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The reminiscence circumplex and autobiographical memory functions.
1Psychology Department, Langara College, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. jwebster@langara.bc.ca
Memory (Hove, England)
|June 25, 2003
Summary
A circumplex model effectively represents reminiscence and autobiographical memory functions. This model organizes eight factors into two dimensions, providing a circular framework for understanding memory recall.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Autobiographical memory and reminiscence are crucial for understanding the self.
- Previous models have not fully captured the complex functions of reminiscence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utility of a circumplex model for representing reminiscence functions.
- To analyze the dimensional structure of autobiographical memory functions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a large, combined dataset of 985 participants (ages 17-96).
- Administered the Reminiscence Functions Scale (RFS) to participants.
- Performed second-order factor analysis and multidimensional scaling on RFS data.
Main Results:
- Identified two orthogonal dimensions: self vs. social and reactive/loss-oriented vs. proactive/growth-oriented.
- These dimensions explained 79.57% of the variance in reminiscence functions.
- Multidimensional scaling supported a circular arrangement of the eight RFS factors, reflecting their interrelationships.
Conclusions:
- A circumplex model provides a robust framework for understanding the multifaceted functions of reminiscence and autobiographical memory.
- This approach offers advantages for future theoretical development and model refinement in memory research.