Final answer:
Narratives significantly influence collective memory by shaping shared experiences and group identity, impacting how events are remembered and understood within a social or cultural context.
Step-by-step explanation:
Narrative has a profound influence on collective memory; it doesn't just enhance memory retention, but rather shapes shared experiences. By framing events in a particular way, narratives can influence how groups remember their past and understand their identity. An example of this would be origin stories, which serve to explain where a group came from, their place in the world, and to promote a common cultural identity. When it comes to memory construction and reconstruction, narratives play a significant role by incorporating social, cultural, or environmental influences into our recollections, thereby affecting how we perceive and recall experiences. Studies have shown that memory is malleable, and as we retrieve memories, we tend to modify them, which can result in distortions. However, narratives also offer a framework through which historical events are interpreted, defining the causation and levels of bias within the collective consciousness.