The Functional Approach to Autobiographical Memory

doi:10.1017/9781009492140.005

Chapter 4 - The Functional Approach to Autobiographical Memory

Retrospect and Prospect

from Part I - How Research on Autobiographical Memory Contrasts with and Integrates the Life Story Approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 November 2025

Theodore E. A. Waters ,

Nicole Alea and

Susan Bluck

Edited by

Christin Camia and

Annette Bohn

Show author details

Christin Camia: Affiliation:
Zayed University Abu Dhabi
Annette Bohn: Affiliation:
Aarhus University

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Summary

This chapter recounts the history of the functional approach to autobiographical memory and lays out ways to move the field forward. In the 1970s, prominent cognitive psychologists called for research to expand beyond controlled experimental laboratory procedures to examine memory in everyday life. Early research theorized three broad functions from which a self-report measure was developed. The functional approach is intuitively appealing, but its growth has been somewhat haphazard. One barrier may be the lack of a solid, agreed-upon, definition. To aid the field in moving forward, we present a clear, detailed definition of function. Using criteria related to this definition allows other candidate functions to be rigorously considered. Two candidate functions are explored. Existing work suggesting that emotion enhancement may be a function of autobiographical memory is reviewed and compared with our definition. We then elaborate on a new proposal that social status may be a function of autobiographical remembering. Finally, a brief discussion of how narrative approaches to recalling the personal past might be used to study functions of autobiographical memory is presented.

Keywords

Functions of autobiographical memory social status mood enhancement narrative

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: Autobiographical Memory and the Life Story
New Perspectives on Narrative Identity
, pp. 60 - 86

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009492140.005 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2025

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