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Related Concept Videos

Understanding Self-Concept01:20

Understanding Self-Concept

The self-concept encompasses individuals' beliefs about themselves, structured through cognitive frameworks known as self-schemas. These schemas function as mental representations of specific traits or behaviors, influencing how self-relevant information is perceived, processed, and remembered. For example, individuals who are schematic for body weight are more likely to interpret routine experiences—such as dining out or shopping—through the lens of that trait. Conversely, those aschematic for...
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The self is a central aspect of human identity, encompassing an individual’s beliefs, emotions, perceptions, and experiences. It is a cognitive and psychological construct that enables individuals to interpret their traits and behaviors, influencing how they perceive themselves and interact with the world. While personality consists of stable and enduring characteristics, the self is shaped by self-perception and social experiences. This distinction highlights the dynamic nature of the self,...
Autobiographical Memory01:14

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Memory, autonoetic consciousness, and the self.

Hans J Markowitsch1, Angelica Staniloiu

  • 1Physiological Psychology, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany. hjmarkowitsch@uni-bielefeld.de

Consciousness and Cognition
|October 19, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Episodic-autobiographical memory (EAM), unique to humans, develops with self-awareness and consciousness, influenced by culture and language. Impairments in these areas can disrupt EAM, as seen in neurological and psychiatric conditions.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Human Evolution
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Memory is a fundamental trait across species, with human episodic-autobiographical memory (EAM) representing a complex ontogenetic achievement.
  • EAM is intrinsically connected to autonoetic consciousness, the self, and mental time traveling.
  • Socio-cultural-linguistic environments significantly shape the development of EAM, self, and consciousness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the intricate relationship between episodic-autobiographical memory (EAM), autonoetic consciousness, and the self.
  • To investigate the role of socio-cultural-linguistic factors in the development of EAM.
  • To examine how deficits in self-processing, consciousness, emotion, and mental time travel impact EAM.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of memory, consciousness, and self-related theories.
  • Review of existing literature on EAM development and its influences.
  • Case illustration of EAM disturbances in neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Main Results:

  • EAM, autonoetic consciousness, and the self mutually support and develop each other.
  • Language, textualization, and social interaction dynamically shape cultural scaffolding for EAM formation.
  • Deficits in self-processing, autonoetic consciousness, emotional processing, and mental time traveling are linked to EAM disturbances.

Conclusions:

  • EAM is a uniquely human capacity deeply intertwined with selfhood and conscious awareness.
  • Environmental and social factors play a crucial role in the formation and maintenance of EAM.
  • Understanding EAM impairments requires considering disruptions in self-related cognitive and affective processes.