Author:

Keywords:

Social Sciences, Psychology, Experimental, Psychology, Autobiographical memory, social function, narrative coherence, psychological well-being, MATERNAL REMINISCING STYLE, OVERGENERAL AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL MEMORY, LIFE STORY, PHENOMENAL CHARACTERISTICS, PERSONAL NARRATIVES, SELF, SPECIFICITY, ASSOCIATIONS, IDENTITY, CONSTRUCTION, Humans, Memory, Episodic, Mental Recall, Narration, 1109 Neurosciences, 1701 Psychology, 1702 Cognitive Sciences, Experimental Psychology, 5201 Applied and developmental psychology, 5202 Biological psychology, 5204 Cognitive and computational psychology

Abstract:

To date, the phenomenological and functional aspects of autobiographical memory have by and large been studied separately. This is quite remarkable, given that both can inform each other, and that investigating their interaction can add to the understanding of the (in)adaptivity of certain memory characteristics for our well-being. In other words, examining how particular features of autobiographical memory are adept or inept at serving specific functions, could help us to better comprehend and explain relations between memory and psychological well-being. We discuss previous attempts to integrate phenomenology with functionality and formulate three main directions for future research based on the current state of the art. The directions concern (1) focusing on functionality (adaptivity) and not merely on the use of memories in phenomenological work, (2) attention for the bidirectionality of the relation between phenomenology and functionality, and (3) the addition of narrative constructs like coherence to the traditional range of phenomenological features. We will illustrate our directions for the reintegration of phenomenology with functionality through the social function of coherent autobiographical memories. This framework could help to stimulate future empirical studies and pave the road for new clinical interventions to improve psychological well-being.