Measuring functions of remembering public events: Development of a functions of collective memory questionnaire

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that people share their personal experiences with others for various purposes, such as gaining self-understanding, socializing, and seeking solutions to current problems, among others. However, it remains unclear why people share collective experiences with others or whether they do so for reasons similar to those driving the sharing of personal experiences. In this study, we developed a questionnaire to identify and measure the motivations behind sharing collective experiences, including events like military coups, earthquakes, terrorist attacks, and more. The study involved 407 participants, spanning different age groups, from Turkey. The results reveal that (a) individuals share collective memories for reasons similar to those driving the sharing of individual memories and (b) the primary functions of collective memories include creating a collective identity, strengthening social bonds, fostering learning and understanding of past history, mitigating collective negative emotions, and guiding communities into the future.