What characterizes life story memories? A diary study of Freshmen鈥檚 first term

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• 作者：Dorthe Kirkegaard Thomsen^a ; ^{dorthe.thomsen@psy.au.dk} ; Martin Hammershø ; j Olesen^b ; Anette Schnieber^b ; Thomas Jensen^b ; Jan Tø ; nnesvang^b
• 关键词：Autobiographical memory ; Life story ; Goals ; Emotion ; Event characteristics ; Accuracy ; Diary study
• 刊名：Consciousness and Cognition
• 出版年：2012
• 期刊代码：127_10538100
• 类别：cp
• 出版时间：March, 2012
• 卷：21
• 期：1
• 页码：366-382
• 文件大小：420 K

摘要

We investigated whether memories are selected for the life story based on event characteristics. Sixty-one students completed weekly diaries over their first term at university. They described, dated and rated two events each week. Three months after the end of the term they completed an unexpected memory test. They recalled three memories from the diary period that were important to their life story. Three randomly selected events scoring low on importance to the life story functioned as control memories. Life story memories were rated higher on goal relevance, emotional intensity, importance and rehearsal in the diary and maintained their higher ratings at the test session, while ratings for control memories dropped off. Life story memories鈥?content was less consistent over time but they were more accurately dated than control memories. The results suggest that event characteristics play an important role for the selection of life story memories.