Who Were We? Exploring French Past Group Prototypes

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Collective Memory Studies
• Historical Psychology

Background:

• Groups possess cognitive existence through shared prototypes.
• Past group prototypes represent defining characteristics from historical periods.
• Collective memory may hold varied versions of prototypes, similar to collective events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the valence (positive/negative) of past group prototypes within French collective memory.
• To explore the content of prototypes associated with specific historical French groups.
• To examine the implications of "two-sided" prototypes and collective continuity.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the "free association method" to elicit prototype content.
• Two studies focused on French collective memory: WWII (N=301) and 18th-century French people (N=354).
• Study 1 manipulated the highlighting of different past facets; Study 2 did not.

Main Results:

• Evidence suggests the existence of "two-sided" prototypes for both historical periods studied.
• These prototypes encompass both positive and negative valence associations.
• Findings indicate a duality in how past collective identities are represented.

Conclusions:

• Past group prototypes are not monolithic but possess dual valences.
• Understanding these "two-sided" prototypes is crucial for comprehending collective continuity.
• Further research can explore the implications and nuances of these dual collective memories.