Lecture 21: Self-defining Memories

Question 1

What are some key points of narrative identities so far?

Answer 1

• We are constructing an autobiography
• We can evaluate it in literary terms
  
  • genre
• It can be changed
  
  • Big events, psychotherapy
• contributes to the well-being

Question 2

Why do we make this Life Story?

Answer 2

• We integrate and unify our experiences and traits
• It gives us purpose and meaning

Question 3

What are some concerns with the Life Narrative Method according to Kroesner?

Answer 3

• time-consuming to elicit and transcribe life narratives
• many people might have difficulty doing the life narrative
• It is sometimes difficult to code the life narrative for themes

Question 4

What does the review of literature say about problems with the life narrative method?

Answer 4

• Coded narrative variable
• Non-narrative personality variables
• Index of well-being

Question 5

What is a short-cut to life narrative proposed by McAdams?

Answer 5

Self-defining memories

Question 6

What are self-defining memories?

Answer 6

The self-defining memory is vivid, affectively charged, repetitive, linked to other similar memories and related to an important unresolved theme or recurrent concern in an individual’s life.

Question 7

What are the components of a self-defining memory?

Answer 7

• Begins with the experience of an emotionally intense event
• Link with key personal issue
• Prompts a script:
  
  • script might become central

Question 8

What are the different types of memories?

Answer 8

• Semantic memory
• Episodic memory

Question 9

What is a semantic memory?

Answer 9

• Recall of general facts

Question 10

What is an episodic memory?

Answer 10

• Recall of personal facts
• Self-defining or core memories

Question 11

What are the components of self-determination theory?

Answer 11

• Autonomy
• Competence
• Relatedness

Question 12

What is the self-determination theory?

Answer 12

It’s the idea that from a situation or an event, we get some psychological need fulfilled which affects our well-being and growth.

Question 13

What was the example that Kroesner gave when he talked about self-determination theory?

Answer 13

• While waiting in line at the grocery store
• Old woman cut in line
• Kroesner froze and let her pass
• Cashier related to him

Question 14

What is the first key idea about self-determining theory?

Answer 14

• Need satisfaction and thwarting is a key characteristic of episodic memories.

Question 15

What are the instructions to form/get/retrieve a self-defining memory?

Answer 15

• Personal memory
• Event occurred at least 1 year ago
• Significant
• Reflects your identity
• Reveal something about how you perceive yourself generally
• Comes often to mind
• Can be negative, positive or both

Question 16

What are the types of self-defining memories that are studied?

Answer 16

• General
• Relationship
• Work
• Holiday
• Negative life events

Question 17

What is the second key idea of self-determining theory?

Answer 17

Balance of need satisfaction and thwarting will predict well-being

Question 18

Describe the study that supports the second key idea of self-defining theory.

Answer 18

• Asked the participants to describe a self-defining memory
• Rated the memory for need satisfaction
• Need satisfaction is positively correlated with well-being! r=0.32

Question 19

What is the third idea of self-determining theory?

Answer 19

Episodic memories build psychological resources over time

Question 20

How related is the need satisfaction in a episodic memory related to well-being?

Answer 20

It is positively correlated but only at r=0.16

Question 21

What is a factor that predicts that a student will sustain well0being during the semester?

Answer 21

If the student shows high levels of need satisfaction at the beginning of the semester.

Question 22

What is a predictor for nurses’ and teachers’ burnout?

Answer 22

The number of work-related memories which are high in need satisfaction. The higher the need satisfaction is, the longer the nurses and teachers sustain.

Question 23

How does need satisfaction affects relationships?

Answer 23

The less need satisfaction is fulfilled in their relationship memories, the more likely it is for the relationship to end.

Question 24

What are the components of need satisfaction?

Answer 24

• Relatedness
• Competence
• Autonomy

Question 25

Describe the study by Philippe in 2019, regarding negative memories.

Answer 25

• 3 wave prospective study of community adults
  
  • T1 emotion regulation and well-being
    
    • Integrative emotion regulation
      
      • Understanding negative emotions help one understand oneself.
    • Dysregulation of emotion regulation
      
      • behave under influence of negative emotions
  • T2 (3months later) describe most negative event since T1:
    
    • 4 items and rate level of acceptance
    • 4 items rate level of intrusions
  • T3 (1 month later) Reassess Well-being

Question 26

What conclusion can you get from Philippe’s study?

Answer 26

Integration of negative emotions makes us more likely to accept negative experiences later on.

Question 27

How can we study and analyse self-defining memories?

Answer 27

Yes, by measuring need satisfaction of the memories

Question 28

Can we use self-defining memories to predict outcomes?

Answer 28

Yes, depending on the need satisfaction in the memories, you can predict well-being.

Question 29

What should we do with negative memories?

Answer 29

Integrate them.