Memory and narrative of traumatic events: A literature review
María Crespo1, Violeta Fernández-Lansac1
1Department of Clinical Psychology, Complutense University.
Abstract:
This study presents a literature review of 22 studies published since 2004 that use linguistic procedures to evaluate narratives by persons who had suffered any traumatic event. The aim is to analyze the features of traumatic memories and, thus, how individuals construct and integrate their recall of what happened with other autobiographical memories. It uses cognitive theoretical models of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and their hypotheses about trauma memories as a framework. Findings reveal that trauma narratives are dominated by sensorial/perceptual and emotional details. The study of other narrative aspects (i.e., fragmentation, length, temporal context, and references to self) provides heterogeneous results. Results are discussed in light of the current state of PTSD research, exploring the principal hypotheses that have been proposed in cognitive theories to explain clinical findings.
More Related Videos
09:55Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
Published on: March 8, 2018
11:30Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Emotional Autobiographical Recollection
Published on: August 26, 2011
Related Concept Videos
Traumatic Memory
Repressed Memory
Flashbulb Memory
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...
Autobiographical Memory
False Memories
One primary source of false memories is misattribution, where individuals incorrectly associate external information...
