. Together, results illuminate a conception of collective memory as
mediated action. Producers invest memory products with an identity-interested charge that directs subsequent intergroup
relations toward identity-consistent ends.
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Date
2017
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PsychOpen
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Keywords
Collective memory, India, Intergroup relations, Mediated action, National identity, Situation sampling method, Social representatons of history
Citation
Mukherjee, S., Adams, G., & Molina, L. E. (2018). A Cultural Psychological Analysis of Collective Memory as Mediated Action: Constructions of Indian History. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 5(2), 558-587. doi:10.5964/jspp.v5i2.705