The Self‐enhancement Function of Autobiographical Memory

Burcu Demiray · Steve M. J. Janssen

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Abstract

Summary The self‐enhancement function of autobiographical memory was examined by assessing the psychological distance of adults' most important memories. Participants (N = 445, ages 18–80) reported the seven most important events from their lives on an online survey and rated the memories in terms of valence, emotionality, importance, vividness, reliving, rehearsal, novelty, and psychological distance. Participants also completed the Rosenberg Self‐esteem Scale. Regression analyses showed that participants felt psychologically closer to positive memories than to negative memories, independent of the actual age of the memories. The self‐enhancement function was unrelated to participants' age but was related to their self‐esteem: Higher self‐esteem was associated with feeling closer to positive memories. Finally, a moderated multiple‐mediation model showed that memories' importance and rehearsal mediated the relation between one's self‐esteem and the psychological distance of their positive versus negative memories. Findings are discussed in relation to the functional approach to autobiographical memory. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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References

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2018The Memorable Travel Experience and Its Reminiscence Functions 2017I’m not the person I used to be: The self and autobiographical memories of immoral actions.2017Autobiographical remembering regulates emotions: a functional perspective 2019The mood-enhancement function of autobiographical memories: Comparisons with other functions in terms of emotional valence

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