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Myths of trauma and myths of cooperation: Diverse consequences of history for societal cohesion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2025

Michał Bilewicz Open the ORCID record for Michał Bilewicz [Opens in a new window]  and
Aleksandra Bilewicz Open the ORCID record for Aleksandra Bilewicz [Opens in a new window]
Michał Bilewicz*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland bilewicz@psych.uw.edu.pl http://cbu.psychologia.pl/zespol/dr-hab-michal-bilewicz/
Aleksandra Bilewicz
Affiliation:
Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Rural and Agricultural Development, Warsaw, Poland abilewicz@irwirpan.waw.pl https://www.irwirpan.waw.pl/index.php/offer/show/12/zespol/pracownicy/2/zespol/pracownicy/2/wpis/75/zespol/pracownicy/2/zespol/pracownicy/2/wpis/75
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

We propose that historical myths fall into two distinctive categories: Traumatic and cooperative. Traumatic myths, highlighting collective suffering, can undermine trust and foster conspiracy theories, whereas cooperative myths, emphasizing collective action, enhance group cohesion and within-group coalition building. Psychological and sociological evidence supports these divergent impacts of historical myths both in nations and social movements.

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Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 47 , 2024 , e174
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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