Lecture 21 - self defining memories, need satisfaction and adjustment - November 19

Question 1

what are Problems with Life Narrative

Answer 1

It is 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 2

what are McAdams on self-defining memories

Answer 2

“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.”
 Begins with the experience of an emotionally intense event.
 positive, negative or a blend;
 Besides strong emotions there is link with key personal issue
 fulfillment or rejection or blend;
 Prompts a script (predictable behavior + emotion pattern played out over time);
 The script may become a central thematic line in your life narrative

Question 3

“Self-defining because they reflect what

Answer 3

a central, psychologically significant pattern in the life story.”

Question 4

what are the types of memories

Answer 4

Semantic Memory

Episodic Memory

Question 5

explain Semantic Memory

Answer 5

 Recall of general facts
 But everyday memories are a semantic
form of recollections.

Question 6

explain Episodic Memory

Answer 6

 Recall of personal facts

 Self-defining or core memories

Question 7

what are the 3 basic psychological needs

Answer 7

autonomy (if I endorse the actions)
competence (doing things well)
relatedness (other people can relate)

Question 8

when something turns emotions, it becomes what kind of memory

Answer 8

episodic

Question 9

what are the 3 key ideas about episodic memory

Answer 9

1 Need Satisfaction and thwarting is a key characteristic of episodic memories
2 Balance of need satisfaction and thwarting will predict Well Being.
3. Episodic Memories build psychological resources over time

Question 10

explain 2 Balance of need satisfaction and thwarting will predict Well Being.

Answer 10

Describe self-defining memory
1) Rate the memory for need satis.: 
I felt free to do things and to think how I wanted; 
I felt connected to one or more people;
I felt skillful or competent

Question 11

what is the link with Big 5 and general satisfaction in life

Answer 11

negatively correlated with neuroticism

positively correlated with conscientiousness

Question 12

can memories predict a burnout at work

Answer 12

yes just self-determinate motivation

Question 13

can memories predict relationships

Answer 13

just relationship duration

Question 14

What to do if the memory is need thwarting?

Answer 14

 3-wave prospective study of community adults:

 T1 emotion regulation and well being
 Integrative emotion regulation –”sometimes feeling neg emotions helps me to understand important things about myself.” (allowing self to handle negative emotions)
 Dysregulation of emotion regulation – “I often behave under the influence of my negative emotions, even if I don’t want to behave like that.”

 T2 (3 months later) Describe most negative event since T1  4 items rate level of acceptance, e,g
 “I accept the experience I had”
 “I embrace this even as part of my past”
 4 items rate level or intrusions
 “I thought about it when I didn’t mean to”

 T3 (1 month later) ReassessWell Being