Alberts, S.I.L. (2025) Autobiographical memories – frequent retrieval and emotional intensity. Master thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
The significant role memory plays in our lives, and the consequences when it is disordered, calls for examination of the underlying mechanisms of memory and how memories are maintained. This study examines the effects of frequent retrieval on memory characteristics (emotional intensity, accessibility and centrality) and the relationships between these characteristics, guided by a model that visualizes the Autobiographical Memory Theory, proposed by Rubin et al. (2008). A 2x2 within-subjects experimental design is utilized, with the levels being retrieval frequency (frequent vs. no retrieval) and time (pre- vs. post-manipulation). Participants (n = 9) frequently retrieve a positive memory in the retrieval phase, upon notification from the m-Path application. Memory characteristics are measured with questionnaires (CES, IES-R and MEQ-SF) pre- and post-manipulation (frequent retrieval). Data was collected in Qualtrics. The results are largely inconclusive and should be interpreted with caution. Results showed relatively low change in emotional intensity (small variance and effect sizes) after frequent retrieval. Results showed medium to strong correlations between memory characteristics, with only the correlation between emotional intensity and centrality being statistically significant. Results also found that frequent retrieval of positive memories had no significant effect on the emotional intensity of negative memories in the current sample, with a small effect size. Because of the small sample size, no conclusions can be drawn from the current results.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
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| Supervisor name: | Wessel, J.P. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Clinical Psychology (CP) [Master Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 17 Mar 2025 11:18 |
| Last Modified: | 17 Mar 2025 11:18 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4770 |
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