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Self-Defining and Early Childhood Memories: Subjective Intensity Rating of Memory-Related Emotions

Received: 30 September 2016     Accepted: 14 October 2016     Published: 23 November 2016
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Abstract

The aim of the present research was to explore the subjective rating of emotional intensity during the recall of memory-related emotions. 41 participants retrieved two different types of autobiographical memory – i.e., a self-defining memory and an earliest childhood memory – and rated the intensity of the emotions experienced during the recall of each memory (anger, sadness, fear, happiness, shame and guilt). The latency and duration times of the narratives were also collected. Self-defining memories seemed to be perceived as more intense compared to earliest childhood memories, confirming the strong emotional charge that characterizes these types of memories. Longer duration times of the narratives were also observed for self-defining memories compared to earliest childhood memories. These results lend more support to differences between self-defining and early childhood memories. They also suggest that emotional experiences associated with self-relevant memories constitute the key to the self- and other-understanding in everyday meaningful interactions as well as in a clinical therapeutic setting.

Published in American Journal of Applied Psychology (Volume 5, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajap.20160505.12
Page(s) 32-37
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2016. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Self-Defining Memory, Earliest Childhood Memory, Emotional Intensity, Subjective Rating

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Ornella Montebarocci, Paola Surcinelli, Nicolino Cesare Franco Rossi. (2016). Self-Defining and Early Childhood Memories: Subjective Intensity Rating of Memory-Related Emotions. American Journal of Applied Psychology, 5(5), 32-37. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20160505.12

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    ACS Style

    Ornella Montebarocci; Paola Surcinelli; Nicolino Cesare Franco Rossi. Self-Defining and Early Childhood Memories: Subjective Intensity Rating of Memory-Related Emotions. Am. J. Appl. Psychol. 2016, 5(5), 32-37. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20160505.12

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    AMA Style

    Ornella Montebarocci, Paola Surcinelli, Nicolino Cesare Franco Rossi. Self-Defining and Early Childhood Memories: Subjective Intensity Rating of Memory-Related Emotions. Am J Appl Psychol. 2016;5(5):32-37. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.20160505.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajap.20160505.12,
      author = {Ornella Montebarocci and Paola Surcinelli and Nicolino Cesare Franco Rossi},
      title = {Self-Defining and Early Childhood Memories: Subjective Intensity Rating of Memory-Related Emotions},
      journal = {American Journal of Applied Psychology},
      volume = {5},
      number = {5},
      pages = {32-37},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajap.20160505.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.20160505.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajap.20160505.12},
      abstract = {The aim of the present research was to explore the subjective rating of emotional intensity during the recall of memory-related emotions. 41 participants retrieved two different types of autobiographical memory – i.e., a self-defining memory and an earliest childhood memory – and rated the intensity of the emotions experienced during the recall of each memory (anger, sadness, fear, happiness, shame and guilt). The latency and duration times of the narratives were also collected. Self-defining memories seemed to be perceived as more intense compared to earliest childhood memories, confirming the strong emotional charge that characterizes these types of memories. Longer duration times of the narratives were also observed for self-defining memories compared to earliest childhood memories. These results lend more support to differences between self-defining and early childhood memories. They also suggest that emotional experiences associated with self-relevant memories constitute the key to the self- and other-understanding in everyday meaningful interactions as well as in a clinical therapeutic setting.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

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    T1  - Self-Defining and Early Childhood Memories: Subjective Intensity Rating of Memory-Related Emotions
    AU  - Ornella Montebarocci
    AU  - Paola Surcinelli
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    T2  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
    JF  - American Journal of Applied Psychology
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    AB  - The aim of the present research was to explore the subjective rating of emotional intensity during the recall of memory-related emotions. 41 participants retrieved two different types of autobiographical memory – i.e., a self-defining memory and an earliest childhood memory – and rated the intensity of the emotions experienced during the recall of each memory (anger, sadness, fear, happiness, shame and guilt). The latency and duration times of the narratives were also collected. Self-defining memories seemed to be perceived as more intense compared to earliest childhood memories, confirming the strong emotional charge that characterizes these types of memories. Longer duration times of the narratives were also observed for self-defining memories compared to earliest childhood memories. These results lend more support to differences between self-defining and early childhood memories. They also suggest that emotional experiences associated with self-relevant memories constitute the key to the self- and other-understanding in everyday meaningful interactions as well as in a clinical therapeutic setting.
    VL  - 5
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Author Information
  • Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

  • Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

  • Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

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