Intergroup Relations and Collective Memory Dynamics

Intergroup relations and collective memory dynamics constitute intertwined processes through which social groups construct, negotiate and transmit shared understandings of the past. Collective memory refers to the socially mediated recollection of historical events that shapes group identity, informs present attitudes and guides future behaviour. Intergroup relations concern the patterns of interaction, competition and cooperation that develop between distinct social groups. The dynamics of collective memory influence intergroup perceptions by emphasising narratives of victimhood, heroism or moral transgression, and by framing historical continuity or discontinuity with respect to a group’s present identity. Over time, memory malleability and the emergence of new narratives can either exacerbate tensions—by perpetuating grievance and existential threat—or foster reconciliation, through the development of superordinate memories that bridge previous divides. Contemporary research explores how collective trauma is transmuted into enduring systems of meaning, how victimhood narratives are strategically deployed, and how shared or conflicting memories affect processes of trust building, reparative justice and intergroup cooperation in contexts ranging from post-conflict societies to multicultural democracies.

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Intergroup Relations and Collective Memory Dynamics publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in intergroup relations and collective memory dynamics across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Collective memory: The shared pool of information and interpretations of past events held by a social group.

Intergroup relations: The patterns of attitudes and behaviours between distinct social groups, including cooperation, competition and conflict.

Collective victimhood: A group’s perception of having suffered harm or injustice as a collective, influencing feelings of entitlement or grievance.

Memory malleability: The susceptibility of recollections to change over time or through social and political influences.

Existential threat: A perception that a group’s survival, identity or core values are at risk.

Superordinate memory: A harmonised recollection of shared or overlapping histories that transcends individual group narratives and fosters inclusive identities.

References

1. Re‐evaluating the impact of collective victimhood on conflict attitudes: Results from a natural experiment, a survey experiment, and panel study using Israel's Holocaust Memorial Day. American Journal of Political Science (2024).
2. Collective Trauma and the Social Construction of Meaning. Frontiers in Psychology (2018).
3. Dominant groups support digressive victimhood claims to counter accusations of discrimination. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology (2022).
4. It’s About Valence: Historical Continuity or Historical Discontinuity as a Threat to Social Identity. Journal of Social and Political Psychology (2017).
5. Memory's Malleability: Its Role in Shaping Collective Memory and Social Identity. Frontiers in Psychology (2012).