Examining Autobiographical Memory Characteristics and Functions of Self-Defining Memories for Personal and Social Identity
8th International Congress of Human Studies, Ankara, Türkiye, 10 - 11 Aralık 2025, ss.39, (Özet Bildiri)
- Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
- Basıldığı Şehir: Ankara
- Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.39
- Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
- Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Autobiographical memories offer a significant value for research into gaining insights about the self. Since existing literature predominantly treats the self as a unitary construct, this study utilizes the Social Identity Approach to investigate the characteristics and functions of self-defining memories for social identities. Furthermore, their similarities and differences with self-defining memories for personal and social identities were examined through exploratory analyses. Data were collected from 97 participants (ages 18-71) using snowball sampling. The majority of reported social identities were occupational (22.92%), relational (15.63%), and student identities (12.50%). In the online data collection protocol, participants were administered a memory recall task in which they briefly narrated one self-defining memory regarding their individual identity and one regarding a social identity they deemed important. Following each memory task, they completed scales regarding their memories and social identities in addition to the sociodemographic information and consent form. Data were analyzed using correlation, Two-Way Repeated Measures ANOVA, and Paired Samples t-tests. Regarding memory characteristics, personal identity memories exhibited higher observer perspective, emotional distance, and emotional magnification, but lower emotional valence compared to social identity memories. An examination of the relationships revealed differentiation in memory characteristics alongside individual differences. In terms of functions, personal identity memories were used significantly more effectively than social identity memories, with only a minor difference observed in self-continuity. Participants' level of social identification was associated with memory accessibility and emotional distance. However, no significant relationship was found between social identification and the functional use of these memories. The findings suggest that while there are structural differences between the variables of the two memory types, they also share similar characteristics that distinguish them both from other types of memories. This demonstrates that social identity memories can be utilized as a defining memory type, similar to those for the self.