This paper discusses the evolution of collective memory research, contrasting Maurice Halbwachs’s sociological perspective with the more individualistic approach often taken in psychological studies. It argues that psychology’s focus on individual memory neglects the social influences that shape collective memory, and emphasizes a turn toward methodologies inspired by epidemiology to explore how collective memories are formed and maintained. The paper suggests future directions for research, including expanding the scope of collective memory psychology to incorporate cultural memory, the impact of media technology, and the interplay between memory and identity while also advocating for localization of Western theories in the context of Chinese scholarship.