Beliefs, narratives and experiences : social contagion of memories

BAHNA, Vladimír. Beliefs, narratives and experiences : social contagion of memories. 2012.

Basic information

• Original name: Beliefs, narratives and experiences : social contagion of memories
• Authors: BAHNA, Vladimír (703 Slovakia, guarantor, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: 2012.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Presentations at conferences
• Field of Study: Archaeology, anthropology, ethnology
• Country of publisher: Sweden
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14210/12:00061692
• Organization unit: Faculty of Arts
• Keywords (in Czech): autobiografická paměť; falešné spomíky; nadpřirozené představy; rozprávaní o osobních zkušenostech
• Keywords in English: autobiographical memory; false memories; supernatural beliefs; personal experience narratives
• Tags: rivok

Abstract

This paper deals with the socio-cognitive factors of formation and transmission of personal experience narratives about supernatural agents. Using examples of traditional supernatural beliefs known from Slovak rural environment, author tries to explain how narratives and beliefs spread in particular society can be incorporated into someone's autobiographical memories. Human memory is not a passive storage and recall device for static memories, but a dynamic process of repeated construction and reconstruction of memories, which is liable to external influence. So called false memories are a by-product of normal memory reconstruction. The author claims, that this frequently occurring memory phenomenon plays a role in cultural transmission, in this case, in transmission of narrative folklore concerning supernatural beliefs. Ethnographical data suggest that the tendency to incorporate narrative elements from social environment into personal experience memories depends (1) on the social context of the information incorporated into one’s own autobiographical memories, and (2) on the emotional arousal associated with the representation of the particular experience.

Links

• EE2.3.20.0048, research and development project: Name: Laboratoř pro experimentální výzkum náboženství