Self-Defining and Early Childhood Memories: Subjective Intensity Rating of Memory-Related Emotions

Abstract

Abstract:The aim of the present research was to explore the subjective rating of emotional intensity during the recall of memory-related emotions. 41 participants retrieved two different types of autobiographical memory -i.e., a self-defining memory and an earliest childhood memory -and rated the intensity of the emotions experienced during the recall of each memory (anger, sadness, fear, happiness, shame and guilt). The latency and duration times of the narratives were also collected. Self-defining memories seemed to be perceived as more intense compared to earliest childhood memories, confirming the strong emotional charge that characterizes these types of memories. Longer duration times of the narratives were also observed for self-defining memories compared to earliest childhood memories. These results lend more support to differences between self-defining and early childhood memories. They also suggest that emotional experiences associated with self-relevant memories constitute the key to the self-and other-understanding in everyday meaningful interactions as well as in a clinical therapeutic setting.

The Importance of Mental Functions and Autobiographical Memory in the Development of Identity and Life Story in Adolescence: Their Role in Preventing Identity Diffusion, Aggressiveness And Depression Among Adolescents

“…Such features, which are the two distinguishing criteria for SDMs that differentiate these memories from other important and affective personal event memories, make SDMs critical to ensure a sense of personal coherence 48 . As anticipated, SDMs mark a touchstone for self-understanding; that is because they shed light on an individual's most important deep conflicts 43 . In this sense, an individual's SDMs, although expressed in different ways, will tend to share the same nuclear aspects of the person, resulting related to each other.…”

“…Self defining memories are a special class of autobiographical memories, particularly important to an individual's sense of identity 43 . Such memories, namely the memories used to define oneself, are highly relevant to the current self 44 and occupy a central position in one's life story 45 .…”

“…Such memories, namely the memories used to define oneself, are highly relevant to the current self 44 and occupy a central position in one's life story 45 . SDMs are highly likely to be from late adolescence and early adulthood 43 . According to Conway and colleagues [46][47][48] , this can be explained by the fact that most of the memories from this period, usually form an enduring relation with the self, becoming self-defining experiences and preserving self-coherence over time.…”

“…In the light of their characteristics, it is possible to hypothesize how SDMs can support adolescents in meaning making and therefore orient them towards the development of a coherent and integrated life story. The frequency, intensity and vividness of such memories could stimulate adolescents to question and reflect on themselves; the presence of similar aspects and themes could motivate them to grasp the common meaning of such memories; moreover, since SDMs shed light on an individual's deepest and most significant conflicts, they constitute a "touchstone", a point of reference for self-understanding 43 ; in a similar way, the importance of the content of such memories for adolescents could promote introspection and meaning making.…”

The Infantile Amnesia Phenomenon and the Beginning of Autobiographical Memories

“…These data are in line with our hypothesis. It is probable that emotional salience consolidates memory traces and widens the temporal window within which an event has the possibility of being integrated into the autobiographical narrative schema [86][87][88].…”