Memory and mystery 2 Abstract We hypothesize that cultural narratives such as myths and folktales are more likely to achieve cultural stability if they correspond to a minimally counterintuitive cognitive template that includes mostly intuitive concepts combined with a minority of counterintuitive ones. Two studies tested this hypothesis, examining whether this template produces a memory advant...

This Introduction situates the papers and commentaries of this Special Issue on ‘Narrative and Cultural Memory’ within the context of a new multidisciplinary research literature that suggests localizing memory in culture and, in doing so, focuses on the role of narrative. This literature is viewed against the backdrop of a fundamental critique of the traditional notion of memory as reflecting o...

We hypothesize that cultural narratives such as myths and folktales are more likely to achieve cultural stability if they correspond to a minimally counterintuitive (MCI) cognitive template that includes mostly intuitive concepts combined with a minority of counterintuitive ones. Two studies tested this hypothesis, examining whether this template produces a memory advantage, and whether this me...

This paper has two objectives: one is to explore the dialectics of remembering and forgetting, an issue traditionally neglected in psychological memory research; the other is to question the widespread dichotomy of individual and social memory. To do so, a cultural-historical perspective is outlined that allows us to conceive of individual memory as an inextricable part of an overarching cultur...

identity and collective memory is one of the fascinating subjects in modern sociology. in iran, it arose again as modern and government-nation discourse emerged, and has been endlessly discussed since then. such subjects have assumed an increasing importance due to the multi-cultural and multi-ethical existence of iranian society and recent global developments. accordingly, the present study ha...

This paper explores the roles ascribed to archives, libraries and museums in communication of memory in European Union projects. Memory communication is acknowledged as one of the essential reasons for the existence of these institutions. It indicates that an important aspect of their mission is to participate in construction of collective memory of communities they serve. Memory communication ...