Belief-related memories: Autobiographical memories of the religious self

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In: Memory, Vol. 29, No. 5, 2021, p. 573-586.

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaper › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Vancouver

Tungjitcharoen W, Berntsen D. Belief-related memories: Autobiographical memories of the religious self. Memory. 2021;29(5):573-586. Epub 2021. doi: 10.1080/09658211.2021.1923753

Author

Tungjitcharoen, Worawach ; Berntsen, Dorthe. / Belief-related memories: Autobiographical memories of the religious self. In: Memory. 2021 ; Vol. 29, No. 5. pp. 573-586.

Bibtex

@article{08a4705c93894c8c9134f6f61d94733c,

title = "Belief-related memories: Autobiographical memories of the religious self",

abstract = "Autobiographical memories play important roles in the development of the self and identity by grounding the self in rich, meaningful experiences. In the present study, we explored whether there is a specific type of autobiographical memories tied to religious belief; namely, belief-related memories. We compared belief-related memories with important and word-cued memories across five religions. We found belief-related memories were characterised as important, positive, intense, vivid, and frequently retrieved. The characteristics of belief-related memories were markedly different from word-cued memories, and they also differed from important memories on several variables. Compared with important memories, belief-related memories were rated as less prevalent, less important, less scripted, and showed a different distribution across the life span. The temporal distributions of belief-related memories varied across religions and showed no reminiscence bump as opposed to important memories and word-cued memories. Our findings suggest belief-related memories form a distinct category of autobiographical memories, consistent with the self being multidimensional and with different types of memories supporting distinct aspects of the self.",

keywords = "Autobiographical memory, belief-related memory, religion, religious identity, POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER, EVENTS, RECALL, REMINISCENCE BUMP, CENTRALITY, AMERICAN, CONSTRUCTION, GENDER, IDENTITY FORMATION, LIFE",

author = "Worawach Tungjitcharoen and Dorthe Berntsen",

year = "2021",

doi = "10.1080/09658211.2021.1923753",

language = "English",

volume = "29",

pages = "573--586",

journal = "Memory",

issn = "0965-8211",

publisher = "Taylor & Francis ",

number = "5",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Belief-related memories: Autobiographical memories of the religious self

AU - Tungjitcharoen, Worawach

AU - Berntsen, Dorthe

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Autobiographical memories play important roles in the development of the self and identity by grounding the self in rich, meaningful experiences. In the present study, we explored whether there is a specific type of autobiographical memories tied to religious belief; namely, belief-related memories. We compared belief-related memories with important and word-cued memories across five religions. We found belief-related memories were characterised as important, positive, intense, vivid, and frequently retrieved. The characteristics of belief-related memories were markedly different from word-cued memories, and they also differed from important memories on several variables. Compared with important memories, belief-related memories were rated as less prevalent, less important, less scripted, and showed a different distribution across the life span. The temporal distributions of belief-related memories varied across religions and showed no reminiscence bump as opposed to important memories and word-cued memories. Our findings suggest belief-related memories form a distinct category of autobiographical memories, consistent with the self being multidimensional and with different types of memories supporting distinct aspects of the self.

AB - Autobiographical memories play important roles in the development of the self and identity by grounding the self in rich, meaningful experiences. In the present study, we explored whether there is a specific type of autobiographical memories tied to religious belief; namely, belief-related memories. We compared belief-related memories with important and word-cued memories across five religions. We found belief-related memories were characterised as important, positive, intense, vivid, and frequently retrieved. The characteristics of belief-related memories were markedly different from word-cued memories, and they also differed from important memories on several variables. Compared with important memories, belief-related memories were rated as less prevalent, less important, less scripted, and showed a different distribution across the life span. The temporal distributions of belief-related memories varied across religions and showed no reminiscence bump as opposed to important memories and word-cued memories. Our findings suggest belief-related memories form a distinct category of autobiographical memories, consistent with the self being multidimensional and with different types of memories supporting distinct aspects of the self.

KW - Autobiographical memory

KW - belief-related memory

KW - religion

KW - religious identity

KW - POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER

KW - EVENTS

KW - RECALL

KW - REMINISCENCE BUMP

KW - CENTRALITY

KW - AMERICAN

KW - CONSTRUCTION

KW - GENDER

KW - IDENTITY FORMATION

KW - LIFE

U2 - 10.1080/09658211.2021.1923753

DO - 10.1080/09658211.2021.1923753

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34006178

VL - 29

SP - 573

EP - 586

JO - Memory

JF - Memory

SN - 0965-8211

IS - 5

ER -

Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences