Evidence for a fading affect bias in subjectively assessed affect changes in autobiographical memory

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Autobiographical memories (AMs) can change in affect intensity over time (fading, flourishing, fixed, flexible affect).
• The fading affect bias (FAB) describes negative AMs fading more rapidly than positive AMs.
• Previous FAB research primarily used calculated change from initial to current affect intensity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the FAB using subjective change (directly perceived affect change in AMs).
• To compare FAB findings between subjective and calculated change.
• To examine the influence of initial intensity, neuroticism, and life satisfaction on subjective vs. calculated change.

Main Methods:

• Utilized mixed-effects multinomial models to analyze 12,314 AMs from 2,163 adults (aged 18-98).
• Predicted probabilities of subjective change types and compared them to calculated change.
• Assessed the impact of initial intensity, neuroticism, and life satisfaction on both change measures.

Main Results:

• Confirmed a clear FAB for both subjective and calculated change.
• Neuroticism and life satisfaction had comparable effects on both change types.
• Initial intensity's effect on flourishing and flexible affect was weaker in subjective change, and uniquely influenced fading affect probability.

Conclusions:

• Findings extend FAB knowledge, particularly regarding initial intensity.
• Supports the self-serving, emotion-regulating function of autobiographical memory, even in subjective changes.
• Suggests retrospective designs are appropriate for FAB studies.