Thinking Back about a Positive Event: The Impact of Processing Style on Positive Affect

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

• Autobiographical memory recall influences emotional states.
• Processing styles during memory retrieval can modulate affective outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of different processing styles on affect during positive autobiographical memory recall.
• To compare concrete/imagery versus abstract/verbal processing, and introduce comparative/verbal processing.

Main Methods:

• Two studies (N=70, N=159) involved participants recalling positive memories.
• Participants were assigned to concrete/imagery, abstract/verbal, or comparative/verbal processing styles.
• Changes in positive affect were measured post-recall.

Main Results:

• Concrete/imagery processing led to greater increases in positive affect compared to abstract/verbal processing (Study 1).
• Concrete/imagery processing was superior to comparative/verbal processing (Study 2).
• Unfavorable verbal comparisons, not abstract/verbal processing per se, may hinder positive affect; comparative/verbal processing negatively impacted affect, especially with depressive symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Concrete/imagery processing of positive memories enhances positive affect.
• Comparative/verbal processing, particularly unfavorable comparisons, can be detrimental to positive affect.
• Findings support interventions enhancing positive memory imagery and highlight risks of certain abstract processing styles.