Emotions experienced at event recall and the self: Implications for the regulation of self-esteem, self-continuity and meaningfulness

Abstract

The intensity of positive affect elicited by recall of positive events exceeds the intensity of negative affect elicited by recall of negative events (fading affect bias, or FAB). The research described in the present article examined the relation between the FAB and three regulatory goals of the self: esteem, continuity and meaningfulness. The extent to which an event contributed to esteem (Study 1), continuity (Study 2) or meaningfulness (Study 3) was related to positive affect at event recall provoked by positive memories and to negative affect at event recall provoked by negative memories. The relation between affect experienced at recall and the three regulatory goals was bidirectional. The results showcase how individuals use recall for self-regulatory purposes and how they implement self-regulatory goals for positive affect.

Keywords:

• Autobiographical memory
• Fading affect bias
• Self-esteem
• Self-continuity
• Meaning in life

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Rachel Hamer, Katie Harris and Kirsty Maya Roopun for their assistance with data collection.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.