lecture 10 - autobiographical memory Flashcards
AM depends on:
episodic and semantic memory systems
4 functions of AM:
1) directive
2) social
3) self-representative
4) adaptive
directive function of AM
uses past experiences as reference for solving current problems, as a guide for our actions - can create successful models or schemas of behav
social function
provides material for ppl to converse about
self-representative function
used to create and maintain coherent self-identity - allows for evaluation of past experiences (life reflection) = self-insight and self-growth
adaptive function
recalling positive personal experience can maintain positive moods or alter negative moods
mood-congruent memory - depression
how can we study AM?
diary method: present it later to pps with falsified ‘foils’
problems = sampling bias, act of recording may change memory, social desirability
memory probe method: uses a list of words to bring to mind AMs which pp then describes in as much detail as possible
odour cued memories
more perceptual memories than factual/conceptual - usually memory from before adolescence
3 time periods
1) childhood amnesia
2) reminiscence bump
3) recency
childhood amnesia
before 5 years: nearly no memory for this - we never really encoded these memories properly
at 2-3 yrs: not developed sense of self yet (develops late in second year of life)
childhood amnesia: devlopment of language
pps recalled their earliest memory associated with cue word & dated their age at time of remembered event
age of earliest memory was systematically later, by several months, than the age of acquisition of the word
no lang to capture memory - to have a memory you have to be able to describe it
reminiscence bump
years when a stable self-system forms (from adolscence to adulthood)
autobiographical knowledge: 3 types
1) lifetime periods: general knowledge of sig others, common locations, activities characterisitic of a period - with distinct beginnings and ends
2) general events: more specific and heterogeneous, repeated events and single events
3) event-specific knowledge: defining feature of memory vividness - can become disorganised in PTSD & lost in retrograde amnesia; remembering a specific episode e.g. when we won the hockey game by a specific amount
working self
similar to WM: acts as a central control process - controlling access to the autobiographical knowledge base (semantic)
relationship between working self and autobiographical knowledge base is reciprocal
working self can control accessibility of autobiographical knowledge
autobioh base constrains the goals and self-images of the working self
AM retrieval improves access to self-concepts
nostalgia group produced more ‘i am’ statements - effect was driven by increase in psychological statements
conclusions: self-concept and episodic AM knowledge are interactive - we can use AM to increase accessibilty of self-concepts
