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Collective memories and understandings of human societies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 April 2025

Ana Figueiredo Open the ORCID record for Ana Figueiredo [Opens in a new window] ,
Magdalena Bobowik Open the ORCID record for Magdalena Bobowik [Opens in a new window]  and
Emanuele Politi Open the ORCID record for Emanuele Politi [Opens in a new window]
Ana Figueiredo*
Affiliation:
Institute of Social Sciences, Universidad de O'Higgins, Rancagua, ChileFigueiredo.anacm@gmail.com Center for Social Conflict and Cohesion Studies (COES), Santiago de Chile, Chile
Magdalena Bobowik
Affiliation:
Department of Social Psychology, University of the Basque Country, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain m.bobowik@ehu.eus IKERBASQUE Basque Foundation of Science, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
Emanuele Politi
Affiliation:
Centre for Social and Cultural Psychology at the Katholieke Universiteit, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium Emanuele.politi@kuleuven.be
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

Moffett's article asserts that human societies are distinct from other social groups because they must maintain control over specific territories. In our commentary, we challenge this argument, aiming to enrich it by highlighting the pivotal role of history and collective memories and their underestimated significance in shaping societies across time and beyond territorial ownership and resource control.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 48 , 2025 , e62
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

†

All authors contributed equally to the commentary and share first author status.

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