Stability in autobiographical memories

David C. Rubin, Robert W. Schrauf, Daniel L. Greenberg

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

50 Scopus citations

Abstract

A total of 30 undergraduates recalled the same 20 autobiographical memories at two sessions separated by 2 weeks. At each session they dated their memories and rated them on 18 properties commonly studied in autobiographical memory experiments. Individuals showed moderate stability in their ratings on the 18 scales (r ∼ .5), with consistency of dating being much higher (r =.96). There was more stability in the individuals' average rating on each scale (r ∼ .8), even when the averages were calculated on different memories in the different sessions. The results are consistent with a constructive view of autobiographical memory, in which stable individual differences in cognitive style are important.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)715-721
Number of pages7
JournalMemory
Volume12
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2004

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • General Psychology

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